Pontius Pilate give the Jews a choice of letting Jesus or Barabbas free. The hateful crowd shouted to Pilate to let Barabbas, the murderer, go free and to turn Jesus over to them.
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”23 And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.”25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
Matthew 27
17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
