Matthew 27:20

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.
• New International Version (NIV)But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
• 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.

Context of Matthew 27:20

18(He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 19Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” 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. 21So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!” 22Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

Matthew 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 at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.
• Acts 14:18But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.
• Acts 19:23About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way.
• Luke 23:18Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!”
• John 18:40But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)
• John 19:15“Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!” “What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.
• Acts 3:14You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer.

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

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

In the dictionaries

• Barabbas
• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Accusation
• Notable
• Plat
• Sanhedrim
• Seal
• Wag
• Watch

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