Mark 15:6

Mark 15:6 Meaning and Explanation

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

King James Version (KJV)

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Mark explains the custom: at the Passover feast the governor released one prisoner, whomever the people asked for.

What Does Mark 15:6 Mean?

Mark pauses the trial to explain the background. At Passover, the feast that remembered Israel's release from slavery in Egypt, the Roman governor would free one prisoner of the crowd's choosing, a gesture of goodwill toward a city crowded with pilgrims.

The detail is more than procedure. At the feast of liberation, a real choice is about to be set before the people: which captive shall go free? The custom places the fate of Jesus in ordinary hands, priests and pilgrims and bystanders, and Mark lets us feel that the choice is also ours. Passover asks every generation whom it will have: the way of force, or the King who sets captives free.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 15:6

What does Mark 15:6 mean?

Mark explains the custom: at the Passover feast the governor released one prisoner, whomever the people asked for.

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