Matthew 27:15

15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.

Matthew 27:15 in Other Translations

15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted.

15 It was an old custom during the Feast for the governor to pardon a single prisoner named by the crowd.

15 At the festival the governor's custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted.

Matthew 27:15 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:15

Now at [that] feast
The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, "at every feast": which looks as if the authors of these versions thought the sense was, that the following custom was used at each feast in the year, at the feasts of pentecost, and tabernacles, and passover; whereas it was only at the feast of the passover; and which is meant by the feast here, as is clear from ( John 18:39 ) . It was but once a year that this was done; at every returning passover; and so the Persic version renders it, "every year on the day of the feast"; that is, of the passover, and which was frequently called by way of emphasis, (gx) , "the feast":

the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom
they would.
It was not a law, but a custom; it was not enjoined by the law of Moses; for they that sinned against that; died without mercy: nor is it agreeable to strict justice, that there should be such a release of criminals; nor was it a Jewish custom, as an emblem of their deliverance out of Egyptian bondage. I have not met with the least trace of any such custom of theirs at the time of the pass over in any of their writings; but it seems to be a Roman one: and from all the accounts of the evangelist, it appears to be peculiar to the Roman governor, who, either by the order of Caesar, or of himself, introduced such a custom to get the favour of the people; for it was to them the release was made, and the person, whom they pleased; and this being repeated annually for some time, was expected by them, and at last became necessary.

Matthew 27:15 In-Context

13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”

14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.

16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas.

17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

Cross References

• 1. John 18:39