John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 15:8
And the multitude crying aloud ,.... The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read, and when the "multitude", or "people went up", to the place called the pavement, where the judgment seat was; and so it is read in Beza's most ancient copy; but the former reading is to be preferred: began to desire him to do as he had ever done to them : that is, release a prisoner to them, as he had done at every passover, since he had been a governor over them. read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 15:7
And there was one named Barabbas ,.... A prisoner of that name at Jerusalem; which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him : he had been at the head of a seditious mob, and he and his accomplices were taken and put in prison: who had committed murder in the insurrection ; which may be connected either with Barabbas, and read in the singular number, as it is in the Vulgate Latin version, "he had committed"; or with the seditious persons he lay bound with, and be read... read more