Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 15:11
But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
11. But the chief priests ] It was probably at this juncture that he received the message from his wife imploring him to have nothing to do with “ that just person ” (Mat 27:19) standing before him. His feelings, therefore, of awe were intensified, and his resolve to effect the release increased. But the chief priests stirred up the people, and urged them to choose Barabbas, the patriot leader, the zealot for their country, the champion against oppression. The word translated “moved” only occurs here and in the parallel, Luk 23:5. It denotes (i) to shake to and fro, to brandish; (ii) to make threatening gestures; (iii) to stir up, or instigate. Their efforts were successful, and when Pilate formally put the question, the cry went up, “ Not this Man,” the Holy and Undefiled, Whom they had lately welcomed with Hosannas into their city, but the hero of the insurrection, Barabbas (Joh 18:39-40).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But the chief priests moved the people,…. Greatly solicited and persuaded them, both in person, and by their officers they employed, and dispersed among them, to make use of arguments with them to prevail upon them:
that he should rather release Barabbas unto them; than Jesus of Nazareth; choosing rather to have a murderer granted unto them, than the holy and just one. The Persic version, as before, reads, “the chief of the priests”; but they were all concerned, and were the most active men in bringing about the death of Christ; though Caiaphas was behind none of them in envy, rage, and malice;
[See comments on Mt 27:20].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Stirred up ().
Shook up like an earthquake (). Mt 27:20 has a weaker word, “persuaded” (). Effective aorist indicative. The priests and scribes had amazing success. If one wonders why the crowd was fickle, he may recall that this was not yet the same people who followed him in triumphal entry and in the temple. That was the plan of Judas to get the thing over before those Galilean sympathizers waked up. “It was a case of regulars against an irregular, of priests against prophet” (Gould). “But Barabbas, as described by Mark, represented a popular passion, which was stronger than any sympathy they might have for so unworldly a character as Jesus–the passion for political liberty” (Bruce). “What unprincipled characters they were! They accuse Jesus to Pilate of political ambition, and they recommend Barabbas to the people for the same reason” (Bruce). The Sanhedrin would say to the people that Jesus had already abdicated his kingly claims while to Pilate they went on accusing him of treason to Caesar.
Rather (mllon). Rather than Jesus. It was a gambler’s choice.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Moved [] . A feeble translation. Seiw is to shake. Hence seismov, an earthquake. See on Mt 13:8. Better as Rev., stirred up. Wyc., The bishops stirred the company of people.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But the chief priests moved the people,” (hot de archiereis aneseisan ton ochlon) “Then the chief priests moved, around among, and stirred up the crowd,” at the feast day, aided and abetted by the Sanhedrin elders, Mat 27:20; Luk 23:23.
2) “That he should rather release Barabbas unto them.” (hina mallon ton Barabbas apoluse autois) “In order that he might release Barabbas rather than Jesus,” Mat 27:21; Luk 23:18. What unprincipled characters they were. It is little wonder that Jesus so often alluded to them as hypocrites.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘But the chief priests stirred up the crowd that he should rather release Barabbas to them.’
The crowd that had arrived seeking the release of Barabbas now gained the support of the Chief Priests, who had now realised that Pilate was making a concession to their demands and that they were winning. So the Chief Priests and their supporters allied themselves with those in the crowd who wanted the release of Barabbas, who were probably both delighted and surprised to get such powerful support, and pressed them to demand Barabbas. It was pure political manipulation.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mar 15:11 . , the aorist implies that the priests stirred up the people with success , to the effect that their request to Pilate was in favour of Barabbas. One may wonder how they so easily gained their purpose. But Barabbas, as described by Mk., represented a popular passion, which was stronger than any sympathy they might have for so unworldly a character as Jesus the passion for political liberty . The priests would know how to play on that feeling. What unprincipled characters they were! They accuse Jesus to Pilate of political ambition, and they recommend Barabbas to the people for the same reason. But a “holy” end sanctifies the means! On the contrast between Jesus and Barabbas vide Klostermann.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
moved = vehemently stirred up (as by an earth quake). Greek. anaseio, connected with seismos, an earth quake.
people = crowd. as in Mar 15:8.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Hos 5:1, Mat 27:20, Joh 18:40, Act 3:14
Reciprocal: Exo 12:6 – the whole 2Sa 3:36 – as Jer 26:9 – And all Act 3:13 – whom Act 14:2 – General Act 14:19 – persuaded
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1
It is possible that they would have done so, had the chief priests not moved or influenced them to call for the release of Barabbas.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 15:11-15. But the chief priests Being very solicitous to carry the plan they had formed for his destruction into execution; moved the people To desire the release of Barabbas, though he was a scandalous and outrageous criminal. Pilate said again Being willing, Luke says, to release Jesus; What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call King of the Jews It seems strange that Pilate should so often repeat this title, King of the Jews; but perhaps he might do it partly to ridicule it, and bring contempt on the scheme of a Messiah; and partly to procure from the Jews, in their zeal against Jesus, the strongest and most public professions of their subjection to Cesar. And they cried out again, Crucify him By this cry, they declared the greatest degree of rage that can be imagined; for it was as if they had said, Let him whom you call our king be treated like one of the vilest of your slaves, who has committed the most enormous crime. To have inflicted such a punishment as this on any free Jew, would probably have been sufficient to have thrown the whole city and nation into an uproar; but now they were deaf to every thing but the clamour of passion, and in their madness did not consider with how dangerous a precedent they might furnish the Roman governor. And indeed it turned dreadfully on themselves, when such vast numbers of them were crucified for their opposition to the Romans during the time of their last war. See Doddridge, and note on Mat 27:25. Pilate said, Why, what evil hath he done? What crime do you accuse him of? But instead of showing that he had done any evil, or specifying any one crime of which he had been guilty; they only cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him See note on Mat 27:23. Pilate, therefore, willing to content the people To whom, as appears from Josephus, he had given much cause of disgust before; being perhaps afraid of an insurrection if he should continue to withstand them, though at the head of an armed force sufficient to have quelled any mob, weakly suffered himself to be borne down by their violence; and released unto them him that for sedition and murder had been cast into prison, whom they desired; but delivered Jesus to their will, Luk 23:25, namely, delivered him to be crucified, when he had scourged him! Whipping, or scourging, was a punishment frequently used by the Jews and Romans. The Jews commonly inflicted it by a whip of three cords, and limited the number of stripes to thirty-nine, that they might not exceed the number limited. Deu 25:3. But the usual way of scourging among the Romans was with such rods or wands as the lictors carried in a bundle before the magistrates; and they were exceeding cruel in this kind of punishment, tearing with their scourges even the veins and arteries, and laying the very bowels of the malefactors bare; and as our Saviour was scourged at Pilates order, it was done most probably by his officers, after the Roman manner, and was therefore no less severe than disgraceful. See Calmet, and note on Mat 27:26.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Many of the people in the crowd were residents of Jerusalem and many were pilgrims from far away. The chief priests were able to persuade them to ask for Barabbas’ release. The people may have accepted the advice of their leaders because Barabbas had already tried to lead a rebellion, but Jesus had only hinted at an overthrow. Moreover it would have been very unusual for the crowd to side with Pilate and oppose their leaders.
"In Judea it was customary to confront the Roman authorities with as large and boisterous a delegation as could be mustered (cf. Act 24:1; Josephus, Antiquities XVIII. viii. 4)." [Note: Lane, p. 555.]