Mark 15:8

8 The crowd asked Pilate to do for them what he always did.

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 At every Passover festival, Pilate would free one prisoner whom the people asked for.

7 There was a man named Barabbas in prison. He was with some rebels who had committed murder during a riot.

8 The crowd asked Pilate to do for them what he always did.

9 Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to free the king of the Jews for you?"

10 Pilate knew that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.