Matthew 27:22

22 Pilate saith to them, What then shall I do of Jesus, that is said Christ [which is said Christ]? All they say, Be he crucified.

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 Forsooth the princes of priests, and the elder men counseled the people, that they should ask Barabbas, but they should destroy Jesus. [Forsooth the princes of priests and elder men counseled the peoples, that they should ask Barabbas, but Jesus they should lose.]

21 But the justice answered, and said to them, Whom of the twain will ye, that be delivered to you [Forsooth the president answering saith to them, Whom of the two will ye to be let go, or delivered, to you]? And they said, Barabbas.

22 Pilate saith to them, What then shall I do of Jesus, that is said Christ [which is said Christ]? All they say, Be he crucified.

23 The justice saith to them, What evil hath he done? And they cried more, and said, Be he crucified. [+The president said to them, Soothly what of evil hath he done/Soothly what evil hath he done? And they cried more, saying, Be he crucified.]

24 And Pilate seeing that he profited nothing, but that more [a] noise was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the people, and said, I am guiltless of the blood of this rightful man; busy you [+saying, I am innocent, or guiltless, of the blood of this just man; see ye].