Matthew 27:22

Literal Standard Version

Pilate says to them, "What then will I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all say to him, "Let [Him] be crucified!"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?”

King James Version (1611)
Pilate said vnto them, What shall I doe then with Iesus, which is called Christ? They all sayde vnto him, Let him be crucified.

King James Version
Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

English Standard Version
Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!"

New American Standard Bible
Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!"

New Century Version
Pilate asked, "So what should I do with Jesus, the one called the Christ?" They all answered, "Crucify him!"

Amplified Bible
Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all replied, "Let Him be crucified!"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!"

Legacy Standard Bible
Pilate *said to them, "Then, what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all *said, "Let Him be crucified!"

Berean Standard Bible
"What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify Him!"

Contemporary English Version
Pilate asked them, "What am I to do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?" They all yelled, "Nail him to a cross!"

Complete Jewish Bible
Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Yeshua, called ‘the Messiah'?" They all said, "Put him to death on the stake! Put him to death on the stake!"

Darby Translation
Pilate says to them, What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.

Easy-to-Read Version
Pilate asked, "So what should I do with Jesus, the one called the Messiah?" All the people said, "Kill him on a cross!"

Geneva Bible (1587)
Pilate said vnto them, What shal I do then with Iesus, which is called Christ? They all said to him, Let him be crucified.

George Lamsa Translation
Pilate said to them, What shall I then do with Jesus who is called the Christ? They all said, Let him be crucified.

Good News Translation
"What, then, shall I do with Jesus called the Messiah?" Pilate asked them. "Crucify him!" they all answered.

Lexham English Bible
Pilate said to them, "What then should I do with Jesus, the one who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!"

Literal Translation
Pilate said to them, What then should I do to Jesus being called Christ? They all say to him, Crucify Him !

American Standard Version
Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.

Bible in Basic English
Pilate says to them, What, then, am I to do with Jesus, who is named Christ? They all say, Let him be put to death on the cross.

Hebrew Names Version
Pilate said to them, "What then will I do to Yeshua, who is called Messiah?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!"

International Standard Version
Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Christ?"[fn] They all said, "Let him be crucified!"

Etheridge Translation
Pilatos saith to them, And to Jeshu who is called the Meshicha, what shall I do with him ? They all said, Let him be crucified.

Murdock Translation
Pilate said to them: And what shall I do to Jesus who is called Messiah? They all replied: Let him be crucified.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Pilate sayde vnto them: What shall I do then with Iesus, whiche is called Christe? They all sayde vnto hym: let hym be crucified.

English Revised Version
Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus which is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.

World English Bible
Pilate said to them, "What then will I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
They say, Barabbas. Pilate saith to them, What shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all say to him, Let him be crucified.

Weymouth's New Testament
"What then," said Pilate, "shall I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?" With one voice they shouted, "Let him be crucified!"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Pilat seith to hem, What thanne schal Y do of Jhesu, that is seid Crist?

Update Bible Version
Pilate says to them, What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.

Webster's Bible Translation
Pilate saith to them, What shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ? [They] all say to him, Let him be crucified.

New English Translation
Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?" They all said, "Crucify him!"

New King James Version
Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"

New Living Translation
Pilate responded, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" They shouted back, "Crucify him!"

New Life Bible
Pilate said to them, "Then what am I to do with Jesus Who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Nail Him to a cross!"

New Revised Standard
Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" All of them said, "Let him be crucified!"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Pilate saith unto them - What then shall I do unto Jesus, who is called Christ? They all say - Let him be crucified!

Douay-Rheims Bible
Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified.

Revised Standard Version
Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Pilate sayde vnto them: what shall I do then with Iesus which is called Christ? They all sayde to him: let him be crucified.

Young's Literal Translation
Pilate saith to them, `What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all say to him, `Let be crucified!'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Pylate sayde vnto them: What shal I do then with Iesus, which is called Christ? They sayde all: let him be crucified.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Pilate replied, what shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ? they all cried out, let him be crucified.

THE MESSAGE
"Then what do I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?" They all shouted, "Nail him to a cross!"

