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Jesus Before Pilate
b.Matthew 27:16 Many manuscripts do not have Jesus; also in verse 17.
The Sanhedrin didn't have the power to put Jesus to death. That's why Caiaphas sent Jesus to Pilate. The Roman Government had little tolerance for anyone who threatened the empire of Rome. They hung anyone who was a threat on a cross. Jesus was accused of falsely claiming to be King of the Jews.
Meanwhile, Pilate's wife had a dream [we've seen God use dreams to intervene in the past... Joseph had a dream for instance]. So, while Pilate had to do what was best for Rome, the warning from his wife would have played heavily on his mind. He would, however, have not problem at all with disposing of someone who caused a riot at the time of Passover, when the city was overflowing with Jews.
At the same time, Pilate had another man in prison who was also a threat to the empire. Barabbas was a zealot who had murdered Roman soldiers during an uprising. It's interesting that Pilate would put Barabbas and Jesus up in front of the people. One was a convicted murderer and the other had healed the sick, fed the hungry, and even brought a child back to life.
It was the custom of the Sanhedrin to gather large crowds to stone a person to death. In this case, the Sanhedrin seems to have gathered a crowd to insure the crucifixion of Jesus.
Matthew doesn't say anything about Pilate sending Jesus over to Herod Antipas [the one that beheaded John the Baptist] but Luke tells us that not only did Pilate turn over to Herod, but it increased Pilates standing politically by doing so.
Matthew 27:11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
b.Matthew 27:16 Many manuscripts do not have Jesus; also in verse 17.
The Sanhedrin didn't have the power to put Jesus to death. That's why Caiaphas sent Jesus to Pilate. The Roman Government had little tolerance for anyone who threatened the empire of Rome. They hung anyone who was a threat on a cross. Jesus was accused of falsely claiming to be King of the Jews.
Meanwhile, Pilate's wife had a dream [we've seen God use dreams to intervene in the past... Joseph had a dream for instance]. So, while Pilate had to do what was best for Rome, the warning from his wife would have played heavily on his mind. He would, however, have not problem at all with disposing of someone who caused a riot at the time of Passover, when the city was overflowing with Jews.
At the same time, Pilate had another man in prison who was also a threat to the empire. Barabbas was a zealot who had murdered Roman soldiers during an uprising. It's interesting that Pilate would put Barabbas and Jesus up in front of the people. One was a convicted murderer and the other had healed the sick, fed the hungry, and even brought a child back to life.
It was the custom of the Sanhedrin to gather large crowds to stone a person to death. In this case, the Sanhedrin seems to have gathered a crowd to insure the crucifixion of Jesus.
Matthew doesn't say anything about Pilate sending Jesus over to Herod Antipas [the one that beheaded John the Baptist] but Luke tells us that not only did Pilate turn over to Herod, but it increased Pilates standing politically by doing so.