Discovery BoxMatthew 27:15 
Context27:15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, 1 whomever they wanted.
Matthew 27:21
Context27:21 The 2 governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!”
Matthew 28:14
Context28:14 If 3 this matter is heard before the governor, 4 we will satisfy him 5 and keep you out of trouble.” 6
1 sn The custom of Pilate to release one prisoner is unknown outside the gospels in Jewish writings, but it was a Roman custom at the time and thus probably used in Palestine as well (cf. Matt 27:15; John 18:39).
2 tn Grk “answering, the governor said to them.” This construction is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
3 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
4 tn Here ἐπί (epi) followed by the genitive = “before,” especially in the language of lawsuits (BDAG 363 s.v. 3).
5 tc ‡ αὐτόν (auton, “him”) is found after πείσομεν (peisomen, “we will satisfy”) in the majority of witnesses, though it seems to be motivated by a need for clarification and cannot therefore easily explain the rise of the shorter reading (which is found in א B Θ 33 pc). Nevertheless, English style requires the pronoun. NA27 includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
6 tn Grk “and you will not have to be worried” = “we will keep you out of trouble.”
