Matthew 27:17

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?

Therefore {G3767} when they {G846} were gathered together {G4863}, Pilate {G4091} said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Whom {G5101} will ye {G2309} that I release {G630} unto you {G5213}? Barabbas {G912}, or {G2228} Jesus {G2424} which {G3588} is called {G3004} Christ {G5547}?

So when a crowd had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to set free for you? Bar-Abba? or Yeshua, called `the Messiah'?"

So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?

Commentary

Context

Matthew 27:17 places us at a pivotal moment in the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. It was a custom during the Passover feast for the Roman governor to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd, perhaps as a gesture of goodwill or to appease the populace. Pilate, sensing Jesus' innocence and likely hoping to avoid a political disturbance, presents the crowd with a stark choice. This verse sets the stage for the dramatic decision that would seal Jesus' immediate fate, highlighting the immense pressure on Pilate and the manipulative influence of the chief priests and elders on the people (as seen in Matthew 27:20).

Key Themes

  • The Choice Presented: The verse underlines a profound choice between two very different figures: Barabbas, a notorious prisoner (described elsewhere as a robber and insurrectionist, John 18:40; Mark 15:7), and Jesus, "which is called Christ." This choice symbolizes the ultimate decision humanity faces between worldly rebellion and divine truth.
  • Justice Subverted by Popular Opinion: Pilate's question reveals his attempt to find a way to release Jesus, whom he found innocent. However, the crowd's eventual choice, fueled by the religious leaders, demonstrates how popular opinion and political pressure can tragically override truth and justice.
  • Jesus' Identity as Christ: The phrase "Jesus which is called Christ" emphasizes His messianic identity. Pilate, perhaps inadvertently, acknowledges the title that was central to the charges against Jesus, yet the crowd is asked to reject the very one they had previously hailed (cf. the Triumphal Entry in Matthew 21:9).

Linguistic Insights

The term "Christ" (Greek: Christos) is not a surname but a title meaning "Anointed One" or "Messiah." It signifies Jesus' divine appointment as the long-awaited deliverer and King prophesied in the Old Testament. By presenting Jesus as "Jesus which is called Christ," Pilate clearly identifies the unique status and claim of Jesus in contrast to Barabbas. This title is crucial to understanding Jesus' mission and the very reason for the opposition He faced from the religious authorities who rejected His messianic claim.

Practical Application

Matthew 27:17 serves as a powerful reminder of the choices we face daily. Just as the crowd was presented with a choice between Barabbas (representing the world's ways, rebellion, and sin) and Christ (representing truth, salvation, and righteousness), so too are individuals continually called to choose. This verse challenges us to:

  • Examine Our Own Choices: Do we follow popular opinion, even when it contradicts truth, or do we stand for what is right, even if it means going against the current?
  • Recognize the Value of Truth: The narrative underscores how easily truth can be rejected when swayed by external pressures or personal desires. It calls us to seek and uphold truth above all else.
  • Affirm Jesus' Identity: For believers, this verse reaffirms Jesus' identity as the Christ, the Anointed One, who willingly suffered injustice to secure our salvation. It invites us to declare Him as Lord in our lives, unlike the crowd who rejected Him.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 19:15 (4 votes)

    But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

  • 1 Kings 18:21 (3 votes)

    ¶ And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

  • Joshua 24:15 (3 votes)

    ¶ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

  • Mark 15:9 (3 votes)

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

  • Mark 15:12 (3 votes)

    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?

  • Matthew 27:21 (1 votes)

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

  • Matthew 27:22 (1 votes)

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