Matthew 27:22

22 "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!"

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 But the chief priests and the elders talked the crowd into asking for Barabbas and having Jesus put to death.

21 "Which of the two do you want me to set free?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered.

22 "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!"

23 "Why? What wrong has he done?" asked Pilate. But they shouted even louder, "Crucify him!"

24 Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere. Instead, the crowd was starting to get angry. So he took water and washed his hands in front of them. "I am not guilty of this man's death," he said. "You are accountable for that!"