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◄ Matthew 27:21►

New International Version
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered.

New Living Translation
So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”

English Standard Version
The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.

Berean Literal Bible
And the governor answering said to them, "Which of the two do you desirethat I release to you?" And they said, "Barabbas."

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

New King James Version
The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”

New American Standard Bible
And the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

NASB 1995
But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

NASB 1977
But the governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But the governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

Amplified Bible
The governor said to them, “Which of the two do you wish me to set free for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

Christian Standard Bible
The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you? ” “Barabbas! ” they answered.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?"” Barabbas!” they answered.

American Standard Version
But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.

Contemporary English Version
Pilate asked the crowd again, "Which of these two men do you want me to set free?" "Barabbas!" they shouted.

English Revised Version
But the governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to free for you?" They said, "Barabbas."

Good News Translation
But Pilate asked the crowd, "Which one of these two do you want me to set free for you?" "Barabbas!" they answered.

International Standard Version
So the governor asked them, "Which of the two men do you want me to release for you?" "Barabbas!" they replied.

NET Bible
The governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas!"

New Heart English Bible
But the governor answered them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas."

Webster's Bible Translation
The governor answered and said to them, Which of the two will ye that I release to you? They said, Barabbas.

Weymouth New Testament
So when the Governor a second time asked them, "Which of the two shall I release to you?" --they cried, "Barabbas!"

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.

World English Bible
But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and the governor answering said to them, “Which of the two will you [that] I may release to you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

Berean Literal Bible
And the governor answering said to them, "Which of the two do you desirethat I release to you?" And they said, "Barabbas."

Young's Literal Translation
and the governor answering said to them, 'Which of the two will ye that I shall release to you?' And they said, 'Barabbas.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the leader having answered, said to them, Which of the two will ye I shall loose to you? And they said, Barabbas.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, in response, the procurator said to them, “Which of the two do you want to be released to you?” But they said to him, “Barabbas.”

New American Bible
The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas!”

New Revised Standard Version
The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the governor answered and said to them, Which of these two do you want me to release to you? They said, Bar-Abbas.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Governor answered and said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you of the two?” But they said, “Barabba.”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
The governor answered and said to them: Which of the two do you wish me to release to you? They replied: Barabbas.

Godbey New Testament
And the governor responding said to them, Which of the two do you wish that I shall release unto you? And they said Barabbas.

Haweis New Testament
The governor repeating the question, said to them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? They said Barabbas.

Mace New Testament
the governor therefore having asked, which of the two would you have me release? they said, Barabbas.

Weymouth New Testament
So when the Governor a second time asked them, "Which of the two shall I release to you?" --they cried, "Barabbas!"

Worrell New Testament
And the governor, answering, said to them, "Which of the two do ye desire that I should release to you?" And they said, Barabbas."

Worsley New Testament
And the governor said to them, Which of the two would you have me release to you? and they said, Barabbas.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
…20But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.21“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”asked the governor.“Barabbas,”they replied.22“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Mark 15:9-11
“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked. / For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. / But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.

Luke 23:18-20
But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” / (Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) / Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again,

John 18:39-40
But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” / “Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)

Acts 3:13-14
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him. / You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

John 19:15
At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.

Matthew 20:18-19
“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death / and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. And on the third day He will be raised to life.”

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Zechariah 11:12-13
Then I told them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver. / And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent price at which they valued me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

Psalm 22:6-8
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. / All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

John 1:11
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Acts 13:28
And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.

Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Psalm 118:22-23
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. / This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

1 Peter 2:4
As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,

Matthew 26:66
What do you think?” “He deserves to die,” they answered.

Treasury of Scripture

The governor answered and said to them, Whether of the two will you that I release to you? They said, Barabbas.

