Mark 15:9

And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

The extreme brevity of Mark here leads to the conclusion, as supported by Matthew, that Pilate had seized upon this device of a Passover clemency in another of his seven efforts to release Jesus, and that he, not the multitude, had introduced this question of clemency. The notion that Pilate confronted a mob asking for the release of Barabbas and asked them to accept Jesus instead is wild and irresponsible. The priests knew that when Pilate proposed two names, those of our Lord and of Barabbas, the multitude would have chosen Jesus if left to themselves, which they would not have done if they were friends of Barabbas; hence, it was necessary for the priests to stir up the multitude to make the decision for Barabbas. See Mark 15:11.