Matt. xxvii. come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 and when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor."— Mark xv. chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover 29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake," signifying what death he should die. 33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews ? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me ? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then ? 11 And Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? 2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? • Rather the prætorium, the residence of the Roman governor. On the meaning of passover in this place, see 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. 3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews ? Introductory Note, p. 160. John 12. 32, 33; Matt. 20. 19. Matt. xxvii. born, and for this cause came I John xviii. Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one 12 And when he was accused of the chief Mark xv. 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. 4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. 5 But Jesus yet answered nothing so that Pilate marvelled. Luke xxiii. 4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. § 147. JESUS BEFORE HEROD.-Jerusalem. Sixth Day of the Week. Luke xxiii. 6-12. 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. * And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season,' because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe," and sent him again to Pilate. 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. j Isa. 53. 7. * See § 148. 1 Luke 9. 9. m Gorgeous robe. The Greek (auрáv) favours the idea that the robe was white, which was the royal colour among the Hebrews. Comp. Matt. 6. 28, 29. But the imperial colour among the Romans was purple, and hence that was the colour of the robe in which the soldiers of Pilate arrayed Jesus in their mockery of him. § 148. PILATE SEEKS TO RELEASE JESUS. THE JEWS DEMAND BARABBAS. Jerusalem. Sixth Day of the Week. Luke xxiii. 13—25. 13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: no, nor yet Herod: 15 for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him. ment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. Matt. xxvii. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they John xviii. Mark xv. John xviii. 40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now vernor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. John xviii. Barabbas 19 (who for a certain robber. Mark xv. 12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. 14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceed ingly, Crucify him. Matt. xxvii. was a 92 the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed" his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them.— Mark xv. 15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them. Luke xxiii. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. § 149. PILATE DELIVERS UP JESUS. HE IS SCOURGED AND MOCKED. Matt. xxvii. governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head." : § 150. PILATE, AFTER AGAIN SEEKING TO RELEASE JESUS, DELIVERS HIM TO 4 BE CRUCIFIED.-Jerusalem. Sixth Day of the Week. John xix. 4-16. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. 5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! 6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. 7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; 9 and went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee ? 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, 9 The scarlet robe of Matt. 27. 28, and the purple robe of John 19. 2, are put for the paludamentum or military cloak worn by officers. The terms crimson and purple seem to be nearly • Isa. 53. 7. |