KJV: But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
YLT: And the chief priests and the elders did persuade the multitudes that they might ask for themselves Barabbas, and might destroy Jesus;
Darby: But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should beg for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
ASV: Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Οἱ | - |
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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ἀρχιερεῖς | the chief priests |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: ἀρχιερεύς Sense: chief priest, high priest. |
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πρεσβύτεροι | elders |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: πρεσβύτερος Sense: elder, of age,. |
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ἔπεισαν | persuaded |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἐπισείω Sense: persuade. |
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ὄχλους | crowds |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural Root: ὄχλος Sense: a crowd. |
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ἵνα | that |
Parse: Conjunction Root: ἵνα Sense: that, in order that, so that. |
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αἰτήσωνται | they should ask for |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Middle, 3rd Person Plural Root: αἰτέω Sense: to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require. |
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τὸν | - |
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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Βαραββᾶν | Barabbas |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: Βαραββᾶς Sense: the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ. |
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Ἰησοῦν | Jesus |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: Ἰησοῦς Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor. |
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ἀπολέσωσιν | should destroy |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἀπόλλυμι Sense: to destroy. |
Greek Commentary for Matthew 27:20
The chief priests (Sadducees) and elders (Pharisees) saw the peril of the situation and took no chances. While Pilate wavered in pressing the question, they used all their arts to get the people to “ask for themselves” (αιτησωνται aitēsōntai indirect middle ingressive aorist subjunctive) and to choose Barabbas and not Jesus. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 27:20
Shook up like an earthquake Matthew 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. [source]