“Now at the feast [Pilate] was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.” (Mark 15:6)

“Now at the feast [Pilate] was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.” (Mark 15:6)

As an act of goodwill towards the Jews, it was customary for the Roman governor to grant clemency to one prisoner just before the Passover. Pilate famously set before the crowd a choice that could not have been more clear-cut: a high-profile murderer who was unquestionably guilty, as opposed to a teacher and miracle-work who was demonstrably innocent. Sadly, the crowd chose the criminal Barabbas to be released…and the rest is history.

Fr. John