“But you have a custom that I should release to you someone at the Passover. Do you wish me therefore to release to you the King of the Jews?”

Pilate had an inspiration. He saw a wonderful get out. There was custom of releasing someone at the Passover. What about him releasing this man whom they call the King of the Jews? This, however, was a sign that he was weakening and now they knew that they had him. Whoever had heard of offering to pardon an innocent man?

The question with regard to freeing someone was addressed to the crowd gathered for the trial. It was hardly therefore a neutral crowd, especially on the morning after the Passover. It would have consisted mainly of those who supported the revolutionaries or of those who were against Jesus and supported the Jewish leadership. The former would have gathered hoping to obtain the release of one of their number, the latter in order to support the chief priests.

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