Lukas 23:17

17 [Now he was obliged to release to them one at the Chag (Festival).]

Lukas 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 ) .

Lukas 23:17 In-Context

15 And neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us, and, hinei, nothing worthy of mishpat mavet has been done by him.

16 Therefore, having disciplined him, I will release him.

17 [Now he was obliged to release to them one at the Chag (Festival).]

18 But they cried out with one kol, saying, Away with this one! And release to us Bar-Abba!

19 (Bar-Abba was a man who was thrown into the beis hasohar, because of some insurrection which occurred in HaIr as well as a retzach.)