Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 27:18

18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

Mark saith, Ch. 15. v. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Now at that Feast, he released unto them one Prisoner whomsoever they desired. And there was one Named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed Murder in the Insurrection. And the Multitude crying aloud, begun to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. But Pilate answered them, saying, will ye that I release unto you the King of the Iews? (for he knew that the Chief Priests had delivered him for Envy) but the Chief Priests moved the People, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. Luke hath this passage of the History more fully, Ch. 23.13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. And Pilate when he had called together, the Chief Priests, the Rulers, and the People, said unto them, you have brought this Man unto me, as one that perverteth the People, and behold I having examined him before you, have found no fault in this Man, touching those things whereof you accuse him. No, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him, and [illegible: 1 letter]o nothing worthy of Death is done unto him. I will therefore Chastise him, and Release him, for of necessity he must Release one unto them at the Feast. And they cryed out all at once, saying, Away with this Man, and release unto us Barabbas, who for a certain Sedition made in the City, and for Murder, was cast into Prison. Iohn Ch. 18.38, 39, 40. saith, that when he went out he told them, he found no fault in him at all. But you have a Custom, that I should Release unto you one at the Passover, will you therefore that I release unto you the King of the Iews. Then cryed they all again, saying, Not this Man, but Barabbas, now Barabbas was a Robber. The History is plain, Pilate discerned upon his before mentioned Examination of Christ, that our Saviour had done nothing amiss, but was only Loaded with the Malice, and Envy of the Chief Priests and Scribes, this made him resolve to do what in him lay to deliver him. He first tells them that they had brought him before him, accused him of many things, but had proved against him nothing Criminal, That he had sent him to Herod, in whose Jurisdiction he had lived, but neither did Herod find any fault in him. Now there was a Custom that ever at the Passover, the Governour released a Prisoner at the request of the People: The People desired he would keep their old Custom in this particular, Pilate propoundeth to them, to release the King of the Iews. The Chief Priests influence the People to declare their Disatisfaction at that, and to Name one Barabbas, a Prisoner who was a Robber, and had been guilty of an Insurrection, and of Murder committed in the Insurrection, accordingly the People cry out. Not this Man but Barabbas. This makes him again to return to the Iudgment Seat.