Mark 15:8

8 As the crowd came up and began to present its petition for him to release a prisoner,

Mark 15:8 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 15:8

And the multitude crying aloud
The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read, and when the "multitude", or "people went up", to the place called the pavement, where the judgment seat was; and so it is read in Beza's most ancient copy; but the former reading is to be preferred:

began to desire [him to do] as he had ever done to them:
that is, release a prisoner to them, as he had done at every passover, since he had been a governor over them.

Mark 15:8 In-Context

6 It was a custom at the Feast to release a prisoner, anyone the people asked for.

7 There was one prisoner called Barabbas, locked up with the insurrectionists who had committed murder during the uprising against Rome.

8 As the crowd came up and began to present its petition for him to release a prisoner,

9 Pilate anticipated them: "Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?"

10 Pilate knew by this time that it was through sheer spite that the high priests had turned Jesus over to him.