John Chrysostom

Whom will ye that I release unto you? &c. As much as to say, If ye will not let him go as innocent, at least, yield Him, as convicted, to this holy day. For if you would have released one of whose guilt there was no doubt, much more should you do so in doubtful cases. Observe how circumstances are reversed. It is the populace who are wont to petition for the condemned, and the prince to grant, but here it is the reverse, the prince asks of the people, and renders them thereby more violent.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Jerome

So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them: Whom do you want me to release to you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ? For he knew that they had handed Him over out of envy. Pilate offers them the option of releasing whoever they want, either the robber or Jesus, not doubting that they would choose Jesus, knowing that He had been handed over out of envy. Therefore, the evident cause of the cross is envy.

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"Therefore they being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to you?" Here Pilate acts contrary to the custom of the Jews, because he was not accustomed to ask them, but they used to ask him. But he did this because he sought to release him, and he seems to suggest it, because it seemed to him that they ought to prefer Christ to Barabbas; because this man was guilty of injury to majesty and had harmed many. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