Luke 23:17

17 For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.]^{[a] [b]}

Luke 23:17 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 23:17

For of necessity he must release one
And therefore proposed to release Jesus

unto them at the feast;
of passover, which now was; not that there was any law that obliged to it, but it having been customary with the Roman governor to do so, the people expected it; custom had made it necessary: and so the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions render it, "it was a custom to release" not at each feast, or every feast, as the last of these versions read, only at the passover, as is expressed, ( John 18:39 ) .

Luke 23:17 In-Context

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; to discipline or "teach a lesson"; 1 Kg 12:11 , 14 LXX; 2 Ch 10:11 , 14 ; perhaps a way of referring to the Roman scourging; Lat flagellatio and [then] release Him." [

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.)

Footnotes

• [a] Other mss omit bracketed text
• [b] Mt 27:15; Mk 15:6