Matthew 27:22

22 Pilate asked them, "What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?" They all answered, "Crucify Him!"^[a]

Matthew 27:22 Meaning and 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, let him be crucified;
which was a Roman punishment, inflicted on the meanest and worst of men; as wicked servants, thieves, robbers, and cut-throats ^F15; and so was not only a torturing and painful death, but a very shameful and ignominious one; yea, an accursed one: in this they all agreed, being instigated to it by the chief priests and elders.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Lipsius de Cruce, l. 1. c. 12, 13.

Matthew 27:22 In-Context

20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus.

21 The governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" "Barabbas!" they answered.

22 Pilate asked them, "What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?" They all answered, "Crucify Him!"

23 Then he said, "Why? What has He done wrong?" But they kept shouting, "Crucify Him!" all the more.

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, "I am innocent of this man's blood. See to it yourselves!"

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "Him-be crucified!"