And at that time there was a prisoner named Barabbas. He and some others had been arrested for murder during a riot.
At that time a well-known terrorist named Jesus Barabbas was in jail.
During Passover, Pilate always freed one prisoner chosen by the people.
The crowd now came and asked Pilate to set a prisoner free, just as he usually did.
He freed the man who was in jail for rioting and murder, because he was the one the crowd wanted to be set free. Then Pilate handed Jesus over for them to do what they wanted with him.