John 18:39

You know, every year at your Passover time, I let one prisoner go free for you Jewish people. Do you want me to let this man, your big boss, go free?”

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

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?

In Context

38Pilate said, “Do you think you know the true message? Nobody knows that.” Then Pilate went outside again, to talk to the Jewish leaders. He said, “I asked this man a lot of questions, and I don’t think he did anything wrong.

40All the Jewish leaders shouted back, “No, not him. Let Barabbas go free.” Barabbas was a man that was in jail because he used to fight against the Romans.

Read all of John 18

Cross References

Mark 15:6Every year, at the ceremony time called Passover, Pilate always did something special for the people in Jerusalem. He let one prisoner go free from the jail.

Matthew Henry on John 18:29-40

Christ in the Judgment-Hall; Christ Arraigned before Pilate. 28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. 29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study John 18:39