Bible Strands
Luke 23:25
As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over to their will.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Pilate acts at the moment of sentencing, releasing a prisoner at the crowd's direct request and surrendering Jesus to their control. This occurs immediately after his formal decree to meet their demand and just before soldiers seize Simon to carry the cross.
The words — ἀπέλυσεν (apelusen) means "he released," and στάσιν (stasin) denotes "insurrection." Together with φόνον (phonon), "murder," they specify the charges against the man Pilate frees.
The thread — This release of a murderer parallels Mark 15:6 and Mark 15:15, where Pilate follows feast custom and satisfies the crowd by freeing a prisoner. Acts 3:14 later records the crowd's rejection of the Holy One in favor of releasing a murderer.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that judicial authority yielded to mob pressure, handing the innocent over to human will. A reader must see how institutional compliance enables the surrender of righteousness to violence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Cross-references
- Acts 3:14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
- Mark 15:6 Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.
- Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
- 1 Samuel 12:13 Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you.
- Matthew 27:26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
- Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”
- Luke 23:5 But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.”
- John 18:40 “Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)