Luke 23:17

17 ( Now he was obliged to release one for them at the feast.)

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 nor Herod either, for I remitted you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done by him.

16 Having chastised him therefore, I will release him.

17 ( Now he was obliged to release one for them at the feast.)

18 But they cried out in a mass saying, Away with this [man] and release Barabbas to us;

19 who was one who, for a certain tumult which had taken place in the city, and [for] murder, had been cast into prison