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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 27:11-25

We have here an account of what passed in Pilate's judgment?hall, when the blessed Jesus was brought thither betimes in the morning. Though it was no court?day, Pilate immediately took his case before him. We have there, I. The trial Christ had before Pilate. 1. His arraignment; Jesus stood before the governor, as the prisoner before the judge. We could not stand before God because of our sins, nor lift up our face in his presence, if Christ had not been thus made sin for us. He was arraigned... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:11

And Jesus stood before the governor ,.... Pilate who sat; for so was the custom for the judge to sit, and those that were judged, to stand, especially whilst witness was bore against them F6 T. Hieros. Yoma, fol. 43. 2, 3. . "Says R. Bo, in the name of Rab Hona, the witnesses ought to stand whilst they bear witness. Says R. Jeremiah, in the name of R. Abhu, also הנידונין צריכן להיות עומדין , "those that are judged ought to stand", whilst they receive their witness.' And... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:12

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders ,.... As that he was a perverter of the people, a stirrer of sedition, discord, and rebellion among them; that he taught them not to give tribute to Caesar, and set up himself for a king; all which he had done not in one place only, but throughout all the land of Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem; see Luke 23:2 , he answered nothing ; the things laid to his charge being notoriously false, and known to be so by all the people; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:13

Then saith Pilate unto him ,.... Observing he made no reply to the accusations of the chief priests and elders, and in order to draw something out of him, hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee ? art thou deaf? or dost thou not take in what is alleged against thee? dost thou not consider the nature of these charges? how many, and of what kind the depositions are now made by persons of such rank and figure? art thou under no concern to make answer to them? read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:14

And he answered him to never a word ,.... He made no reply to anyone thing which Pilate suggested to him, though it seems to have been in a kind and friendly way, and with a view to his good: insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly ; that a man, who at other times had such fluency of speech, and readiness of expression, who both for matter and words, and also weight and authority, spake as never man did: and who had so often silenced the Scribes and Pharisees, men of the greatest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:15

Now at that feast ,.... The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, "at every feast": which looks as if the authors of these versions thought the sense was, that the following custom was used at each feast in the year, at the feasts of pentecost, and tabernacles, and passover; whereas it was only at the feast of the passover; and which is meant by the feast here, as is clear from John 18:39 . It was but once a year that this was done; at every returning passover; and so the Persic... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:16

And they had then a notable prisoner ,.... The Vulgate Latin reads, "he had"; that is, Pilate, who had committed him to prison, and under whose power he was: for the Jews had lost all authority of this kind, at least in capital cases. This prisoner is called a "notable" one; that is, a famous, or rather an infamous one: he was a thief, and a robber, and had been guilty of sedition; had made, or joined with others in an insurrection, and had committed murder in it; and so, on more accounts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:17

Therefore when they were gathered together ,.... Meaning not the chief priests and elders; for these were together before, but the common people; and so the Persic version renders the words, when the people increased into a multitude: for it was to them the release of a prisoner was to be made, and so the proposal of one; and it was at their option, who should be the person; for it was "whom they would", as in Matthew 27:15 , and where the Ethiopic version adds, "and should choose". ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:18

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. He saw in their countenances, and by their charges against him, and by the whole of their conduct, that it was not out of any regard to Caesar, or to the peace and tranquillity of the civil government, or to strict justice; but from envy, at his popularity, at his fame and credit, the honour, glory, and applause he had among the people, on account of his doctrine, and miracles, that they had delivered him up into his hands; and therefore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:19

When he was set down on the judgment seat ,.... That is, when Pilate the governor, as the Syriac and Persic versions read, was set down upon the bench, and while he was sitting there, and trying of Jesus: his wife sent unto him : her name, according to the Ethiopians, was Abrokla F14 Ludolph. Lex. Ethiop. p. 541. ; who might be a Jewess, as the wife of Felix was, Acts 24:24 , and a favourer of Jesus, or, at least, a religious person; and if, only a mere Heathen, yet had some... read more

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