New International Version
Matthew 27:20
20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
Matthew 27:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.
Context of Matthew 27:20
18For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. 21“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. 22“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
Read all of Matthew 27Matthew 27:20 word by word
Οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἔπεισαν τοὺς ὄχλους ἵνα αἰτήσωνται τὸν Βαραββᾶν, τὸν δὲ Ἰησοῦν ἀπολέσωσιν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- the chief priestsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the chief priestsἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
- persuadedπείθωpeithō · to persuadeG3982
- the multitudeὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- they should askαἰτέωaiteō · to askG154
- BarabbasΒαραββᾶςBarabbas · BarabbasG912
- destroyἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
Cross-references for Matthew 27:20
- Mark 15:11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
- Acts 14:18Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
- Acts 19:23About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
- Luke 23:18But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”
- John 18:40They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.
- John 19:15But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
- Acts 3:14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
Commentaries on Matthew 27:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Ask Barabbas - Who had raised an insurrection and committed murder - and to destroy Jesus, whose voice was never heard in their streets, and who had, during the space of three years and a half, gone about unweariedly, from village to village, instructing the ignorant, healing the diseased, and raising the dead.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 27:20
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
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