Simplified Cowboy Version
"If you choose Barabbas, what do you want done with Jesus?" asked Pilate. They all yelled, "Kill him!"

Contextual Overview

¹¹And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "You say [it]." ¹²And in His being accused by the chief priests and the elders, He did not answer anything; ¹³then Pilate says to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they witness against You?" ¹⁴And He did not answer him, not even to one word, so that the governor wondered greatly. ¹⁵And at the celebration the governor had been accustomed to release one to the multitude, a prisoner, whom they willed, ¹⁶and they had a noted prisoner then, called Barabbas, ¹⁷therefore they having been gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you will [that] I may release to you? Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" ¹⁸For he had known that they had delivered Him up because of envy. ¹⁹And as he is sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Nothing—to you and to that Righteous One, for I suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." ²⁰And the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they might ask for themselves Barabbas, and might destroy Jesus;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

What: Matthew 27:17, Job 31:31, Psalms 22:8, Psalms 22:9, Isaiah 49:7, Isaiah 53:2, Isaiah 53:3, Zechariah 11:8, Mark 14:55, Mark 15:12-14, Luke 23:20-24, John 19:14, John 19:15, Acts 13:38

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 30:6 - the people 2 Samuel 15:13 - The hearts Matthew 1:16 - who Mark 9:30 - through Luke 23:21 - General John 19:6 - the chief priests Acts 13:28 - General Acts 28:6 - said

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Pilate saith unto them,.... As one astonished at their choice: he could not have thought they would have asked the life of so vile a wretch, that had been guilty of such capital crimes, crimes to be abhorred by all men:

what shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? Surely you would not have me put him to death, and that for no other reason but this, because he is called either by himself or others, Christ, or the Messiah, or the king of the Jews!

they all say unto him, let him be crucified; which was a Roman punishment, inflicted on the meanest and worst of men; as wicked servants, thieves, robbers, and cut-throats o; and so was not only a torturing and painful death, but a very shameful and ignominious one; yea, an accursed one: in this they all agreed, being instigated to it by the chief priests and elders.

o Lipsius de Cruce, l. 1. c. 12, 13.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See also the parallel places in Mark 15:6-14; Luke 23:17-23; John 18:39-40.

Matthew 27:15

At that feast - The feast of the Passover.

The governor was wont to release ... - that is, was “accustomed” to release.

From what this custom arose, or by whom it was introduced, is not known. It was probably adopted to secure popularity among the Jews, and to render the government of the Romans less odious. Any little indulgence granted to the Jews during the heavy oppression of the Romans would serve to conciliate their favor, and to keep the nation from sedition. It might happen often that when persons were arraigned before the Romans on charge of sedition, some special favorite of the people, or some leader, might be among the number. It is evident that if they had the privilege of recovering such a person, it would serve much to allay their feelings, and make tolerable the yoke under which they groaned.

Matthew 27:16

A notable prisoner - The word “notable” means one that is “distinguished” in any way either for great virtues or great crimes.

In this place it evidently means the latter He was perhaps the leader of a band who had been guilty of sedition, and had committed murder in an insurrection, Luke 23:19.

Matthew 27:17

Whom will ye that I release ... - Pilate was satisfied of the innocence of Jesus, Luke 23:13-16

He was therefore desirous of releasing him. He expected to release one to the people. He knew that Jesus, though condemned by the chief priests, was yet popular among the people He therefore attempted in this manner to rescue him from the hands of the priests, and expected that the people would prefer Him to an odious and infamous robber and murderer. Had the people been left to themselves it would probably have been done.

Jesus, which is called Christ - That is, Jesus, who claims to be the Messiah. Pilate probably did not believe it, or care much for it. He used the name which Jesus had acquired among the people. Perhaps, also, he thought that they would be more likely to ask him to be released if he was presented to them as the Messiah. Mark Mark 15:9 adds that he asked them whether they would that he should release “the King of the Jews?” It is probable that he asked the question in both ways. Perhaps it was several times repeated, and Matthew has recorded one way in which it was asked, and Mark another. He asked them whether they would demand him who “was called the Christ,” expecting that they would be moved by the claims of the Messiah - claims which, when he entered Jerusalem in triumph, and in the temple, they had acknowledged. He asked them whether they would have the “King of the Jews” probably to ridicule the priests who had delivered him on that charge. He did it to show the people how absurd the accusation was. There Jesus stood, apparently a poor, inoffensive, unarmed, and despised man. Herod had set him at naught and scourged him, and sent him back. The charge, therefore, of the priests, that he was a “king” opposed to the Roman emperor, was supremely ridiculous; and Pilate, expecting that the people would see it so, hoped also that they would ask that he might be released.

