Luke 23:17


King James Bible
(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

New King James Version
(for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).

New American Standard Bible
[Now he was obligated to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

NASB 1995
Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.

NASB 1977
[Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

Legacy Standard Bible
[Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

Amplified Bible
[Now he was obligated to release to them one prisoner at the Feast.]

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.

American Standard Version
- - -

English Revised Version


International Standard Version
Now he was obligated to release someone for them at the festival.

Majority Standard Bible
Now Pilate was obliged to release to the people one prisoner at the feast.

New Heart English Bible
(Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.)

Webster's Bible Translation
(For of necessity he must release one to them at the feast.)

Weymouth New Testament


World English Bible
Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
[[for it was necessary for him to release to them one at every celebration,]]

Young's Literal Translation
for it was necessary for him to release to them one at every feast,

Smith's Literal Translation
(And he had necessity to loose one at the festival.)
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now of necessity he was to release unto them one upon the feast day.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now he was required to release one person for them on the feast day.

New American Bible
]
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For there was a custom to release to them one at the feast.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For it was a custom to release them one prisoner at the feast.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For it was necessary that he should release to them one at the feast.

Godbey New Testament


Haweis New Testament
(Now he held it necessary to release one to them at the feast.)

Mace New Testament
now as it was customary for the governor to release one of the prisoners at the feast;

Weymouth New Testament


Worrell New Testament
OMITTED TEXT.

Worsley New Testament
Now he was obliged to release one to them at the feast.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
……

Cross References
Matthew 27:15-26
Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. / At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. / So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ...

Mark 15:6-15
Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing. / And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. / So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom. ...

John 18:39-40
But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” / “Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)

Acts 3:13-14
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him. / You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

John 19:16
Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, and the soldiers took Him away.

Matthew 26:5
“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Mark 14:2
“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

John 18:28-32
Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover. / So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?” / “If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.” ...

Acts 13:28
And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.

Isaiah 53:3-7
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. / Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. / But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. ...

Psalm 22:16-18
For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet. / I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me. / They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Psalm 69:4
Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.


Treasury of Scripture

(For of necessity he must release one to them at the feast.)

Matthew 27:15
Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

Mark 15:6
Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

John 18:39
But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

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Luke 23
1. Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod.
8. Herod mocks him.
12. Herod and Pilate become friends.
13. Barabbas is desired of the people,
24. and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified.
26. He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem;
34. prays for his enemies.
39. Two criminals are crucified with him.
46. His death.
50. His burial.














For of necessity
This phrase indicates a requirement or obligation. In the context of Roman governance, it was customary during the Passover festival for the Roman governor to release a prisoner to the Jewish people as a gesture of goodwill. The Greek word used here, "ἀνάγκη" (anankē), implies a compelling force or necessity, suggesting that this was not merely a tradition but an expected practice that Pilate felt bound to follow. This necessity underscores the tension between Roman authority and Jewish customs, highlighting the political and social dynamics at play during Jesus' trial.

he must release
The word "must" conveys a sense of duty or obligation. The Greek verb "ἀπολύω" (apolyō) means to release or set free. This reflects Pilate's role in the judicial process and his attempt to appease the crowd. The act of releasing a prisoner was a symbolic gesture of mercy and political strategy, intended to maintain peace and order during the volatile time of the Passover. This phrase also foreshadows the choice between Jesus and Barabbas, emphasizing the tragic irony of the crowd's decision.

one unto them
The phrase "one unto them" refers to the selection of a single prisoner to be released to the people. This highlights the communal aspect of the decision, as the choice was given to the gathered crowd. The use of "one" signifies the singular focus of the crowd's choice, which ultimately fell upon Barabbas instead of Jesus. This decision reflects the collective will of the people, influenced by the chief priests and leaders, and serves as a poignant reminder of the fickle nature of public opinion.

at the feast
The "feast" mentioned here is the Passover, a significant Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery. The Passover was a time of heightened religious and nationalistic fervor, drawing large crowds to Jerusalem. The historical and religious context of the Passover adds depth to the narrative, as it was a time when themes of liberation and deliverance were at the forefront of Jewish consciousness. The juxtaposition of Jesus' trial and the Passover feast underscores the irony of the situation: the true Passover Lamb, Jesus, was about to be sacrificed for the sins of the world, even as the people sought the release of a different kind of deliverer in Barabbas.

(17) For of necessity he must release one unto them.--Literally, he had a necessity. The better MSS. are singularly divided as to this verse. Most omit it altogether. One, followed by some of the versions, has it after Luke 23:19. It would seem probable from these facts that the narrative was originally written without it, that it was then felt that the release of Barabbas required an explanation, and that a note was first added in the margin, either by a transcriber or by the writer himself in a duplicate copy, and then found its way into the text. The precise form of the phrase, to "have a necessity," is not found in the other Gospels, but is common to St. Luke (Luke 11:18 and here), and St. Paul (1Corinthians 7:37). It is found also in Hebrews 7:27; Jude Luke 23:3. On the practice thus described, see Note on Matthew 27:15. . . . Verse 17. - (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) Probably, however, before the scourging was inflicted, the attempt to liberate Jesus in accordance with a custom belonging to that feast was made by Pilate. We know it failed, and a condemned robber called Barabbas was preferred by the people. The more ancient authorities omit this verse (17). It probably was introduced at an early period into many manuscripts of St. Luke as a marginal. gloss, as an explanatory statement based on the words of Matthew 27:15 or of Mark 15:6. As a Hebrew custom, it is never mentioned save in this place. Such a release was a common incident of a Latin Lectisternium, or feast in honour of the gods. The Greeks had a similar custom at the Thesmophoria. It was probably introduced at Jerusalem by the Roman power.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Now
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A weak adversative particle, generally placed second in its clause; but, on the other hand, and.

of necessity
Ἀνάγκην (Anankēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 318: Necessity, constraint, compulsion; there is need to; force, violence.

he had
εἴχεν (eichen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess.

to release
ἀπολύειν (apolyein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 630: To release, let go, send away, divorce, to be rid; to depart.

to them
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same.

one
ἕνα (hena)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520: One.

at
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: Genitive: against, down from, throughout, by; accusative: over against, among, daily, day-by-day, each day, according to, by way of.

[the] feast.
ἑορτὴν (heortēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1859: A festival, feast, periodically recurring.


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NT Gospels: Luke 23:17 Now he had to release one prisoner (Luke Lu Lk)
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