Mark 15:9

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

Mark 15:9 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 15:9

But Pilate answered them; saying
Being satisfied of the innocence of Jesus, and being willing to dismiss him:

will ye that I release unto you the king of the Jews?
he who is called so; and which he either said by way of derision both of Christ, and them; or else in order to prevail upon them to ask his release, it being scandalous and reproachful to put their king to death.

Mark 15:9 In-Context

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.

11 But the high priests by then had worked up the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas.