The Jews accuse him of seditious practices. 383 SECT. CLXXXVII. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod, who, having treated him with great contempt, sends him back again. Pilate in vain endeavours to persuade the Jews to consent to his release, who impiously prefer Barabbas, and persist in their demands of a sentence of crucifixion against Jesus. Mat. XXVII. 15-18, 20-23. Mark XV. 6-14. Luke XXIII. 5—23. John XVIII. 39, to the end. LUKE XXIII. 5. IT LUKE XXIII. 5. clxxxvii. AND they were the more fierce, sayT was observed in the preceding section, that SECT. ing, He stirreth up when Pilate came out of the palace he bore the people, teaching an open testimony to the innocence of Jesus, and Luke throughout all Jewry, declared to the priests, in the presence of the XXIII.5 beginning from Galilee to this place. people, that he found no fault at all in him." but they not only continued strongly to urge their accusation, but were more violent than before, saying, We assuredly know that he stirs up all the people, teaching the most dangerous and seditious doctrines throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, that factious country, where he has been most busy, and from thence making a progress even to this place, and gathering up followers every where by the way, to the rent danger and damage of the state. And when Pilate heard them speak of Galilee, 6 of Galilee, he asked he presently inquired if the man whom they had brought before him was a Galilean. And 7 And as soon as finding that he was of that country, and therehe knew that he before that he properly belonged to Herod's jurislonged unto Herod's Jurisdiction, he sent diction, who was tetrarch of Galilee, he willinghim to Herod, who ly embraced this opportunity to clear himself of himself was also at Jc- so perplexing an affair, and immediately sent 6 When Pilate heard whether the man were a Galilean. rusalem at that time. 8 And when Herod saw appa him away to Herod, who being himself a Jew, And when Herod saw Jesus he rejoiced exceed-8 a He sent him to Herod.] It may not be improper, for the sake of those who are less acquainted with the Jewish history, to observe, that this was Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, by whom John the Baptist had been beheaded, and whom Christ had justly represented as a for. (Luke xiii. 32, p. 17.) He was son to Herod the Great, under whom Christ was born: and uncle to Herod Agrippa (by whom James was beheaded, and Peter imprisoned), who was eaten by worms (Acts xii. 2, 3, 23); and LA 384 SECT. clxxxvii. Luke Pilate finding he was a Galilean, sends him to Herod; was desirous to see him ingly; for he had a long time been very desirous saw Jesus, he was exto see him, because he had heard much concern- ceeding glad for he ing him in Galilee (compare Luke ix. 7, 9. sect. of a long season, beXXIII.8lxxvii.) and he now hoped that he should have an cause he had heard opportunity so far to satisfy his curiosity as to see many things of him; and he hoped to have some miracle done by him, and might be able seen some miracle done also to determine whether he was, as he had once by him. suspected, John the Baptist risen from the dead. 9 (Compare Mat. xiv. 2. Vol VI. p. 404.) And he examined him in many words, concerning a variety of particulars, both as to his pretensions and the proof of his mission, as well as the tenor of his doctrine: but as Jesus knew this was not a proper time and circumstance to enter into those questions, of which Herod might long ago have been sufficiently informed, he made him no 10 11 12 answer. And the chief priests and scribes, whose malice had prompted them to attend him thither, stood in the presence of the king, eagerly accusing him of the same crimes which they had before charged him with in their application to Pilate. 9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently ac cused him. 11 And Herod with his men of war set gain to Pilate. And Herod, with those of his soldiers who now attended him as his life-guard, looked upon him at nought, and Jesus with disdain, and treated him in a very mocked him, and arraycontemptuous manner, like a poor inconsiderable ed him in a gorgeous creature, who no way answered the account robe, and sent him athey had heard of him, neither saying nor doing any thing to gratify their curiosity; and having derided [him] for pretending to be a king (as it was urged by his accusers he had done), in public contempt of that claim, whatever it was, Herod clothed him with a splendid robe, and sent him back to Pilate, thereby intimating, that he left him to do what he pleased with his prisoner, but that for his own part he apprehended his pretensions to royalty worthy of derision. rather than serious resentment. And, whatever Pilate's real intentions were, the compliment of sending Jesus to be examined by him, was so well taken by Herod; and Herod's sending him back to the Roman governor b A splendid robe.] This expression Enla raungar does not so properly signify (as Le Clerc renders it) a white robe; nor was it, as he supposes, intended as a declaration of his innocence. It was rather some gorgeous garment which belonged to Herod or some of his officers, and was, perhaps, grown old, and they clothed him was, 12 And the same day with it in derision of his having pretended to be a king. This usage was exceeding insolent: perhaps the remorse of conscience which Herod had felt on account of the murder of John the Baptist might render him cautious how he joined in any attempt on the life of Jesus, which we do not find that he did. < They Who treats him with contempt, and sends him back again. 385 13 And Pilate, when he had called to and the rulers, and the people, gether the chief priests, man unto me, as one before you, have found him; was, on the other hand, such a public instance SECT. of regard to him; that the same day Pilate and clxxxvii. Herod became friends, and were reconciled to Luke each other: for before this, they were at enmity XXIII. between themselves. 12 And Pilate, having received an account of 13 what had passed before Herod, called together the chief priests, and the rulers, and with them the rest of the people who had appeared against him 14 Said unto them, as his accusers; And said to them, You have 14 Ye have brought this brought me this man, Jesus of Nazareth, as one that perverteth the that has perverted the people, and taught docpeople and behold, I trines injurious to your religion, and also to the having examined him civil peace and the Roman government; and no fault in this man behold, I have examined [him] both in your pretouching those things sence, and in private, and heard all that could whereof ye accuse be alledged against him; but I must solemnly declare that I have found no crime in this man as to the things that you have charged him with; nor can I in my conscience think that you have made good any of the accusations you have brought against him: Nor yet has Herod been 15 to able to make any such discovery; for I sent you to him with the prisoner, that you might do your utmost to convict him before that prince, who being a person of your own religion, and well acquainted with your laws and customs, might have known more of the matter than myself; and yet behold, it appears to have been Herod's judgment, that nothing worthy of death has been done by him, for, instead of sending him back like one who deserves a capital sentence, he has treated him like an idiot rather than a traitor, so as plainly to shew that he thinks him merely the object of ridicule, or to deserve at most but 16 I will therefore some slight punishment. And therefore, when 16 chastise I have chastised him by scourging, which will be 15 No, nor yet IIerod: for I sent you him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. c They were at enmity between themselves.] The cause of this enmity can only be conjectured: perhaps it might be the slaughter which Pilate had made of some of the Galileans who had come up to sacrifice at Jerusalem. (See Luke xiii. 1, sect. exvi.) But Mons. Saurin truly observes, that, considering on the one hand the jealousy of the Jews where any foreign power was concerned, and on the other the oppressive measures generally taken by those who are invested with commissions like this which Pilate bore over conquered countries, and especially the accounts we have of his own bad character and conduct, their re an conciliation is much more wonderful than d Nothing worthy of death has been done 386 Luke Pilate proposes to scourge, and discharge him. SECT. an admonition to him for the future not to use chastise him, and reclxxxvii. those wild enthusiastical expressions which have lease him. given so much umbrage and suspicion, I will let XXIII. [him] go: and I believe you may depend upon 16 it that he will give us no farther trouble; nor would he have interest enough to do it if he were inclined to the attempt. Mark MARK XV. 6. Now at that feast [the governor was wont] [LUKE, and of necessity he must] [relcase unto the people] one prisoner, sired. [MAT. XXVII. 15. LURE XXIII. 17.] whomsoever they de 7 And there was [then a notable pri made insurrection with Now it was usual at the feast of the passover, XV. 6 [and] even was grown by custom in a manner necessary, for the Roman governor, when such multitudes were assembled from all parts, to release to the people any one prisoner, whom they desired to be set at liberty, whatever crime it was 7that he was charged with. And there was then in Pilate's custody a very infamous and noted · prisoner, whose name was Barabbas, that lay soner] named Barabbound with some other ruffians who had made bas, which lay bound an insurrection in the city in conjunction with with them that had him, and who had also committed murder in the him [LUKE, in the insurrection; and, besides the part he had acted city], who had comin this seditious riot, he was a fellow of a most mitted murder in the abandoned character, and known to be a robber, was a robber. [MAT. insurrection [JOHN, and who had infested the highways with his villainy; XXVII. 