Matthew 27:23

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 27:23

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:23

What evil hath he done? - Pilate plainly saw that there was nothing laid to his charge for which, consistently with the Roman laws, he could condemn him. But they cried out the more - What strange fury and injustice! They could not answer Pilate's question, What evil hath he done? He had done none, and they knew he had done none; but they are determined on his death. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 27:11-25

Christ before Pilate. I. THE ACCUSATION . 1 . Pilate ' s question. Pilate was proud and cruel; he despised and hated the Jews. But he had something of the old Roman love of justice—he would not condemn the Lord unheard, as the Jews at first desired ( John 18:30 , John 18:31 ). He rejected their request contemptuously, "Take ye him, and judge him according to your Law." They kept back at first the charge of blasphemy, which they knew Pilate would dismiss at once, as Gallio... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 27:11-31

The actors in a momentous tragedy. The scene is laid in Jerusalem, in the palace of the Roman governor. The occasion is the trial of the Lord Jesus for his life. The whole human race and all the ages are interested. Behold— I. THE PRISONER AT THE BAR . 1 . " Now Jesus stood before the governor. " 2 . Listen to his confession. 3 . Mark his silence . II. THE WITNESSES IN COURT . 1 . The leaders were the rulers of the Jews . (a) In their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 27:15-26

Barabbas preferred to Jesus. ( Mark 15:6-15 ; Luke 23:17-25 ; John 18:39 , John 18:40 .) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 27:15-30

Christ before Pilate. No. 2. The other evangelists tell us of Pilate's first and fatal mistake, in offering, while convinced of his Prisoner's innocence, to chastise him and let him go. He showed the Jews he was afraid of them; and from this point onwards we see him tossed between his own convictions and his fears—a type of all who in their own souls have convictions about Christ and their duty to him, which they do not act out lest they thereby incur loss or abuse. Apparently, before the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 27:23

Why, what evil hath he done? τι ì γα Ì ρ κακο Ì ν ἐποι ì ησεν ; The particle γα Ì ρ implies a certain reasoning in the question, the speaker for the nonce putting himself in the people's position, and demanding the ground of their decision. The authorized translation is adequate. Pilate thus showed his pusillanimity and irresolution, while exercising no control over the feelings of the excited mob. But they cried out the more ( περισσῶς ἐ ì ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 27:15-23

See also the parallel places in Mark 15:6-14; Luke 23:17-23; John 18:39-40.Matthew 27:15At that feast - The feast of the Passover.The governor was wont to release ... - that is, was “accustomed” to release.From what this custom arose, or by whom it was introduced, is not known. It was probably adopted to secure popularity among the Jews, and to render the government of the Romans less odious. Any little indulgence granted to the Jews during the heavy oppression of the Romans would serve to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 27:23

Matthew 27:23. The governor said, Why? what evil hath he done? A proper question to be asked before we censure any in common discourse, much more for a judge to ask, before he pass a sentence of death. It is much for the honour of the Lord Jesus, that, though he suffered as an evil doer, yet neither his judge nor his prosecutors could find that he had done any evil. Had he done any evil against God? No: he always did those things that pleased him. Had he done any against the civil... read more

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