Matthew 27:22

22 Pilate says to them, What, then, am I to do with Jesus, who is named Christ? They all say, Let him be put to death on the cross.

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 Now the chief priests and those in authority got the people to make request for Barabbas, and for Jesus to be put to death.

21 But the ruler made answer and said to them, Which of the two is it your pleasure that I let go free? And they said, Barabbas.

22 Pilate says to them, What, then, am I to do with Jesus, who is named Christ? They all say, Let him be put to death on the cross.

23 And he said, Why, what evil has he done? But they gave loud cries, saying, To the cross with him!

24 So when Pilate saw that he was able to do nothing, but that trouble was working up, he took water and, washing his hands before the people, said, The blood of this upright man is not on my hands: you are responsible.