Barabbas

15At that feast the governor always set one prisoner free. The crowd chose which prisoner it would be.

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

NoteThe feast was Passover. It was a big holiday. People remembered how God brought their families out of Egypt long ago.

16At that time they were holding a well-known prisoner named Barabbas.

And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

NoteBarabbas was well known for fighting against the Roman rulers. People saw him as dangerous.

17The crowd gathered. Pilate asked them, "Which one should I set free? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

NoteThe word Christ means God's chosen one.

18Pilate knew why they had handed Jesus over to him. They were jealous of him.

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

19Pilate was sitting in the judge's seat. His wife sent him a message. It said, "Do not do anything to that good man. I had a bad dream about him today, and it upset me."

When 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.

NoteThe judge's seat was a special chair out where everyone could see. A ruler sat there to decide cases.

20But the chief priests and leaders talked the crowd into it. The crowd should ask for Barabbas and have Jesus killed.

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

21The governor asked them, "Which of the two should I set free?" They said, "Barabbas."

The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

22Pilate said, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Nail him to a cross!"

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

NoteBeing nailed to a cross was how Romans killed people. They did it outside, where crowds could watch.

23The governor said, "Why? What wrong has he done?" But they shouted even louder, "Nail him to a cross!"

And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

24Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, and a riot was starting. So he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, "I am not guilty of this good man's death. It is your doing."

When 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.

NoteWashing his hands was a sign everyone understood. It meant, "This is not my fault."

25All the people answered, "Let the blame be on us and on our children."

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

NoteThey were saying they would take the blame themselves.

26So Pilate set Barabbas free. He had Jesus whipped. Then he handed him over to be nailed to a cross.

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

NoteRoman soldiers whipped people before a cross. It hurt very much.

6At the feast each year, Pilate set one prisoner free. The people chose which one.

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

NoteThe feast was Passover, a big holiday each spring. Crowds of people came to the city for it.

7A man named Barabbas was locked up. He was with men who had fought against the rulers. Those men had killed someone in that fighting.

And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

NoteRome ruled the land with soldiers. Some men fought back and tried to push them out.

8The crowd came to Pilate. They asked him to do what he always did.

And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

9Pilate asked them, "Do you want me to set free the King of the Jews?"

But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

10He knew the leading priests had handed Jesus over because they were jealous of him.

For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

11But the leading priests stirred up the crowd. The people asked for Barabbas to be set free instead.

But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

12So Pilate asked again, "Then what should I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?"

And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

13They shouted back, "Nail him to a cross!"

And they cried out again, Crucify him.

NoteA cross was two big pieces of wood. Roman soldiers nailed people to one to kill them. It was the worst punishment they had.

14Pilate said, "Why? What wrong has he done?" They shouted even louder, "Nail him to a cross!"

Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

15Pilate wanted to make the crowd happy. So he set Barabbas free. He had Jesus whipped and handed him over to be nailed to a cross.

And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

NoteA Roman whip had sharp bits tied into it. Being whipped like that hurt very badly.

13Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people.

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14He said to them, "You brought me this man. You said he was stirring up the people. I asked him questions in front of you. I did not find him guilty of what you say.

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

15Herod did not find him guilty either. I sent you to him. This man has done nothing that he should die for.

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

16So I will have him whipped. Then I will let him go."

I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

NoteRoman soldiers whipped prisoners with a whip. It hurt very much.

17(At the feast each year, Pilate had to set one prisoner free.)

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

NoteThe feast was Passover. Every year, crowds came to Jerusalem for it.

18But they all shouted together, "Take this man away! Set Barabbas free for us!"

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

19(Barabbas was in prison for starting a fight against the rulers, and for killing someone.)

(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

NoteBarabbas had tried to fight the Romans who ruled the land.

20Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. So he spoke to them again.

Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

21But they shouted, "Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!"

But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

NoteA cross was two wooden beams. The Romans killed people on crosses.

22He said to them a third time, "Why? What wrong has he done? I have found no reason to put him to death. So I will have him whipped and let him go."

And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23But they kept shouting louder and louder. They demanded that Jesus be nailed to a cross. Their loud shouting won.

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24So Pilate decided to do what they asked.

And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

25He set free the man they wanted. That man was in prison for fighting the rulers and for killing. And he handed Jesus over to them.

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

38Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" Then he went back out to the Jewish leaders. He told them, "I find nothing this man has done wrong.

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

NoteThe words "no fault at all" were a judge's way of saying not guilty.

39But you have a custom. Every Passover I set one prisoner free for you. Do you want me to free the King of the Jews?"

But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

NoteEach Passover the governor let one prisoner go free. It was a gift to the crowds who came for the feast.

40They all shouted back, "Not this man! Give us Barabbas!" Barabbas was a robber.

Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

NoteThe old wording calls Barabbas "a robber". That word could also mean a fighter who attacked people and stole.