Mateo 27:20

20 Mas los príncipes de los sacerdotes y los ancianos, persuadieron al pueblo que pidiera a Barrabás, y a Jesús matara

Mateo 27:20 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:20

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude,
&c.] Among whom the choice lay who should be released. This they did not by haranguing them, or making a public oration to them; but by sending their servants, or proper persons among them, telling them that Jesus had been examined before the sanhedrim that morning, and was found to be a blasphemer; and that the whole court had unanimously condemned him to death, and therefore it became them to act according to their decree: and besides, should this man be set free, they might suggest to them, since he has given out that he is the king Messiah, the Romans hearing of it, will be jealous of such a person, and come and take away both our place and nation, or deprive us of the privileges we have remaining: with such sort of arguments as these, it may be supposed they worked upon the common people. The Persic version reads, "commanded", instead of "persuaded",

that they should ask Barabbas
to be released to them,

and destroy Jesus;
for nothing short of that would satisfy them: they thirsted after his blood, and were bent upon his death: to release Barabbas, if Jesus was not destroyed, would not answer their end: they desired Barabbas's liberty for no other reason, but for the sake of the destruction of Jesus.

Mateo 27:20 In-Context

18 Porque sabía que por envidia le habían entregado

19 Y estando él sentado en el tribunal, su mujer envió a él, diciendo: No tengas que ver con aquel justo; porque hoy he padecido muchas cosas en sueños por causa de él

20 Mas los príncipes de los sacerdotes y los ancianos, persuadieron al pueblo que pidiera a Barrabás, y a Jesús matara

21 Y respondiendo el gobernador les dijo: ¿Cuál de los dos queréis que os suelte? Y ellos dijeron: a Barrabás

22 Pilato les dijo: ¿Qué pues haré de Jesús que se dice el Cristo? Le dicen todos: Sea colgado en un madero