John 18:39-40
But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Pilate's question, "Will you let me release your King of the Jews?" is dripping with sarcasm. He uses the established Passover custom not to genuinely seek justice for Jesus, but to mockingly highlight the absurdity of Jesus being called a king by the very people who want him dead. This exposes Pilate's own manipulative attempt to shift blame and avoid responsibility by appealing to the crowd's expectations.
Pilate, having already declared Jesus innocent and perhaps already offered to have him flogged, now makes a last-ditch effort to avoid sentencing Him to death. He reminds the crowd of the Passover custom of releasing a prisoner and mockingly offers them a choice between Jesus, "the King of the Jews," and Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer. The crowd, stirred up by the chief priests, cries out for Barabbas instead, demanding Jesus be crucified.
Understand the original words
pascha · Greek Noun
A Jewish festival commemorating the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. It serves as a shadow of the ultimate deliverance from sin through the blood of Christ, the true Passover Lamb.
lēstēs · Greek Noun
A person who takes property by force or deceit; a bandit or revolutionary, representing the violent and lawless nature of the fallen world that rejects the Messiah.
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This verse highlights a Passover custom, likely introduced by Roman governors to curry favor or quell unrest during the festival. Pilate uses this custom, and Jesus' title 'King of the Jews,' sarcastically, forcing the crowd to choose between a criminal and the Messiah, revealing their true allegiance and Pilate's political maneuvering.
c. AD 27-30
Pilate's Governorship in Judea
Pontius Pilate served as the Roman prefect (governor) of Judea. His tenure was marked by a desire to maintain Roman authority, sometimes leading to insensitivity towards Jewish customs and religious feelings.
During Passover week, c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Arrest and Trial
Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem, leading to a series of trials before Jewish authorities and then Roman officials, including Pontius Pilate.
The day before Passover, c. AD 27-30— this verse
Pilate offers to release a prisoner
Pilate, seeking to appease the crowd and perhaps avoid further unrest during the significant Passover festival, offered to release a prisoner as per custom.
The same day, c. AD 27-30
Crowd chooses Barabbas
The crowd, instigated by the chief priests and elders, demanded the release of Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer, instead of Jesus.
This passage describes the same custom of releasing a prisoner during the Passover festival, highlighting the crowd's choice of Barabbas over Jesus and Pilate's attempt to appease them.
Mark 15:6Similar to John, Mark also mentions Pilate's offer to release a prisoner at the feast, providing another perspective on this significant Passover tradition and the crowd's demands.
Luke 23:17Luke's Gospel recounts the custom of releasing a prisoner during the feast, emphasizing Pilate's attempt to satisfy the crowd and their insistence on releasing Barabbas.
John 1:49This verse introduces Jesus as the 'King of Israel' to Nathanael, directly linking to Pilate's sarcastic title 'King of the Jews' and highlighting the spiritual nature of Jesus' kingship.
John 18:36Jesus' own statement that His kingdom is 'not of this world' directly contrasts with the political and earthly expectations implied by Pilate's question, revealing the true nature of Jesus' kingship.
vincentJohn 18:39: "But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?"
Ye have a customThe word συνήθεια, custom, originally means intimacy, habitual intercourse, and thence naturally passes into the meaning of habit or custom. Only John puts the statement of this custom into the mouth of Pilate. Matthew and Mark relate it as a fact.At the Passover (ἐν τῷ πάσχα)More specific than Matthew and Mark, where the ex…
henryJohn 18:33-40: "Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?"
18:33-40 Art thou the King of the Jews? that King of the Jews who has been so long expected? Messiah the Prince; art thou he? Dost thou call thyself so, and wouldest thou be thought so? Christ answered this question with another; not for evasion, but that Pilate might consider what he did. He never took upon him any earthly power, never were any traitorous princ…
Pilate's question, "Will you let me release your King of the Jews?" is dripping with sarcasm. He uses the established Passover custom not to genuinely seek justice for Jesus, but to mockingly highlight the absurdity of Jesus being called a king by the very people who want him dead. This exposes Pilate's own manipulative attempt to shift blame and avoid responsibility by appealing to the crowd's expectations.
Pilate, having already declared Jesus innocent and perhaps already offered to have him flogged, now makes a last-ditch effort to avoid sentencing Him to death. He reminds the crowd of the Passover custom of releasing a prisoner and mockingly offers them a choice between Jesus, "the King of the Jews," and Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer. The crowd, stirred up by the chief priests, cries out for Barabbas instead, demanding Jesus be crucified.
Pilate, having already declared Jesus innocent and perhaps already offered to have him flogged, now makes a last-ditch effort to avoid sentencing Him to death. He reminds the crowd of the Passover custom of releasing a prisoner and mockingly offers them a choice between Jesus, "the King of the Jews," and Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer. The crowd, stirred up by the chief priests, cries out for Barabbas instead, demanding Jesus be crucified.
"But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber." — Pilate's question, "Will you let me release your King of the Jews?" is dripping with sarcasm. He uses the established Passover custom not to genuinely seek justice for Jesus, but to mockingly highlig…
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