Matthew 27:18

For he knew that for envy ... - This was envy at his popularity.

He drew away the people from them. This Pilate understood, probably, from his knowledge of the pride and ambition of the rulers, and from the fact that no danger could arise from a person that appeared like Jesus. If Pilate knew this, he was bound to release him himself. As a governor and judge, he was under obligation to protect the innocent, and should, in spite of all the opposition of the Jews, at once have set him at liberty. But the Scriptures could not then have been fulfilled. It was necessary, in order that an atonement should be made. that Jesus should be condemned to die. At the same time. it shows the wisdom of the overruling providence of God, that he was condemned by a man who was satisfied of his innocence, and who proclaimed before his accusers his “full belief” that there was no fault in him.

Matthew 27:19

When he was set down on the judgment-seat - Literally, “While he was sitting.” This message was probably received when he had resumed his place on the judgment-seat, after Jesus had been sent to Herod.

See the notes at Matthew 27:14.

His wife sent unto him - The reason why she sent to him is immediately stated - that she had a dream respecting him. We know nothing more of her. We do not know whether she had ever seen the Saviour herself, but it would seem that she was apprised of what was taking place, and probably anticipated that the affair-would involve her husband in trouble.

Have thou nothing to do ... - That is, do not condemn him. Perhaps she was afraid that the vengeance of heaven would follow her husband and family if he condemned the innocent.

That just man - The word “just,” here, has the sense of “innocent,” or not guilty. She might have been satisfied of his innocence from other sources as well as from the dream.

I have suffered many things ... - Dreams were considered as indications of the divine will, and among the Romans and Greeks, as well as the Jews, great reliance was placed on them. Her mind was probably agitated with the subject. She was satisfied of the innocence of Jesus; and, knowing that the Jews would make every effort to secure his condemnation, it was not unnatural that her mind should be excited during her sleep, perhaps with a frightful prospect of the judgments that would descend on the family of Pilate if Jesus was condemned. She therefore sent to him to secure, if possible, his release.

This day - It was now early in the morning. The Jewish “day” began at sunset, and she employed the usual language of the Jews respecting time. The dream was, in fact, in the night.

Matthew 27:20

Persuaded the multitude - The release of a prisoner was to be to the people, not to the rulers.

The rulers, therefore, in order to secure the condemnation of Jesus, urged on the people to demand Barabbas. The people were greatly under the influence of the priests. Galileans among the citizens of Jerusalem were held in contempt. The priests turned the pretensions of Jesus into ridicule. Hence, in a popular tumult, among a flexible and changing multitude, they easily excited those who, but a little before, had cried Hosanna, to cry, Crucify him.

Matthew 27:21

Whether of the twain? - Which of the two, Jesus or Barabbas?

Matthew 27:23

And the governor said, Why? - Luke informs us that Pilate put this question to them “three times,” so anxious was he to release him.

He affirmed that he had found no cause of death in him. He said, therefore, that he would chastise him and let him go. He expected, probably, by causing him to be publicly whipped, to excite their compassion, to satisfy “them,” and thus to evade the demands of the priests, and to set him at liberty with the consent of the people. So weak and irresolute was this Roman governor! Satisfied of his innocence, he should at once have preferred “justice to popularity,” and acted as became a magistrate in acquitting the innocent.

Let him be crucified - See the notes at Matthew 27:39. Luke says they were instant with loud voices demanding this. They urged it. They demanded it with a popular clamor.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 27:22. What shall I do then with Jesus? — Showing, hereby, that it was his wish to release him.