Luke 23:17

Luke 23:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
• New King James Version (NKJV)(for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).

Context of Luke 23:17

15Herod also did not find that he had done anything wrong. That is why he has sent him back to me. You can see this. He has not done anything bad that means he ought to die. 16So I will just punish him. I will command a soldier to hit him with whips. Then I will let him go.’ [Pilate usually let one person go free out of the prison at Passover time.] 18But the crowd all shouted together, ‘Take this man away and kill him! We want Barabbas to go free.’ 19Barabbas had fought against the Roman rulers in Jerusalem. He had also killed somebody. That is why the rulers had put him in prison.

Luke 23:17 word by word

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forδέde · thenG1161
• of necessityἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• he mustἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• releaseἀπολύωapoluō · to release: releaseG630
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• atκατάkata · according toG2596
• the feastἑορτήheortē · festivalG1859

Cross-references for Luke 23:17

• Matthew 27:15Each year, at the time for the Passover festival, the Roman ruler would let one person go free out of the prison. The people could choose which person should go free.
• Mark 15:6During the Passover festival each year, Pilate let one person go free out of the prison. The people had to ask him for the person that they wanted.
• John 18:39But every year we do something for you Jews. We let one man go free from the prison at the time of your Passover festival. Do you want me to let the king of the Jews go free?’

Commentaries on Luke 23:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17For of necessity he must release one - That is, he was under the necessity of releasing one at this feast. The custom, however it originated, had now been so completely established that Pilate was obliged to attend to it. See on Matthew 27:15; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17See the notes at Matthew 27:15.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-25Verses 13-25 The fear of man brings many into this snare, that they will do an unjust thing, against their consciences, rather than get into trouble. Pilate declares Jesus innocent, and has a mind to release him; yet, to please the people, he would punish him as an evil-doer. If no fault be found in him, why chastise him? Pilate yielded at length; he had not courage to go against so strong a stream. He delivered Jesus to their will, to be crucified.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-18I will punish Him: The Greek verb can mean “instruct,” “punish,” or “discipline.” It refers to a mild whipping for minor offenses. This was different from the severe flogging Romans gave before crucifixion (see Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15).Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 23:17

• Complicity
• Criminals
• Demagogism
• Jesus, the Christ
• Opinion, Public
• Passover
• Politics
• Priest
• Prisoners

In the dictionaries

• Certainly
• Commend
• Condemnation
• Crucify
• Gorgeous
• Humiliation of Christ
• Paradise
• Superscription
• Jesus Christ
• Luke, the Gospel of

Commentaries on Luke 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings