223. Pilate’s Unsuccessful Attempts to Release the Lord. Mt. 27:15–23; Mk. 15:6–14; Lk. 23:13–23; Jn. 18:39–40

When the Lord returned from Herod, Pilate, calling together the chief priests, and the magistrates, and the people, said to them: You brought this man to me as one perverting the people; and behold, I have examined him before you and have found him guilty of none of the things of which you accuse him, and Herod also, for I sent you to him; and nothing worthy of death is found in him. Therefore, having punished him, I will release him.

Now he was obliged to release to them one prisoner at the festival, for it was his custom at the Passover festival to release to the people one prisoner whom they wished and for whom they asked, and him he would release to them. And the people, remembering this, began to cry out and to ask Pilate for what he always did for them. Pilate wished to turn this to the benefit of the one unjustly accused and said to them in answer: Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him from envy. And to the chief priests themselves he turned with the same word: You have a custom that I release to you one at the Passover; do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?

But while he sat on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying: Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much in a dream because of him today. By this Pilate’s attention was somewhat diverted from the people; and the chief priests and elders succeeded in persuading the people and roused them to ask instead for the release of Barabbas and for the destruction of the Lord Jesus. So, when Pilate turned again to the people, expecting an answer, all the people cried out: Not him, but Barabbas.

Now Barabbas was a robber who had been put in prison for a revolt that had taken place in the city and for murder, and was sitting there with other rebels who had committed murder during the revolt.

Pilate, confused by such a demand from the people, asked them again: Which of the two do you want me to release to you, Barabbas or Jesus, called the Christ? They cried out again: Barabbas.

Pilate said to them: What then shall I do with Jesus, called the Christ? What do you wish me to do with him whom you call the King of the Jews? They all cried out to him: Let him be crucified! Crucify him! Condemn him, and release Barabbas to us!

Pilate again raised his voice, wishing to release the Lord Jesus. But they cried out even more loudly: Crucify, crucify him!

He said to them a third time: What evil has he done? I find nothing in him worthy of death. Therefore, having punished him, I will release him. But they continued with a great clamor to demand that he be crucified.

And their clamor and that of the chief priests prevailed: Pilate decided to grant their request; he released to them Barabbas, who had been put in prison for rebellion and murder, whom they asked for.