What does Matthew 27:27:11 say?

And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

What does Matthew 27:27:14 say?

And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

What does Matthew 27:27:17 say?

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

What does Matthew 27:27:19 say?

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Matthew 27:11-26 · Matthew · Updated April 25, 2026

Trial Before Pilate

Jesus stands trial before Pilate, who questions him about being the King of the Jews. Despite the accusations from the chief priests and elders, Jesus remains silent. Pilate offers to release either Jesus or Barabbas, and the crowd chooses Barabbas, leading to Jesus being sentenced to crucifixion.

Summary

Matthew 27:11-26 describes the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. This event leads directly to the crucifixion of Jesus, a central moment in the Christian narrative. Jerusalem, during the Passover feast, is the setting, a time when tensions were high. The chief priests and elders bring Jesus before Pilate, accusing him of claiming to be the King of the Jews. Pilate questions Jesus, asking if he is indeed the King of the Jews, to which Jesus responds, "Thou sayest" (27:11). Despite the accusations from the religious leaders, Jesus remains silent, which causes Pilate to marvel (27:14).

As the trial progresses, Pilate offers the crowd a choice between releasing Jesus or a prisoner named Barabbas, as was the custom during the feast (27:17). Pilate knows that Jesus has been handed over out of envy (27:18). Meanwhile, Pilate's wife sends him a message, urging him to have nothing to do with Jesus, whom she calls a just man, because she has been troubled by a dream about him (27:19). The chief priests and elders persuade the crowd to ask for Barabbas's release and to demand Jesus's Crucifixion (27:20-21). Despite Pilate's questioning of Jesus's guilt, the crowd insists on crucifixion (27:23).

The passage concludes with Pilate washing his hands before the crowd, declaring himself innocent of Jesus's blood and leaving the responsibility to them (27:24). The crowd accepts this responsibility, saying, "His blood be on us, and on our children" (27:25). Pilate then releases Barabbas and has Jesus scourged before delivering him to be crucified (27:26). The text presents the conclusion that the crowd's choice and Pilate's actions set the stage for Jesus's crucifixion, fulfilling the events leading to his death. The Trial Before Pilate in Matthew 27:11-26 emphasizes the collective responsibility for Jesus's crucifixion. The passage shows a complex interplay between the Roman authorities, represented by Pilate, and the Jewish leaders and crowd. Pilate's questioning of Jesus, his wife's warning, and his own symbolic hand-washing reveal his reluctance and attempt to shift the blame (27:18, 24). Yet, his actions, including offering the crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabbas and conceding to their demands, are central to the events. The crowd's vocal acceptance of responsibility — "His blood be on us, and on our children" (27:25) — marks a moment, establishing the communal aspect of this decision.

Chiastic structure

ⓘ

Matthew 27:17

“Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?”

Matthew 27:18

“For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.”

Matthew 27:26

“Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.”

Both A and A' involve the interaction between Pilate and the crowd, focusing on the decision of whom to release and the ultimate fate of Jesus.

Interpretation and theological stakes

The Roman Catholic interpretation views the passage as distributing responsibility between the Jewish leaders and the Roman authorities. This reading focuses on Pilate's role as a decision-maker, despite his apparent reluctance. Pilate's acknowledgment of envy as the motive behind Jesus's arrest (27:18) and his wife's warning (27:19) frame him as aware of the innocence of Jesus. Yet, his decision to succumb to the crowd's demands and his symbolic hand-washing (27:24) do not absolve him of responsibility. This tradition interprets these actions as indicating that both the Roman and Jewish authorities were complicit in the unjust execution, sharing in the culpability.

In contrast, the Reformed Protestant interpretation emphasizes the responsibility of the Jewish leaders and the crowd. This perspective argues that the passage presents the Jewish authorities as the primary instigators of Jesus's death, manipulating the crowd to choose Barabbas over Jesus (27:20-21). The crowd's insistence on Crucifixion despite Pilate's questioning of Jesus's guilt (27:23) further supports this view. The crowd's acceptance of the blame (27:25) is seen as a self-imposed declaration of guilt, highlighting their central role in the decision. From this angle, Pilate's actions, while important, are seen as secondary to the crowd's determination.

Considering both interpretations, the passage reveals the complexity of human agency and responsibility in the unfolding of events. The narrative does not allow for a simple assignment of blame but instead invites reflection on how different parties, driven by various motives, contribute to a shared outcome. Pilate's role and the crowd's choice both illustrate how personal hesitation, social pressure, and collective momentum can lead to consequences. This complexity enriches the passage, offering a narrative that challenges readers to consider the dynamics of power, responsibility, and complicity in moral decision-making. Matthew 27:11-26 opens with Pilate's question to the crowd about whom they want released, Barabbas or Jesus (verse 17), and closes with Pilate releasing Barabbas and condemning Jesus to Crucifixion (verse 26). Between these moments, Pilate recognizes that Jesus has been handed over out of envy (verse 18). This insight reveals the injustice of the trial. Pilate's awareness of the chief priests' motives shows the wrongful condemnation of an innocent man and sets the stage for the crowd's choice between Jesus and Barabbas. The trial's outcome hinges on this realization of envy, driving the narrative's movement from choice to judgment.

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