Matthew 27:20 (KJV)

What does Matthew 27:20 mean?

Matthew 27:20 describes how the chief priests and elders convinced the gathered crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus, and to call for Jesus to be put to death. The verse shows that the religious leaders actively influenced the people's choice during Jesus’ trial before Pilate.

The setting is the Roman governor Pilate’s court, where a crowd has gathered for the Passover custom of releasing a prisoner. The chief priests and elders, who were respected leaders among the Jews, are not just passively observing but are persuading the crowd to demand Barabbas’s release and Jesus’s execution. This verse highlights the leaders’ role in steering public opinion against Jesus.

The Greek behind Matthew 27:20

• πείθω (peithō, "persuaded"): This Greek word means to convince or influence someone’s thinking or decision. The use of this word shows the leaders were not simply suggesting, but actively working to sway the crowd’s will.
• ἀπολέσωσιν (apolesōsin, "destroy"): This word can mean to destroy, kill, or put to death. It emphasizes the seriousness of what the leaders were urging—the complete removal of Jesus, not just punishment or imprisonment.

Why Matthew 27:20 matters

• Matthew 27:20 clarifies that the decision to call for Jesus’s death was not just a spontaneous crowd reaction, but was shaped by the deliberate actions of the religious authorities.
• The verse helps explain why the crowd, who had welcomed Jesus days earlier, now turns against him; it was due to the influence of trusted leaders.
• This moment sets up the events that follow, showing the contrast between Barabbas, a known prisoner, and Jesus, and highlighting the injustice of the choice being made.