John 18:39

39 ἔστιν δὲ συνήθεια ὑμῖν ἵνα ἕνα ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν ⸃ ἐν τῷ πάσχα · βούλεσθε οὖν ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν ⸅ τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων;

John 18:39 Meaning and Commentary

John 18:39

But ye have a custom
Not a law, either of God or man's, but a custom; and which was not originally observed at the feast of the passover, and perhaps was not of any long standing; but what the Roman governors, by the order of Caesar, or of their own pleasure, had introduced to ingratiate themselves into the affections of the people; and being repeated once and again, was now looked for: that I should release unto you one at the passover;
which was at this time; and more than one it seems it was not customary, to release: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
who they had said called himself so, and was so accounted by others, and which Pilate says, in a sneering, sarcastic way; though he was heartily willing to release him, and was in hopes they would have agreed to it, since nothing could be proved against him; however, he proposes it to them, and leaves it to their option.

John 18:39 In-Context

37 εἶπεν οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος · Οὐκοῦν βασιλεὺς εἶ σύ; ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς · Σὺ λέγεις ὅτι βασιλεύς εἰμι. ἐγὼ εἰς τοῦτο γεγέννημαι καὶ εἰς τοῦτο ἐλήλυθα εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα μαρτυρήσω τῇ ἀληθείᾳ · πᾶς ὁ ὢν ἐκ τῆς ἀληθείας ἀκούει μου τῆς φωνῆς.

38 λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος · Τί ἐστιν ἀλήθεια; Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν πάλιν ἐξῆλθεν πρὸς τοὺς Ἰουδαίους, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς · Ἐγὼ οὐδεμίαν εὑρίσκω ἐν αὐτῷ αἰτίαν ⸃·

39 ἔστιν δὲ συνήθεια ὑμῖν ἵνα ἕνα ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν ⸃ ἐν τῷ πάσχα · βούλεσθε οὖν ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν ⸅ τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων;

40 ἐκραύγασαν οὖν πάλιν λέγοντες · Μὴ τοῦτον ἀλλὰ τὸν Βαραββᾶν. ἦν δὲ ὁ Βαραββᾶς λῃστής.