11 Now Jesus stood before the governor , and the governor questioned Him, saying , "Are You the King of the Jews ?" And Jesus said to him, " It is as you say ." 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders , He did not answer . 13 Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" 14 And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge , so the governor was quite amazed .
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted . 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner , called Barabbas . 17 So when the people gathered together , Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas , or Jesus who is called Christ ?" 18 For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat , his wife sent him a message, saying , "Have nothing to do with that righteous Man ; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him." 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death . 21 But the governor said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said , "Barabbas ." 22 Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ ?" They all said , "Crucify Him!" 23 And he said , "Why , what evil has He done ?" But they kept shouting all the more , saying , "Crucify Him!" 24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing , but rather that a riot was starting , he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd , saying , "I am innocent of this Man's blood ; see to that yourselves ." 25 And all the people said , " His blood shall be on us and on our children !"
26 Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged , he handed Him over to be crucified . 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 And after twisting together a crown of thorns , they put it on His head , and a reed in His right hand ; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying , " Hail , King of the Jews !" 30 They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head . 31 After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 27:11-31
Commentary on Matthew 27:11-25
(Read Matthew 27:11-25)
Having no malice against Jesus, Pilate urged him to clear himself, and laboured to get him discharged. The message from his wife was a warning. God has many ways of giving checks to sinners, in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great mercy to have such checks from Providence, from faithful friends, and from our own consciences. O do not this abominable thing which the Lord hates! is what we may hear said to us, when we are entering into temptation, if we will but regard it. Being overruled by the priests, the people made choice of Barabbas. Multitudes who choose the world, rather than God, for their ruler and portion, thus choose their own delusions. The Jews were so bent upon the death of Christ, that Pilate thought it would be dangerous to refuse. And this struggle shows the power of conscience even on the worst men. Yet all was so ordered to make it evident that Christ suffered for no fault of his own, but for the sins of his people. How vain for Pilate to expect to free himself from the guilt of the innocent blood of a righteous person, whom he was by his office bound to protect! The Jews' curse upon themselves has been awfully answered in the sufferings of their nation. None could bear the sin of others, except Him that had no sin of his own to answer for. And are we not all concerned? Is not Barabbas preferred to Jesus, when sinners reject salvation that they may retain their darling sins, which rob God of his glory, and murder their souls? The blood of Christ is now upon us for good, through mercy, by the Jews' rejection of it. O let us flee to it for refuge!
Commentary on Matthew 27:26-30
(Read Matthew 27:26-30)
Crucifixion was a death used only among the Romans; it was very terrible and miserable. A cross was laid on the ground, to which the hands and feet were nailed, it was then lifted up and fixed upright, so that the weight of the body hung on the nails, till the sufferer died in agony. Christ thus answered the type of the brazen serpent raised on a pole. Christ underwent all the misery and shame here related, that he might purchase for us everlasting life, and joy, and glory.
Commentary on Matthew 27:31-34
(Read Matthew 27:31-34)
Christ was led as a Lamb to the slaughter, as a Sacrifice to the altar. Even the mercies of the wicked are really cruel. Taking the cross from him, they compelled one Simon to bear it. Make us ready, O Lord, to bear the cross thou hast appointed us, and daily to take it up with cheerfulness, following thee. Was ever sorrow like unto his sorrow? And when we behold what manner of death he died, let us in that behold with what manner of love he loved us. As if death, so painful a death, were not enough, they added to its bitterness and terror in several ways.