Mark 15 6

Mark 15:6 kjv

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

Mark 15:6 nkjv

Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.

Mark 15:6 niv

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested.

Mark 15:6 esv

Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked.

Mark 15:6 nlt

Now it was the governor's custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner ? anyone the people requested.

Mark 15 verses

Mark 15 6 Meaning

At the time of the Passover festival, it was customary for the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, to release one prisoner to the Jewish crowd, based on their popular request. This practice, potentially a goodwill gesture or a way to appease the populace during a volatile religious feast, set the stage for the pivotal choice between Jesus and Barabbas.

Mark 15 6 Context

Mark 15 opens with Jesus' immediate appearance before Pilate, following His hasty trial before the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:53-65) and Peter's denial. The chief priests, determined to execute Jesus but lacking the authority to do so under Roman rule, handed Him over to the Roman procurator. Mark 15:6 sets the stage for Pilate's attempt to release Jesus, presenting an ironic scenario during a feast celebrating liberation from bondage. Pilate's intention was likely to navigate the volatile Jewish political and religious climate during Passover by offering a customary amnesty, yet the custom ultimately became a mechanism for the crowd to choose the criminal Barabbas over Jesus. This verse establishes the dramatic confrontation that directly leads to Jesus' condemnation.

Mark 15 6 Word analysis

• Now (δὲ - de): A common Greek conjunction, serving as a transitional particle that connects ideas. Here, it shifts the narrative to Pilate's practice, linking it to the immediate context of Jesus' trial before him. It doesn't imply a strict sequence but rather introduces a customary backdrop.
• at the feast (κατὰ δὲ ἑορτὴν - kata de heortēn): The phrase "κατὰ ἑορτὴν" means "at every feast" or "according to the feast." The feast in question is explicitly the Passover (implied by context in Mark, confirmed in parallel accounts like John 18:39). Passover commemorated Israel's deliverance from Egyptian slavery, making the demand for a release deeply ironic as they reject the true Deliverer.
• he used to release (ἀπέλυεν - apelyen): This is the imperfect active indicative form of the verb apolyo. The imperfect tense indicates a customary, repeated action in the past—"he was accustomed to release" or "he used to release." This highlights that it was a long-standing tradition or policy, not a singular act Pilate initiated for Jesus' case, suggesting it was part of his governance in Judea to manage local unrest during festivals.
• for them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Refers to the people, the crowd. It emphasizes that this release was granted for the benefit or satisfaction of the populace.
• one prisoner (ἕνα δέσμιον - hena desmion): "ἕνα" (hena) means "one," emphasizing the singularity of the choice to be made. "δέσμιον" (desmion) means "one bound, a prisoner." This identifies the status of the individual involved in this customary release, preparing for the dramatic contrast with Barabbas, who is a violent insurrectionist (Mark 15:7).
• whom they requested (ὅνπερ ἠτοῦντο - honper ētounto): "ὅνπερ" (honper) is a strong relative pronoun, meaning "the very one whom." "ἠτοῦντο" (ētounto) is the imperfect middle indicative of aiteo, meaning "to ask for, to demand." The imperfect again signifies a customary, repeated requesting or demanding by the crowd. It underlines the popular participation in this tradition, where the will of the people dictated the release, thereby transferring some measure of power or responsibility for the choice to them.

Mark 15 6 Bonus section

The historicity of the "Passover amnesty" is debated by scholars outside the biblical accounts, as clear external Roman sources are scarce. However, the consistent portrayal across all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) provides strong internal evidence of its existence in Judea at this time. It reflects a practice of ius agratiandi (right of pardon) or amnēsteia (amnesty) that Roman governors occasionally employed to maintain civil order and demonstrate imperial benevolence, especially in culturally sensitive provinces or during important festivals. The custom placed significant pressure on Pilate, a ruler known for his inflexibility, to appease the Jewish crowds and leaders. This singular instance demonstrates the potent mix of religious fervor, political manipulation, and divine will that led to the atoning death of Jesus.

Mark 15 6 Commentary

Mark 15:6 describes a seemingly benevolent Roman custom that became a critical instrument in Jesus' crucifixion. This tradition, whether a Roman policy or specific to Judea for Passover, presented Pilate with a means to potentially avert further unrest or subtly release Jesus. The detail that "he used to release" one prisoner whom they requested underscores the popular, democratic nature of this custom. This put the onus on the crowd, allowing them to participate in a grim verdict. The profound irony is evident: during a festival celebrating deliverance from bondage, the people rejected the only one truly capable of setting them free from sin and spiritual death, opting instead for a known rebel and murderer. Pilate's attempts to navigate the situation through this custom only served to highlight the spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of many, confirming their ultimate rejection of their Messiah.