Mark 15:6

6 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner—anyone the people requested.

Mark 15:6 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 15:6

Now at that feast
The feast of the passover, which was at that instant; see ( John 18:39 ) . The Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "at every feast"; as if the following custom was used at every feast in the year, at the feasts of pentecost and tabernacles, as well as at the passover; whereas it was only at the latter:

he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired;
of this custom (See Gill on Matthew 27:15).

Mark 15:6 In-Context

4 and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?”

5 But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.

6 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner—anyone the people requested.

7 One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising.

8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual.