Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 26:67
Then did they spit in his face - This was done as a mark of the most profound contempt. See Job 16:10 ; Job 30:10 ; Isaiah 50:6 ; Micah 5:1 . The judges now delivered him into the hands of the mob. And buffeted him - Smote him with their fists, εκολαφισαν . This is the translation of Theophylact. Κολαφιζειν , says he, means, "to beat with the hand, the fingers being clenched. Συγκαμτομενων των δακτυλων , or, to speak more briefly, to buffet with the fist." Smote him with... read more
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 26:66
He is guilty of death - Ενοχος θανατου εστι , he is liable to death. All the forms of justice are here violated. The judge becomes a party and accuser, and proceeds to the verdict without examining whether all the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and the innumerable miracles which he wrought, did not justify him. Examination and proof are the ruin of all calumnies, and of the authors of them, and therefore they take care to keep off from these two things. See Quesnel. read more