Jesus or Barabbas
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,
14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people. But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse him of.
15 Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death.
16 Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.” [Some mss include v. 17: For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.]
18 Then they all cried out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!”
19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again,
21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices won out.
24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand
25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.
Commentary
(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, 1706 -- www.christianity.com)
"The fear of man brings many into this snare, that they will do an unjust thing, against their consciences, rather than get into trouble. Pilate declares Jesus innocent, and has a mind to release him; yet, to please the people, he would punish him as an evil-doer. If no fault be found in him, why chastise him? Pilate yielded at length; he had not courage to go against so strong a stream. He delivered Jesus to their will, to be crucified."
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