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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 27:19

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:20

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude ,.... Among whom the choice lay who should be released. This they did not by haranguing them, or making a public oration to them; but by sending their servants, or proper persons among them, telling them that Jesus had been examined before the sanhedrim that morning, and was found to be a blasphemer; and that the whole court had unanimously condemned him to death, and therefore it became them to act according to their decree: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:21

The governor answered and said unto them ,.... A second time, after some time had been allowed and taken up to consider of the matter, and which the chief priests and elders improved among the people against Jesus. Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you ? for as these two were proposed, one of them must be released; and it lay in the breast of the people to choose which they would: they said, Barabbas ; so that Christ was not only numbered among, and reckoned with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:22

Pilate saith unto them ,.... As one astonished at their choice: he could not have thought they would have asked the life of so vile a wretch, that had been guilty of such capital crimes, crimes to be abhorred by all men: what shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ ? Surely you would not have me put him to death, and that for no other reason but this, because he is called either by himself or others, Christ, or the Messiah, or the king of the Jews! they all say unto him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:23

And the governor said, why, what evil hath he done? .... What reason can be given, why he should be crucified? what sin has he committed, that deserves such a death? From whence it is clear, that of all the things they had accused him, they had not, in Pilate's account, given proof of one single action, that was criminal, nor had he done any: he came into the world without sin, he did none in it; he knew no sin, nor could any be found in him, by Satan, nor his accusers, nor his judge: but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:24

When Pilate saw he could prevail nothing ,.... That it was to no purpose to talk to them, and in favour of Jesus; he saw they were determined upon his crucifixion, and that nothing else would satisfy them: but that rather a tumult was made ; there was an uproar among the people, and he might fear the consequences of it, should he not grant their request; otherwise, as Philo the F16 De Legat. ad Caium, p. 1034. Jew says of him, he was, την φυσιν ακαμπης και μετα του ανθαδους... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:19

I have suffered many things - in a dream - There is no doubt that God had appeared unto this woman, testifying the innocence of Christ, and showing the evils which should pursue Pilate if this innocent blood should be shed by his authority. See Matthew 27:2 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:20

Ask Barabbas - Who had raised an insurrection and committed murder - and to destroy Jesus, whose voice was never heard in their streets, and who had, during the space of three years and a half, gone about unweariedly, from village to village, instructing the ignorant, healing the diseased, and raising the dead. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:21

They said, Barabbas - What a fickle crowd! A little before they all hailed him as the Son of David, and acknowledged him as a gift from God; now they prefer a murderer to him! But this it appears they did at the instigation of the chief priests. We see here how dangerous wicked priests are in the Church of Christ; when pastors are corrupt, they are capable of inducing their flock to prefer Barabbas to Jesus, the world to God, and the pleasures of sense to the salvation of their souls. The... read more

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