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John 18:39

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 18:39 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
John 18:39 — American Standard Version

Context — John 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him.
39But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.)
← John 18:38John 18:40 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But ye have a custom, etc.] Not a law, either of God or man’s, but a custom; and which was not originally observed at the feast of the passover, and perhaps was not of any long standing; but what the Roman governors, by the order of Caesar, or of their own pleasure, had introduced to ingratiate themselves into the affections of the people; and being repeated once and again, was now looked for: that I should release unto you one at the passover; which was at this time; and more than one it seems it was not customary, to release: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? who they had said called himself so, and was so accounted by others, and which Pilate says, in a…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But ye have a custom that I should release one unto you at the passover, &c.--See on Mar 15:7-11. "On the typical import of the choice of Christ to suffer, by which Barabbas was set free, see the sixteenth chapter of Leviticus, particularly Lev 16:5-10, where the subject is the sin offering on the great day of atonement" [KRAFFT in LUTHARDT]. Next: John Chapter 19”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See the notes at Matthew 27:15-21. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on John 18". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/john-18.html. 1870. StudyLight.org © 2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“ye have: Mat 27:15-18; Mar 15:6, Mar 15:8; Luk 23:17, Luk 23:20 I release: Joh 18:33 John 18:40”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification