Matthew 27:15

Matthew 27:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
• New International Version (NIV)Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.

Context of Matthew 27:15

13Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

Matthew 27:15 word by word

Κατὰ δὲ ἑορτὴν εἰώθει ὁ ἡγεμὼν ἀπολύειν ἕνα τῷ ὄχλῳ δέσμιον ὃν ἤθελον.Read the interlinear

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• feastἑορτήheortē · festivalG1859
• the governorἡγεμώνhēgemōn · rulerG2232
• was accustomedἔθωethō · to have a customG1486
• to releaseἀπολύωapoluō · to release: releaseG630
• peopleὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• prisonerδέσμιοςdesmios · prisonerG1198
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• they wantedθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309

Cross-references for Matthew 27:15

• Matthew 26:5But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”
• Mark 15:6Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested.
• Luke 23:16Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”
• John 18:38Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.
• Acts 24:27But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.
• Acts 25:9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?”

Commentaries on Matthew 27:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15The governor was wont to release - Whence this custom originated among the Jews is not known, - probably it was introduced by the Romans themselves, or by Pilate, merely to oblige the Jews, by showing them this public token of respect; but if it originated with him, he must have had the authority of Augustus; for the Roman laws never gave such discretionary power to any governor.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. 15Pilate's behavior seems unusual. It was not normal for him to try to please his Jewish subjects. But Pilate's relationship with Caesar might have been unstable at this time (see study note on John 19:12; see Philo, On the Embassy to Gaius 159–161). If so, this gesture might have been to maintain peace and avoid negative attention from Rome.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 27:15

• Criminals
• Jesus, the Christ
• Judge
• Passover
• Prisoners
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Accusation
• Notable
• Plat
• Seal
• Wag
• Watch
• Wont
• Governor
• Jesus Christ
• Matthew, the Gospel of

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