Matthew 27:21

Matthew 27:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
• New International Version (NIV)“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas."
• New King James Version (NKJV)The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”

Context of Matthew 27:21

19Pilate was sitting on his special seat as a judge. Then his wife sent a message to him. She said, ‘Do not do anything to that man. He has done nothing wrong. Last night I had a dream about him. It gave me a lot of trouble in my mind.’ 20But the leaders of the priests and the important Jews talked to the crowds of people. They said, ‘You must ask Pilate to let Barabbas go free. Then he must tell the soldiers to kill Jesus.’ Pilate asked the people again, ‘Which of these two men should go free?’ The people answered, ‘Barabbas.’ 22Then Pilate asked the people, ‘So what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?’ The people all shouted, ‘Take him and kill him on a cross!’ 23So Pilate said, ‘Why should I kill him? What bad things has he done?’ But the people shouted even louder, ‘Kill him on a cross!’

Matthew 27:21 word by word

Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τίνα θέλετε ἀπὸ τῶν δύο ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν; οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· τὸν Βαραββᾶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The governorὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• The governorἡγεμώνhēgemōn · rulerG2232
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• andδέde · thenG1161
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Whetherτίςtis · which?G5101
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the twainδύοduo · twoG1417
• will yeθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• that I releaseἀπολύωapoluō · to release: releaseG630
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• BarabbasΒαραββᾶςBarabbas · BarabbasG912

Commentaries on Matthew 27:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21They said, Barabbas - What a fickle crowd! A little before they all hailed him as the Son of David, and acknowledged him as a gift from God; now they prefer a murderer to him! But this it appears they did at the instigation of the chief priests. We see here how dangerous wicked priests are in the Church of Christ; when pastors are corrupt, they are capable of inducing their flock to prefer Barabbas to Jesus, the world to God, and the pleasures of sense to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 See also the parallel places in Mark 15:6-14; Luke 23:17-23; John 18:39-40. Matthew 27:15 At that feast - The feast of the Passover. The governor was wont to release … - that is, was “accustomed” to release. From what this custom arose, or by whom it was introduced, is not known. It was probably adopted to secure popularity among the Jews, and to render the government of the Romans less odious. Any little indulgence granted to the Jews during…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-25Verses 11-25 Having no malice against Jesus, Pilate urged him to clear himself, and laboured to get him discharged. The message from his wife was a warning. God has many ways of giving checks to sinners, in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great mercy to have such checks from Providence, from faithful friends, and from our own consciences. O do not this abominable thing which the Lord hates! is what we may hear said to us, when we are entering into…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-26The Roman trial included an initial hearing before Pilatee (Matthew 27:11–14), then one before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6–16), and a second hearing with Pilate (Matthew 27:15–26).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 27:21

• Barabbas
• Complicity
• Court
• Criminals
• Demagogism
• Jesus, the Christ
• Judge
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Barabbas
• Accusation
• Notable
• Plat
• Seal
• Wag
• Watch
• Wont
• Governor
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on Matthew 27

• 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
• 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