Luke 23:25 Meaning and Explanation
“And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Pilate releases the man imprisoned for sedition and murder, as the crowd asked, and hands Jesus over to their will.
What Does Luke 23:25 Mean?
Luke lingers on the exchange so the reader cannot miss it: the guilty man — named here only by his crimes — walks free, and Jesus is delivered to the will of his accusers.
Delivered to their will: the words sound like total defeat, yet Jesus had prayed, “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). Beneath the will of the crowd, the will of the Father is being accomplished — the Son given for sinners. Barabbas stands for every one of us: sentence due, cell opened, free because Another went out to die in his place.
Luke 23:25 in the Original Language
paradidomi (παραδίδωμι), 'delivered' -- to hand over; the Gospels' constant word for Jesus being given up to death.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 23:25
What does Luke 23:25 mean?
Pilate releases the man imprisoned for sedition and murder, as the crowd asked, and hands Jesus over to their will.