(Barabbas had been put in prison for taking part in a rebellion in the city, and for murder.)
One of the prisoners was a man called Barabbas who belonged to a group of rebels who had committed murder during an uprising.
But they all shouted together, “Kill this man, and release Barabbas to us.”
There they started to accuse him. “We found this man deceiving our nation, telling people not to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming he is Messiah, a king,” they said.
Pilate wanted to release Jesus, so spoke to them again.
But they insisted, saying, “He is inciting rebellion all over Judea with his teachings, from Galilee to right here in Jerusalem.”
“Aren't you the Egyptian who recently incited a rebellion and led four thousand Assassins into the desert?”
You rejected the one who is holy and good, and demanded a murderer be released to you.