to release to the people
The act of releasing a prisoner to the people underscores the political dynamics at play. Pilate, the Roman governor, sought to appease the Jewish populace and prevent unrest. This gesture of releasing a prisoner was a way to placate the masses and maintain order. The people’s involvement in choosing the prisoner highlights the tension between Roman authority and Jewish autonomy.

a prisoner of their choosing
The choice given to the people introduces a dramatic element to the narrative, emphasizing the theme of choice and responsibility. This moment foreshadows the decision between Jesus and Barabbas, symbolizing the broader spiritual choice between the path of Christ and the path of rebellion. The concept of substitution is central here, as Jesus, the innocent, is offered in place of Barabbas, the guilty, reflecting the theological theme of Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb who takes the place of sinners.

• Mark opens the scene with “Now,” grounding the account in real time. We are in the early morning of the day of crucifixion (cf. Mark 15:1; John 18:28).

• Scripture presents these events as literal history, not myth; the Passover chronology is carefully preserved by all four Gospel writers (e.g., Luke 22:1, 7; John 19:14).

• “Pilate was accustomed” points to a repeated practice, underscoring Rome’s calculated efforts to keep Judea quiet during volatile festivals (Matthew 27:15; Luke 23:17; John 18:39).

• This custom is not invented for dramatic effect; outside sources note similar political gestures by Roman governors to curry favor with subject peoples.

• The verse reminds us that God’s sovereign plan moved through genuine historical customs, demonstrating Proverbs 21:1—“The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases”.

• The feast is Passover/Unleavened Bread (Mark 14:1). Passover celebrates Israel’s redemption from Egypt (Exodus 12:14).

• Releasing a prisoner during Passover—when Israel remembered deliverance—magnifies the contrast between true redemption in Christ and political tokenism.

• John 19:14 labels the crucifixion day “the Day of Preparation for the Passover,” tying Jesus’ sacrifice to the Passover lamb imagery (1 Corinthians 5:7).

• Pilate’s offer of release shows legal authority vested in him (John 19:10).

• The governor hopes clemency will spare Jesus, whom he knows is innocent (Luke 23:14).

• Yet the crowd’s demand for Barabbas and Pilate’s capitulation fulfill Acts 3:13: “You disowned Him before Pilate, though he had decided to release Him”.

• The motif of substitution emerges: an undeserving prisoner walks free while the righteous Son of God is condemned—foreshadowing the gospel’s heart (2 Corinthians 5:21).

• Authority to choose lies with “the people,” highlighting human responsibility (Matthew 27:20).

• The crowd had heard Jesus teach and witnessed His miracles, yet they prefer a rebel over their Messiah (John 18:40).

• Their collective voice illustrates Jeremiah 17:9—deceptive hearts choose darkness when light stands before them (John 3:19).

• The text soon identifies Barabbas, “who had been imprisoned with the rebels for committing murder during the insurrection” (Mark 15:7).

• God allows a stark comparison: the Prince of Peace versus a violent insurgent (Isaiah 9:6; Acts 3:14).

• The scene exposes the fallenness of man’s justice system and sets the stage for divine justice at the cross (Romans 3:26).

• The phrase underscores free agency: they consciously select rebellion over righteousness (Joshua 24:15).

• Their choice fulfills prophecy—“He was despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3).

• It also warns every generation: neutrality toward Christ is impossible; each person must decide (Deuteronomy 30:19; John 1:11–12).

Mark 15:6 records an actual Passover custom God employed to spotlight the gospel’s core truth: an innocent Savior takes the place of the guilty so the guilty may go free. Pilate’s ritual, the crowd’s choice, and Barabbas’s release converge to illustrate substitution, human responsibility, and divine sovereignty—all faithfully chronicled to assure us that Scripture’s record is true and Jesus’ atoning work is the only path to real release.