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Matthew 27

1.Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate.
3.Judas hangs himself.
19.Pilate, admonished of his wife,
20.and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas.
27.Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns;
33.crucified;
39.reviled;
50.dies, and is buried;
62.his tomb is sealed and watched.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

Which of the two do you want me to release to you?
This question is posed by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, during the trial of Jesus. Pilate's role as governor included maintaining order and administering justice, often involving difficult decisions to appease both Roman authorities and local populations. The choice presented to the crowd reflects a custom during the Passover festival where a prisoner could be released, symbolizing mercy and freedom. This practice is not detailed in Jewish law but is understood as a Roman concession to the Jewish people. The choice between Jesus and Barabbas is significant, as it highlights the stark contrast between the two figures: Jesus, the innocent and righteous one, and Barabbas, a known criminal. This moment underscores the theme of substitutionary atonement, where the innocent suffers in place of the guilty.

asked the governor.
Pontius Pilate, as the Roman governor, held significant authority over the region. His involvement in the trial of Jesus is crucial, as it fulfills the prophecy of Jesus being handed over to the Gentiles (Matthew 20:19). Pilate's questioning reflects his attempt to navigate the political tensions between maintaining Roman authority and placating the Jewish leaders and populace. His role in the trial is marked by indecision and attempts to absolve himself of responsibility, as seen in his symbolic washing of hands (Matthew 27:24).

“Barabbas,” they replied.
Barabbas, whose name means "son of the father," is described in the Gospels as a notorious prisoner involved in insurrection and murder (Mark 15:7,Luke 23:19). The crowd's choice of Barabbas over Jesus is a profound moment of irony and tragedy, as they choose a violent revolutionary over the Prince of Peace. This decision reflects the spiritual blindness and rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by the people, fulfilling the prophecy ofIsaiah 53:3, where the suffering servant is despised and rejected. The release of Barabbas instead of Jesus serves as a powerful illustration of the gospel message: the guilty are set free while the innocent takes their place, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the sins of humanity.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Pontius Pilate
The Roman governor of Judea who presided over the trial of Jesus. He is depicted as a conflicted leader, trying to appease the crowd while recognizing Jesus' innocence.

2.Barabbas
A notorious prisoner chosen by the crowd to be released instead of Jesus. His name means "son of the father," which is ironic given the choice between him and Jesus, the true Son of the Father.

3.The Crowd
The assembly of people in Jerusalem who were influenced by the chief priests and elders to demand the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus.

4.Jesus Christ
The central figure of the Christian faith, who is unjustly condemned to crucifixion despite His innocence.

5.Jerusalem
The city where these events took place, significant in Jewish history and prophecy, and the location of Jesus' crucifixion.

Teaching Points

The Nature of Human Choice
The crowd's choice of Barabbas over Jesus reflects the human tendency to choose sin and rebellion over righteousness. This calls us to examine our own choices and align them with God's will.

The Irony of Substitution
Barabbas, a guilty man, is set free while Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, is condemned. This illustrates the substitutionary atonement of Christ, who took our place on the cross.

Influence and Responsibility
The crowd was swayed by the religious leaders, reminding us of the importance of discernment and personal responsibility in our decisions.

God's Sovereignty in Redemption
Despite the apparent injustice, God's redemptive plan was fulfilled through Jesus' crucifixion. This reassures us of God's control and purpose in our lives, even in difficult circumstances.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of Matthew 27:21?

2.Why did the crowd choose Barabbas over Jesus in Matthew 27:21?

3.How does Matthew 27:21 illustrate human nature's tendency to reject truth?

4.What Old Testament prophecies align with the events in Matthew 27:21?

5.How can we avoid making choices based on popular opinion, like in Matthew 27:21?

6.In what ways does Matthew 27:21 challenge our understanding of justice and mercy?

7.Why did the crowd choose Barabbas over Jesus in Matthew 27:21?

8.What does Matthew 27:21 reveal about human nature and decision-making?

9.How does Matthew 27:21 challenge the concept of justice?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 27?

11.Who was Barabbas in the Bible?

12.Who is accountable for the death of Christ?

13.In Matthew 27:15-26, the tradition of releasing a prisoner at Passover is mentioned; where is the historical evidence for this practice?

