God’s Word Translation
Matthew 27:23
23Pilate asked, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they began to shout loudly, “He should be crucified!”
Matthew 27:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
- New International Version (NIV)“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
Context of Matthew 27:23
21The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to free for you?” They said, “Barabbas.” 22Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?” “He should be crucified!” they all said. Pilate asked, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they began to shout loudly, “He should be crucified!” 24Pilate saw that he was not getting anywhere. Instead, a riot was breaking out. So Pilate took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, “I won’t be guilty of killing this man. Do what you want!” 25All the people answered, “The responsibility for killing him will rest on us and our children.”
Read all of Matthew 27Matthew 27:23 word by word
ὁ δὲ ἔφη· τί γὰρ κακὸν ἐποίησεν; οἱ δὲ περισσῶς ἔκραζον λέγοντες· σταυρωθήτω.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the governorἡγεμώνhēgemōn · rulerG2232
- saidφημίphēmi · to assertG5346
- Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
- whatγάρgar · forG1063
- evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
- hath he doneποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- cried outκράζωkrazō · to cryG2896
- the moreπερισσῶςperissōs · excessivelyG4057
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Let him be crucifiedσταυρόωstauroō · to crucifyG4717
Cross-references for Matthew 27:23
- Genesis 37:18They saw him from a distance. Before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.
- 1 Samuel 19:3I’ll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you’ll be. I’ll speak with my father about you. If I find out anything, I’ll tell you.”
- 1 Samuel 20:31As long as Jesse’s son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Now, send some men to bring him to me. He’s a dead man!”
- 1 Samuel 22:14Ahimelech asked the king, “But whom among all your officials can you trust like David? Your Majesty, he’s your son-in-law, the commander of your bodyguard. He’s honored in your own household.
- Matthew 21:38“When the workers saw his son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him and get his inheritance.’
- Acts 7:57But the council members shouted and refused to listen. Then they rushed at Stephen with one purpose in mind,
- Acts 17:5Then the Jews became jealous. They took some low-class characters who hung around the public square, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason’s home and searched it for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.
- Acts 21:28Then they began shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere to turn against the Jewish people, Moses’ Teachings, and this temple. He has even brought Greeks into the temple courtyard and has made this holy place unclean.”
- Acts 22:22Up to that point the mob listened. Then they began to shout, “Kill him! The world doesn’t need a man like this. He shouldn’t have been allowed to live this long!”
- Acts 23:10The quarrel was becoming violent, and the officer was afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces. So the officer ordered his soldiers to drag Paul back to the barracks.
Commentaries on Matthew 27:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23What evil hath he done? - Pilate plainly saw that there was nothing laid to his charge for which, consistently with the Roman laws, he could condemn him. But they cried out the more - What strange fury and injustice! They could not answer Pilate's question, What evil hath he done? He had done none, and they knew he had done none; but they are determined on his death.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 27:23
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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