Matthew 27:15-26 Meaning: When Pilate Chose Barabbas
15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they desired.
16They had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas.
17When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
18For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.
19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.”
20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
21But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
22Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
23But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
24So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.”
25All the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!”
26Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.
15Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
15Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would.
16And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?
18For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up.
19And while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.
22Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.
23And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, Let him be crucified.
24So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it.
25And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.
15And at the feast the governor had been accustomed to release one to the multitude, a prisoner, whom they willed,
16and they had then a noted prisoner, called Barabbas,
17they therefore having been gathered together, Pilate said to them, `Whom will ye I shall release to you? Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?'
18for he had known that because of envy they had delivered him up.
19And as he is sitting on the tribunal, his wife sent unto him, saying, `Nothing--to thee and to that righteous one, for many things did I suffer to-day in a dream because of him.'
20And the chief priests and the elders did persuade the multitudes that they might ask for themselves Barabbas, and might destroy Jesus;
21and the governor answering said to them, `Which of the two will ye that I shall release to you?' And they said, `Barabbas.'
22Pilate saith to them, `What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all say to him, `Let be crucified!'
23And the governor said, `Why, what evil did he?' and they were crying out the more, saying, `Let be crucified.'
24And Pilate having seen that it profiteth nothing, but rather a tumult is made, having taken water, he did wash the hands before the multitude, saying, `I am innocent from the blood of this righteous one; ye--ye shall see;'
25and all the people answering said, `His blood is upon us, and upon our children!'
26Then did he release to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him up that he may be crucified;
15Now at [the] feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whom they would.
16And they had then a notable prisoner, named Barabbas.
17They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said to them, Whom will ye that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?
18For he knew that they had delivered him up through envy.
19But, as he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous [man]; for I have suffered to-day many things in a dream because of him.
20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should beg for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21And the governor answering said to them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.
22Pilate says to them, What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.
23And the governor said, What evil then has he done? But they cried more than ever, saying, Let him be crucified.
24And Pilate, seeing that it availed nothing, but that rather a tumult was arising, having taken water, washed his hands before the crowd, saying, I am guiltless of the blood of this righteous one: see ye [to it].
25And all the people answering said, His blood [be] on us and on our children.
26Then he released to them Barabbas; but Jesus, having scourged [him], he delivered up that he might be crucified.
Meaning in one sentence
Explore how Pilate's Passover custom to free a prisoner led to Jesus' crucifixion, revealing human rejection and God's sovereign plan.
Context
Matthew has brought us to the climax of his Gospel. Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, accused by the chief priests and elders. Pilate knows the charges are false, he sees their envy. A Passover custom lets him release one prisoner, and he hopes the crowd will choose Jesus. But the religious leaders stir up the mob, and they demand Barabbas, a notorious insurrectionist. Pilate tries again, even receiving a warning from his wife, who had a disturbing dream about Jesus. Yet the crowd shouts for crucifixion. Pilate washes his hands publicly, claiming innocence, and hands Jesus over to be flogged and killed. The scene is unjust, chaotic, and heartbreaking, and it sets the stage for the greatest act of love in history.
Key Words
Three Greek words in this passage open a window into what is really happening. First, phthonos (verse 18), often translated “envy.” It carries the sense of resentful ill will, the religious leaders did not hand Jesus over because He had done wrong, but because they could not stand His popularity and authority. Envy is an ugly motive we recognise in our own hearts.
Second, Pilate’s wife calls Jesus dikaios (verse 19), “righteous” or “just.” This is not a legal verdict but a moral declaration. She saw in a dream what everyone should have seen: this man was innocent, truly good. The word appears again in verse 24 when Pilate calls Him “this righteous person.” It reminds us that Jesus’ death was not a punishment He deserved; it was a gift He chose.
Third, Pilate uses the word athōos (verse 24), “innocent” or “guiltless.” He says, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.” But washing his hands cannot make him truly innocent. Only one person in the scene is innocent, Jesus. And His innocence becomes the ground of our forgiveness.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this passage as a lesson about human sin and divine grace. Many Protestant commentators emphasise Pilate’s cowardice and the crowd’s guilt, showing how easily people reject God when stirred by envy or manipulation. Catholic interpreters often see Pilate’s hand-washing as a symbol of futile attempts to avoid moral responsibility, the ritual cannot cleanse a guilty conscience. Eastern Orthodox readings highlight the injustice and irony: the righteous one is condemned, the guilty robber is freed.
Some traditions also point to the sovereignty of God, who allowed these evil human choices to fulfil His plan of salvation. All Christians agree that Jesus’ death was not an accident but the heart of God’s rescue mission.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to treat the crowd’s shout, “His blood be on us and on our children,” as a lasting curse on all Jewish people. In fact, this was a self-imprecation by that specific crowd on that day. The New Testament consistently teaches that Christ’s blood is offered for the salvation of all who believe. His blood does not curse, it cleanses. Taking this verse as a blanket curse has fueled terrible anti-Semitism, which contradicts the Gospel itself.
Living This Out
This passage confronts us with a quiet question: when given a choice between Jesus and something else, whom do we pick? The crowd chose Barabbas, a violent rebel who offered nothing. We may not shout for crucifixion, but every time we choose our comfort, our pride, or our sin over following Christ, we are saying the same thing. The good news is that Jesus did not come to condemn us for that choice. He went to the cross anyway. This week, you can bring your “Barabbas choices” to Him, confess them, and receive the same blood that was shed for that crowd, blood that forgives and makes new.
Main takeaway: Jesus was condemned in our place, so His blood, which the crowd rejected, can now be our salvation.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This is a sad part of the Easter story. The people had to choose between Jesus and a bad man named Barabbas. They chose the bad man. But Jesus still loved them. He died on the cross for them, and for you and me.
For ages 9, 12
Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but he let the crowd decide. They asked for a criminal and shouted for Jesus to be killed. It seems like everything went wrong, but God was working. Jesus died to take the punishment for our wrong choices, even the choices of the people who yelled that day. That is how much God loves us.
Questions People Ask
Why did Pilate wash his hands?
Pilate washed his hands as a public sign that he did not want to be responsible for Jesus’ death. It was a Roman and Jewish custom to show innocence. But washing hands doesn't make someone innocent, Pilate still had the power to free Jesus, and he chose to give in to the crowd.
What does 'His blood be on us and on our children' mean?
The crowd shouted this to say they accepted responsibility for Jesus’ death. It's a self-curse. However, Christians believe that Jesus’ blood can also be a blessing, it washes away sin for anyone who trusts Him. The Bible does not teach that this curse applies to all Jewish people forever.
Who was Barabbas?
Barabbas was a notorious prisoner, a robber and insurrectionist who had committed murder during a rebellion. Pilate offered the crowd a choice between him and Jesus. They chose to free a violent criminal and condemn the innocent Son of God.
Why did the crowd choose Barabbas over Jesus?
The chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to choose Barabbas. They stirred up envy and anger against Jesus, because He threatened their power. The crowd, whipped into a frenzy, went along with it. It shows how easily people can be led to reject God when their leaders are corrupt.
Does this passage teach that God planned Jesus’ crucifixion?
Christians believe that God's sovereign plan included Jesus’ death, but He did not make anyone sin. The evil choices of envy, manipulation, and cowardice were real human acts. Yet God used them to accomplish salvation. As Peter says in Acts, Jesus was 'handed over by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge,' but also 'killed by wicked men' (Acts 2:23). Both truths stand.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study