Matthew 27:16

27:16 At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus ¹  Barabbas.

Matthew 14:5

14:5 Although ²  Herod ³  wanted to kill John, ⁴  he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet.

Matthew 21:46

21:46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds ⁵  regarded him as a prophet.

[27:16]  ¹ tc Although the external evidence for the inclusion of “Jesus” before “Barabbas” (in vv. 16 and 17) is rather sparse, being restricted virtually to the Caesarean text (Θ Ë¹ 700* pc sy^s), the omission of the Lord’s name in apposition to “Barabbas” is such a strongly motivated reading that it can hardly be original. There is no good explanation for a scribe unintentionally adding ᾿Ιησοῦν (Ihsoun) before Βαραββᾶν (Barabban), especially since Barabbas is mentioned first in each verse (thus dittography is ruled out). Further, the addition of τὸν λεγόμενον Χριστόν (ton legomenon Criston, “who is called Christ”) to ᾿Ιησοῦν in v. 17 makes better sense if Barabbas is also called “Jesus” (otherwise, a mere “Jesus” would have been a sufficient appellation to distinguish the two).

[14:5]  ² tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[14:5]  ³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Herod) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:5]  ⁴ tn Grk “him” (also in the following phrase, Grk “accepted him”); in both cases the referent (John) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:46]  ³ tn Grk “they”; the referent (the crowds) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Both previous occurrences of “they” in this verse refer to the chief priests and the Pharisees.