Luke 23:17

17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the Feast.)

Luke 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 ) .

Luke 23:17 In-Context

15 No, nor yet Herod; for I sent you to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

16 I will therefore chastise him and release him."

17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the Feast.)

18 And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas"

19 (who had been cast into prison for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder)