But Pilate answered them; saying ,.... Being satisfied of the innocence of Jesus, and being willing to dismiss him: will ye that I release unto you the king of the Jews ? he who is called so; and which he either said by way of derision both of Christ, and them; or else in order to prevail upon them to ask his release, it being scandalous and reproachful to put their king to death. read more
For he knew that the chief priests ,.... The Persic version reads in the singular, "the chief of the priests", or the high priest, Caiaphas, had delivered him for envy ; at his popularity through his doctrine and miracles, and not from any principle of equity and justice, or from any regard to Caesar; See Gill on Matthew 27:18 . read more
But the chief priests moved the people ,.... Greatly solicited and persuaded them, both in person, and by their officers they employed, and dispersed among them, to make use of arguments with them to prevail upon them: that he should rather release Barabbas unto them ; than Jesus of Nazareth; choosing rather to have a murderer granted unto them, than the holy and just one. The Persic version, as before, reads, "the chief of the priests"; but they were all concerned, and were the most... read more
And Pilate answered and said again unto them ,.... Being astonished that they should ask the release of such an infamous person; and being very desirous of saving Jesus: what will ye then that I shall do unto him, whom ye call the king of the Jews ? at least many of you; would you have me put him to death? surely this can never be desired; or would you have me inflict some slight punishment on him, as scourging him, and so dismiss him? See Gill on Matthew 27:22 . read more
And they cried out again, crucify him. For they had cried so once before, though Matthew and Mark relate it not, yet Luke does, Luke 23:21 . read more
Then Pilate said unto them ,.... The third time, Luke 23:22 ; why, what evil hath he done ? worthy of death. They had charged him with many things, but proved nothing against him. Pilate could find no fault in him, and judged him an innocent person, and therefore was loth to condemn him: and they cried out the more exceedingly ; with louder voices, and greater vehemency, the more they found he was inclined to save him: crucify him ; nothing short of death would satisfy them,... read more
And so Pilate, willing to content the people ,.... To satisfy and make them easy, who were become very noisy and tumultuous, and fearing the consequences of their resentment, should he not comply, of which he had formerly had experience; therefore to humour them, and keep in their favour, after he had washed his hands, to testify his innocence in the matter, he released Barabbas unto them ; the seditious person, robber, and murderer, as they desired: and delivered Jesus when he had... read more
And the soldiers led him away into the hall ,.... From the place called the pavement, where was the judge's bench, from which he passed sentence on Christ, to a large room, called the praetorium , or judgment hall; being the hall, or room, where the praetor, or Roman magistrate, kept his court of judicature; and is the same place the Jews would not go into, lest they should be defiled, and become unmeet to eat the Chagigah that day; and into which Pilate had Jesus more than once alone, ... read more
And they clothed him with purple ,.... Matthew calls it a "scarlet" robe; and the Persic version here renders it a "red garment": it was of a colour resembling purple; it was pretty near it, and therefore so called; which is what kings were used to wear; and so in derision of him, as a king, clothed him with this mock purple robe; and which was very likely one of the soldiers' old coats: and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head ; for a crown, and also a reed in his hand,... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 15:8
And the multitude crying aloud ,.... The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read, and when the "multitude", or "people went up", to the place called the pavement, where the judgment seat was; and so it is read in Beza's most ancient copy; but the former reading is to be preferred: began to desire him to do as he had ever done to them : that is, release a prisoner to them, as he had done at every passover, since he had been a governor over them. read more