Luke 23:1 - 25

Put yourself in the shoes of the man named Barabbas.  Thrown in prison for rebellion and murder, you are wakened one morning to hear your name being shouted by an angry mob.  "Give us Barabbas!" followed shortly by "Crucify him!" accompanied by the slow heavy footsteps of the jailor must have given this man quite a fright.  Imagine his shock when the doors are opened and he is told "You may go free by order of the magistrate Pilate."

Now look at the man from Nazareth, Jesus.  Falsely accused, He suffers through three separate trials at the hands of various officials - none of whom can find fault in Him.  When the verdict of "not guilty" is about to be brought in His favor, the Jewish mob calls for His death by Roman means of crucifixion.  In order to prevent a riot in the streets this resolution is adopted.  The passage closes "[Pilate] delivered Jesus to [the mob's] will" but the truth of the matter is that the will of the Almighty was being carried out at that very moment.