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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted.

Context of Matthew 27:15

13Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

Matthew 27:15 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• atκατάkata · according toG2596
• feastἑορτήheortē · festivalG1859
• the governorὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the governorἡγεμώνhēgemōn · rulerG2232
• was wontἔθωethō · to have a customG1486
• to releaseἀπολύωapoluō · to release: releaseG630
• untoεἷςheis · oneG1520
• the peopleὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
• a prisonerδέσμιοςdesmios · prisonerG1198
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• they wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309

Cross-references for Matthew 27:15

• Matthew 26:5“But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
• Mark 15:6Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested.
• Luke 23:16Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”
• John 18:38“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
• Acts 24:27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
• Acts 25:9Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there 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