Matthew 27:24

“When Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this blood; you will see to it.””

Matthew 27:24 · direct translation from the Greek
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The crowd shouts “Let him be crucified”; Pilate asks what evil he did, washes his hands, and gives inThe Cross

With the Greek beneath

24

Allusion · Deuteronomy 21:6-9

Go to Deuteronomy 21:6-9

Both texts join washing one’s hands and declaring oneself innocent of someone’s blood. In Deuteronomy 21:6-9 the elders of the city nearest to a person slain by an unknown killer do it.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • ἀπενίψατοapenipsatoG633יִרְחֲצוּyirjatsuH7364“wash oneself”
  • χεῖραςcheirasG5495יְדֵיyedeH3027“hand”
  • ἈθῷόςAthōiosG121נָקִיnakiH5355“innocent”
  • αἵματοςhaimatosG129דָּםdamH1818“blood”

Matthew 27:24, word by word

PilateΠιλᾶτοςPilatos

Pilate

Pilate: Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea.

Where else “Pilatos” appears
sawἰδὼνidōn

see

To perceive with sight, to look and notice what is in front.

Where else “idōn” appears
he was gainingὠφελεῖōphelei

help, benefit

Help, be of use.

Where else “ōphelei” appears
ratherμᾶλλονmallon

rather

On the contrary, more accurately.

Where else “mallon” appears
an uproarθόρυβοςthorybos

uproar

Uproar, commotion.

Where else “thorybos” appears
was startingγίνεταιginetai

happen

For an event to occur, for something to take place in history.

Where else “ginetai” appears
he tookλαβὼνlabōn

take

To grasp something in the hand, or take it from someone.

Where else “labōn” appears
waterὕδωρhydōr

water

The liquid of rivers, wells and rain, for drinking and washing.

Where else “hydōr” appears
washedἀπενίψατοapenipsato

wash

Wash, wash off.

Where else “apenipsato” appears
his handsχεῖραςcheiras

hand

The part of the body at the end of the arm, used to hold and touch.

Where else “cheiras” appears
beforeἀπέναντιapenanti

before

Facing, in view of.

Where else “apenanti” appears
the crowdὄχλουochlou

crowd

A lot of people together.

Where else “ochlou” appears
sayingλέγωνlegōn

say

To express something in words to others.

Where else “legōn” appears
“I amεἰμιeimi

be

To be: says who or what something is.

Where else “eimi” appears
innocentἈθῷόςAthōios

innocent

Innocent, guiltless.

Where else “Athōios” appears
bloodαἵματοςhaimatos

blood

The red fluid that runs through the bodies of people and animals.

Where else “haimatos” appears

Translation note

Washing one’s hands as a sign of innocence in the face of a death recalls Deuteronomy 21:6-9.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Barabbas and the sentence

Mark 15:6-15Luke 23:13-25John 18:39–19:16

See them side by side

Matthew 27:15-26

15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wanted. 16And they had then a notorious prisoner called Jesus Barabbas. 17So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?” 18For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. 19And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Let there be nothing between you and that righteous man; for I have suffered much today in a dream because of him.” 20But the high priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to destroy Jesus. 21And the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22Pilate says to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Messiah?” They all say, “Let him be crucified!” 23And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Let him be crucified!” 24When Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this blood; you will see to it.” 25And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26Then he released Barabbas for them; but after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Mark 15:6-15

6Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner, whomever they asked for. 7And there was the man called Barabbas, bound with the rebels who in the uprising had committed murder. 8And the crowd came up and began to ask him to do as he used to do for them. 9And Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10For he knew that it was because of envy that the high priests had handed him over. 11But the high priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release for them Barabbas instead. 12And Pilate again answered and was saying to them, “What then do you want me to do with the one whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13And they cried out again, “Crucify him!” 14But Pilate was saying to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify him!” 15And Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them, and having flogged Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Luke 23:13-25

13And Pilate called together the high priests and the rulers and the people 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who is misleading the people; and look, I, having examined him before you, have found no guilt in this man in the things of which you accuse him; 15no, nor has Herod, for he sent him back to us; and look, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. 16So after punishing him I will release him.” 17Now he was obliged to release one to them at each feast. 18But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!” 19(one who had been thrown into prison because of a certain uprising that had happened in the city, and for murder.) 20But Pilate addressed them again, wanting to release Jesus; 21but they kept shouting, saying, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22And he said to them a third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found no guilt deserving death in him; so after punishing him I will release him.” 23But they were insistent with loud voices, asking for him to be crucified; and their voices were prevailing. 24And Pilate decided that their demand should be granted; 25and he released the one who had been thrown into prison for uprising and murder, whom they were asking for, but Jesus he handed over to their will.

John 18:39–19:16

18:39But you have a custom that I release one man to you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 18:40So they cried out again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit. 19:1So then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 19:2And the soldiers, having twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and they threw a purple robe around him, 19:3and they kept coming up to him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they kept giving him slaps. 19:4And Pilate went outside again and says to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no ground for a charge in him.” 19:5So Jesus came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And he says to them, “Look, the man!” 19:6So when the high priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate says to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no ground for a charge in him.” 19:7The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to the law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” 19:8So when Pilate heard this word, he was more afraid, 19:9and he entered the praetorium again and says to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 19:10So Pilate says to him, “You do not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and I have authority to crucify you?” 19:11Jesus answered him, “You would have had no authority over me unless it had been given you from above; for this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” 19:12From this Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 19:13So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, and in Hebrew Gabbatha. 19:14Now it was the day of preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he says to the Jews, “Look, your king!” 19:15So they cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate says to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The high priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 19:16So then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus;

The context

23And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

24 · This verse (above)

25And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

Read all of Matthew 27

To study Matthew 27 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What did Pilate ask Jesus, and how did Jesus answer (v. 11)?

  2. 2. What it means

    What happened when Jesus died, and what did the centurion and those with him say (vv. 50–54)?

  3. 3. How I live it

    Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus' body and buried it with care (vv. 57–60). What gesture of respect can you offer someone grieving?

How to use it