16. LUKE so that it was generally concluded he would re- XXIII. 19. JoHN XVIII.-40.] ceive sentence of death, and would be executed 8 that day. And, as the power of reversing or 8 And the multiexecuting such sentences then lay in the Romans, tude [therefore when the people therefore, when they were gathered together about the tribunal, began with a great noise and clamour to demand of Pilate [that he would do] at this passover as he had always done to them upon the like occasions, and would discharge a prisoner. 9 they were gathered together,] crying aloud, began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. [MATT. XXVII. 17.—) 9 But Pilate answered them,saying,[JOHN, And Pilate hoping that he might preserve the life of Jesus, whose innocence he so clearly saw, Ye have a custom, that determined to attempt it by this method; and I should release unto accordingly, that he might induce them to choose you one at the passhim, he proposed no other alternative than that over:] [Whom] will ye [JOHN, therefore] scandalous and outrageous criminal whom we that I release unto you? have just now mentioned, and answered them, [Barabbas? or Jesus, saying, You have indeed a custom, that I should release to you one at the passover, and I am ready now to oblige you in this affair: whom will you therefore choose that I release unto you? Barab e Usual,—and in a manner necessary.] There was no law to oblige him to this: but as acts of grace are generally popular things, this seems to have been first freely used by the Romans to please their tributaries, and now by custom was in a manner bas, which established. I find no substantial reason to believe there was in the original of this custom any reference to the deliverance of Israel from the Egyptian bondage at this time. Whom it was usual at the feast to release a prisoner to them. 387 which is called Christ,] bas, that seditious and murderous robber? or SECT. the king of the Jews [MAT. XXVII.-17. JOHN XVIII. 39.] had delivered him for 18.] Mark this Jesus, who is called Christ, who in I know clxxxvii. not what strange sense is pretended to be the king of the Jews, and whom you see before you in the XV. 9. fine robe in which Herod has thought fit to ar10 (For he knew ray him? For he knew that the chief priests 10 that the chief priests and rulers had not delivered him up into his hands envy.) [MAT. XXVII. from a regard to justice, but merely out of envy at his popularity; and therefore he was willing to make the proposal to the people in such a form as might be most likely to secure his life. 11 But the chief But the chief priests and elders, who were ex- 11 priests [and elders] moved [and persuaded] ceedingly solicitous to obtain their end, lest this the people, that they artifice of the governor should defeat all their should ask] that he laboured scheme, excited the most forward of the Barabbas unto them, people, [and] effectually persuaded the mob they [and destroy Jesus.] had brought with them, that they should ask the (MAT. XXVII. 20. ] governor, with a continual noise and clamour, that he would rather release Barabbas to them; that by this means the point they had in view might be secured, and they might be sure to destroy Jesus. And therefore when the governor Mat. answered them in this manner, and said to them XXVII. them, Whether of the again, Take notice that your choice lies only be- 21 twain will ye that I tween these, and therefore now determine for release unto you? yourselves, which of the two do you desire I should should rather release MAT. XXVII. 21. -The governor answered and said unto, unto us JOHN XVIII. 40.-] LUKE XXIII. 18. release unto you? Then, as their principles had Luke And [JOHN, then] they [JOHN, all] cried prompted them, they all cried out again with XXIII. out [JOHN, again all one consent, in the same noisy and tumultuous 18 at once, saying, [JOHN, way as before, saying, We will not have this Not this man, but Ba- [man], but Barabbas; away with this [man,] this man, and release and release unto us Barabbas. And thus, when Barabbas. Pilate would have let him go, they denied the [MAT. XXVII.-21. holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto them. (Acts iii. 14.) MARK XV. 12. And And Pilate, to divert them from the purpose Mark said again unto them, they were so unreasonably set upon, again an- XV. 12. What will ye then that swered and said to them, What therefore would I shall do [with Jesus, you have me do with this Jesus who is called which is called Christ] Christ, and whom, if I may believe your own of the Jews [MAT. rulers, so many of you are ready to call and own XXVII. 22.] as the king of the Jews? And they all pre- 13 13 And they [all] sently renewed their clamour, and cried out again, as before, [and] with one voice said to Pilate answered, and whom ye call the king cried, Whom you call the king of the Jews.] Pilate often repeats this title: and it may seem strange that he should use it so frequently. Probably he might do it partly. to ridicule those pretences, and bring con VOL. VII. him, |