Page "Barabbas" Paragraph 2

The penalty for Barabbas ' crime was death by crucifixion, but according to the four canonical gospels and the non-canonical Gospel of Peter there was a prevailing Passing custom in Jerusalem that allowed or required Pilate, the praefectus or governor of Judaea, to commute one prisoner's death sentence by popular acclaim, and the " crowd " ( ochlos ) — which has become " the Jews " and " the multitude " in some translations — were offered a choice of whether to have Barabbas or Jesus Christ released from Roman custody.