Matthew 27:15

27:15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, ¹  whomever they wanted.

Matthew 27:21

27:21 The ²  governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!”

Matthew 27:11

Jesus and Pilate

27:11 Then ³  Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ⁴  “Are you the king ⁵  of the Jews?” Jesus ⁶  said, “You say so.” ⁷ 

[27:15]  ¹ sn The custom of Pilate to release one prisoner is unknown outside the gospels in Jewish writings, but it was a Roman custom at the time and thus probably used in Palestine as well (cf. Matt 27:15; John 18:39).

[27:21]  ² tn Grk “answering, the governor said to them.” This construction is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:11]  ³ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[27:11]  ⁴ tn Grk “asked him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[27:11]  ⁵ sn “Are you the king of the Jews?” Pilate was interested in this charge because of its political implications of sedition against Rome.

[27:11]  ⁶ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:11]  ⁷ sn The reply “You say so” is somewhat enigmatic, like Jesus’ earlier reply to the Jewish leadership in 26:64.