Matthew 27:21

21 And the governor answering said to them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.

Matthew 27:21 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:21

The governor answered and said unto them
A second time, after some time had been allowed and taken up to consider of the matter, and which the chief priests and elders improved among the people against Jesus.

Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?
for as these two were proposed, one of them must be released; and it lay in the breast of the people to choose which they would:

they said, Barabbas;
so that Christ was not only numbered among, and reckoned with transgressors, but he was accounted worse than the worst of them; a seditious person, a robber, and a murderer was preferred before him: see ( Acts 3:14 ) .

Matthew 27:21 In-Context

19 But, as he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous [man]; for I have suffered to-day many things in a dream because of him.

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should beg for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

21 And the governor answering said to them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.

22 Pilate says to them, What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.

23 And the governor said, What evil then has he done? But they cried more than ever, saying, Let him be crucified.