Matthew 27:21–26
These things are a great proof against the Jews, who chose a robber and murderer rather than Christ. So little did justice matter to them, and thus, for “piety,” they were accusing Christ. And though the one appointed to judge was freeing him, they urge a death verdict against the leader and teacher of all piety, <and>, so that they might undergo a still heavier punishment, they cried out, “Take this one; release Barabbas to us.” (Matthew 27:21–26) See clearly: they “denied the Holy and Righteous One,” as blessed Peter says, “and asked that a murderer be granted them,” (Acts 3:14) so that they would be sharers of that man’s portion.
Greek
Μέγας ἔλεγχος ταῦτα τῶν Ἰουδαίων λῃστὴν καὶ φονέα ἑλομένων μᾶλλον ἢ τὸν Χριστόν· τοσοῦτον αὐτοῖς ἔμελε τοῦ δικαίου καὶ οὕτως διὰ τὴν ὁσιότητα κατηγόρουν Χριστοῦ· καὶ τοῦ κρίνειν λαχόντος ἐλευ θεροῦντος αὐτὸν θανάτου ψῆφον ὑποστῆναι παρακαλοῦσιν τὸν πάσης εὐσεβείας καθηγητὴν καὶ διδάσκαλον, <καὶ> ἵνα ἔτι φορτικωτέραν ὑπο μείνωσι τὴν κόλασιν, ἀνέκραγον λέγοντες· "αἶρε τοῦτον, ἀπόλυσον ἡμῖν τὸν Βαραββᾶν". ἰδοὺ δὴ σαφῶς "τὸν ἅγιον καὶ δίκαιον ἠρνήσαντο" καθά φησιν ὁ μακάριος Πέτρος "καὶ ᾔτησαν ἄνδρα φονέα χαρισθῆναι" αὐτοῖς, ἵνα τῆς ἐκείνου μερίδος ἔσονται κοινωνοί.
About this text
Catena fragments on Matthew (CPG 5206). Contents follow Matthew chapter and verse. Edition fragment numbers stay in About this text and under each passage.
English follows the named copy-text (Aegean/khazarzar Migne PG 72 extract). Other prints were checked as noted; no silent merge of recensions.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Migne PG 72 Commentarii in Matthaeum (Aegean Digital Patrologia / khazarzar) (Greek · CPG 5206 catena fragments (290 parsed heads))
- Checked print matia.gr mirror of same Aegean extract (Greek · Byte-identical PDF; integrity check only)
- Checked print Internet Archive PG 72 volume OCR (bim … 1859_72) (Greek (OCR damaged) · Locus confirmation only; not used as reading text)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.