---
title: "Matthew 27:20-23 KJV - \"But the chief priests and elders persu...\" | Real Bible Believers"
description: "\"But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered a\" — Read Matthew 27:20-23 in the King James Version (KJV) with commentary, cross references, and Greek/Hebrew lexicon."
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url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/kjv/matthew/27/20-23"
---

[ Read](/kjv/matthew/27)[ Commentary](/study/matthew/27)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/matthew/27) Audio

## Matthew 27:20-23 in Context (Verses 17–26 KJV)
 
 [17 ](/kjv/matthew/27/17) 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?
 
 [18 ](/kjv/matthew/27/18) For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
 
 [19 ](/kjv/matthew/27/19) ¶ 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.
 
 [20 ](/kjv/matthew/27/20) But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
 
 [21 ](/kjv/matthew/27/21) The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
 
 [22 ](/kjv/matthew/27/22) Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? *They* all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
 
 [23 ](/kjv/matthew/27/23) And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
 
 [24 ](/kjv/matthew/27/24) ¶ When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but *that* rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed *his* hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye *to it*.
 
 [25 ](/kjv/matthew/27/25) Then answered all the people, and said, His blood *be* on us, and on our children.
 
 [26 ](/kjv/matthew/27/26) ¶ Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered *him* to be crucified.
 
[Matthew 26](/kjv/matthew/26) [Matthew 28](/kjv/matthew/28)

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