The Shadow of Nazareth Jesus. Both Barrabas and Jesus are sentenced to die by crucifixion, but Jewish custom allows the release of a prisoner on the day of the Passover feast. Pontius Pilate, the Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, has the authority to decide whether to free Barabbas or Jesus in honor of the Passover. However, Pilate is unwilling to make the decision himself, so he lets a crowd that has gathered before him choose who is to live. The crowd chooses Barabbas, who is set free, and Jesus, who is innocent of any wrongdoing, dies on the cross. Following the crucifixion,
Matthew 27 Matthew 27 Matthew 27 is the 27th chapter in the Gospel of Matthew, part of the New Testament. It can be divided into the following subsections: Matthew describes the trial, crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Jesus is taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor (procurator) of Judea. At the same time, Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Jesus, sees that his former teacher has been condemned, and is overcome by remorse: in the words of the King James Version, he "repented himself". The word translated as "repented" (, "metamelētheis") is not the same as the word for repentance which John the