Mark 15:6

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.

American Standard Version (1901)

Now at the feast he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.

Bible in Basic English

Now at the feast every year he let one prisoner go free at their request.

Free Bible Version

Now it was Pilate's custom at the Passover feast to release a prisoner to the people, whoever they requested.

Geneva Bible 1599

Nowe at the feast, Pilate did deliuer a prisoner vnto them, whomesoeuer they woulde desire.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

One Unity Resource Bible

Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.

Plain English Version

Every year, at the ceremony time called Passover, Pilate always did something special for the people in Jerusalem. He let one prisoner go free from the jail.

Translation for Translators

It was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one person who was in prison. He customarily released whichever prisoner the people requested.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Now at the time of the feast, Pilate usually released to them one prisoner, a prisoner they requested.

Noah Webster Bible

Now at that feast he released to them one prisoner, whom they desired.

World English Bible

Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whomever they asked of him.

Young's Literal Translation

And at every feast he was releasing to them one prisoner, whomsoever they were asking;

Context

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

⁵But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply. ⁶Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.⁷And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.

Sermons

5 Resurrection Words for Action

George Verwer

1.3K

Summary

In this verse, during the trial of Jesus before Pilate, it is recorded that Pilate used the custom of releasing a prisoner to the crowd during the feast. Pilate offered to release either Barabbas, a notorious prisoner, or Jesus, whom he knew was innocent. This choice presented a stark contrast between the guilty Barabbas and the blameless Jesus, foreshadowing the substitutionary atonement that Jesus would provide for humanity by taking the place of sinners. The crowd's decision to release Barabbas instead of Jesus symbolizes the rejection of the true Savior, illustrating the depth of human sinfulness and the necessity of Christ's sacrificial death for salvation.

Commentary

John Gill
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

Now at that feast,.... The feast of the passover, which was at that instant; see Joh 18:39. The Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "at every feast"; as if the following custom was used at every feast in the year, at the feasts of pentecost and tabernacles, as well as at the passover; whereas it was only at the latter: he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired; of this custom See Gill on Mat 27:15.