14.How do the events described in Mark 15 align with differing crucifixion accounts in the other Gospels?

What Does Matthew 27:21 Mean

Which of the two do you want me to release to you?

- Matthew tells us that “it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing” (Matthew 27:15). Pilate honors that custom here, intentionally narrowing the choice to Jesus or Barabbas.

- The scene echoes God’s pattern of setting choices before people: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

- Joshua had once challenged Israel, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Pilate’s question likewise forces a public decision about Jesus.

- InJohn 18:39 Pilate words the offer this way: “But it is your custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So do you want me to release the King of the Jews?”. By calling Jesus “King,” Pilate highlights His innocence and royal claim, sharpening the contrast with Barabbas.

- The moment exposes every heart. Jesus, the spotless Lamb (1 Peter 1:19), stands beside a proven criminal, and the people must decide which one they truly desire.

asked the governor

- Civil authority is on display: “There is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1). Though Pilate represents Rome, his power is ultimately delegated by God, as Jesus reminds him: “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:11).

- Pilate’s question sounds neutral, yet it reveals his struggle. Three times he will declare Jesus innocent (Luke 23:4, 14, 22), but fear of the crowd keeps him from acting on that conviction.

- The governor’s inquiry underscores accountability. Leaders cannot escape responsibility by pushing decisions onto others (James 2:1). Pilate hopes the crowd will free him from moral duty; instead, their answer deepens his dilemma.

Barabbas, they replied

- All four Gospels concur that the crowd chooses Barabbas (Mark 15:11;Luke 23:18;John 18:40). Mark notes he was “in prison with the rebels who had committed murder in the uprising” (Mark 15:7).

-Acts 3:14 recalls the choice: “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you”. The contrast is stark—light versus darkness, innocence versus violence.

- Their selection fulfills prophecy.Isaiah 53:3 foretold Messiah would be “despised and rejected by men.” The people prefer a violent insurrectionist over the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

- Substitution shines through. Barabbas walks free because Jesus takes his place on the cross, a living picture of2 Corinthians 5:21: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God”.

- The crowd’s cry exposes the human heart: without the Spirit’s renewal (John 3:3), we naturally reject God’s Son and cling to sin.

summary

Matthew 27:21 records a decisive moment where choice, authority, and substitution converge. Pilate offers a clear option between the sinless Son of God and a notorious criminal. The governor’s question spotlights human responsibility, while the crowd’s answer reveals mankind’s fallen preference for darkness over light. Yet God uses even this rejection to advance His redemptive plan: Jesus is condemned so that sinners—symbolized by Barabbas—can go free.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. -Answered, to the various cries which reached him.Whether of the twain?Which of the two? He repeats the question before asked (ver. 17), having given the multitude time for deliberation, and offering them no alternative but to choose one of these two prisoners.Barabbas. They prefer a murderer to the Prince of life - a selection on their part guilty and malevolent, but on the part of God necessary for our salvation (Quesnel). Truly, Jesus "was despised and rejected of men." If he had been released now, his liberation would not have been, as it ought to have been, an act of simple justice, but an imperial concession, an act of grace, in which the character of the prisoner was not regarded.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

“Which
Τίνα(Tina)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101:Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

of
ἀπὸ(apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575:From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

the
τῶν(tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

two
δύο(dyo)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417:Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

do you want
θέλετε(thelete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2309:To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

me to release
ἀπολύσω(apolysō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 630:From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce.

to you?”
ὑμῖν(hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

asked
Ἀποκριθεὶς(Apokritheis)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 611:From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

the
ὁ(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

governor.
ἡγεμὼν(hēgemōn)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2232:From hegeomai; a leader, i.e. Chief person of a province.

“Barabbas,”
Βαραββᾶν(Barabban)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 912:Barabbas. Of Chaldee origin; son of Abba; Bar-abbas, an Israelite.

they replied.
εἶπαν(eipan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

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NT Gospels: Matthew 27:21 But the governor answered them Which (Matt. Mat Mt)