Interlinear Study Bible

Holman Christian Standard Version
For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.

King James Version
(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

New American Standard Version
[Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

New Living Translation
Jesus' Trial before before Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate the Roman governor They began to state their case This man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah a king So Pilate asked him Are you the king of the Jews Jesus replied You have said it Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said I find nothing wrong with this man Then they became insistent But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes goes all over Judea from Galilee to Jerusalem Oh is he a Galilean Pilate asked When they said that he was Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas because Galilee was under Herod's jurisdiction and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle He asked Jesus question after question but Jesus refused to answer Meanwhile the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus Finally they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate Herod and Pilate who had been enemies before became friends that day Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders along with the people and he announced his verdict You brought this man to me accusing him of leading a revolt I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty So I will have him flogged and then I will release him

World English Bible
Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.