{Stirred up} (aneseisan). {Shook up} like an earthquake
(seismos).  Mt 27:20  has a weaker word, "persuaded"
(epeisan). Effective aorist indicative. The priests and scribes
had amazing success. If one wonders why the crowd was fickle, he
may recall that this was not yet the same people who followed him
in triumphal entry and in the temple. That was the plan of Judas
to get the thing over before those Galilean sympathizers waked
up. "It was a case of regulars against an irregular, of priests
against prophet" (Gould). "But Barabbas, as described by Mark,
represented a popular passion, which was stronger than any
sympathy they might have for so unworldly a character as
Jesus--the passion for _political liberty_" (Bruce). "What
unprincipled characters they were! They accuse Jesus to Pilate of
political ambition, and they recommend Barabbas to the people for
the same reason" (Bruce). The Sanhedrin would say to the people
that Jesus had already abdicated his kingly claims while to
Pilate they went on accusing him of treason to Caesar. {Rather}
(_m(836c)lon_). Rather than Jesus. It was a gambler's choice.