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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 27:15

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

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

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