Matthew 27:22
Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Pilate asks what to do with Jesus "who is called Christ," a subtle reminder of Jesus' true identity, yet the crowd's immediate, unified roar of "Let him be crucified!" reveals their willful rejection of that claim. This isn't just a mob; it's a collective decision to extinguish the very one they ironically acknowledge by title.
Pilate, feeling pressured by the crowd and the religious leaders, tries to find a way out of condemning Jesus by offering them a choice between Jesus and the notorious prisoner Barabbas. After the crowd, incited by the priests, demands Barabbas's release, Pilate questions what to do with Jesus, knowing his wife's dream warned him, but the mob immediately shouts for Jesus to be crucified.
Pilate stands before a frenzied crowd, trying to navigate a dangerous situation. What does his question reveal about his inner conflict and the immense pressure he's under?
Pilate's question, 'What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?' isn't just a procedural query. It's a desperate attempt to shift responsibility and gauge the crowd's true intentions.
A Governor's Dilemma
The crowd's response is swift and chilling: 'Let him be crucified!' What does their collective decision reveal about their values and the spiritual blindness of the moment?
The demand to crucify Jesus wasn't just a random outburst; it was a deliberate choice to elevate a criminal over the Son of God. This highlights a dangerous human tendency to prefer the familiar, the violent, or the status quo over divine truth.
The Crowd's Delusion
Understand the original words
Iēsous · Greek (derived from Hebrew) Noun
The central figure of the Gospel; the name means 'YHWH is salvation' and is paired here with the title 'Christ' (Messiah).
Christos · Greek Noun
The Greek translation of the Hebrew 'Messiah' (Anointed One), referring to the King and Savior promised to Israel by God through the prophets.
stauroō · Greek Verb
A form of execution used by the Romans, characterized by extreme physical agony, shame, and public degradation, which became the instrument of Christ's atoning sacrifice.
This moment is deeply rooted in the political and religious climate of Roman-occupied Judea, where a governor's decision was heavily influenced by popular opinion and religious leaders' agendas during a significant Jewish festival.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus' teachings and miracles draw large crowds, challenging the religious authorities and gaining a following.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Arrest and Trial
Jesus is arrested after the Last Supper, tried by the Jewish council, and then brought before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.
c. AD 30
Pilate's Wife's Warning
Pilate's wife sends him a message, warning him to have nothing to do with Jesus because she had disturbing dreams.
c. AD 30
The Passover Custom
It was a custom for the Roman governor to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd during the Passover festival.
c. AD 30— this verse
This passage from Isaiah prophesies the suffering servant who is led like a lamb to slaughter, a stark parallel to Jesus' silent acceptance of his fate when Pilate asks what to do with him.
Luke 23:14-15Here, Pilate explicitly declares that he finds no guilt in Jesus after questioning him, highlighting the unjust pressure from the crowd and religious leaders to condemn an innocent man.
John 19:6The chief priests and their officials shouting 'Crucify him! Crucify him!' demonstrates the instigation and malicious intent behind the crowd's demand, as described in this verse.
Acts 4:27This verse references the 'holy servant Jesus' against whom both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gathered, showing the unified opposition Jesus faced.
1 Peter 2:22Peter directly quotes Isaiah, stating that Jesus committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth, reinforcing the innocence that Pilate could not prove guilt against.
henryMatthew 27:11-25: "And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest."
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 conscience…
ellicottMatthew 27:22: "Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified."
(22) Let him be crucified. —It may be noted that this was the first direct intimation of the mode of death to which the priests destined their prisoner. It was implied, indeed, in their fixed resolve to make the Roman governor the executioner of their sentence, as shown in the dialogue recorded by St. John ( John 18:31 ); but now the cry came from the mul…
Pilate asks what to do with Jesus "who is called Christ," a subtle reminder of Jesus' true identity, yet the crowd's immediate, unified roar of "Let him be crucified!" reveals their willful rejection of that claim. This isn't just a mob; it's a collective decision to extinguish the very one they ironically acknowledge by title.
Pilate, feeling pressured by the crowd and the religious leaders, tries to find a way out of condemning Jesus by offering them a choice between Jesus and the notorious prisoner Barabbas. After the crowd, incited by the priests, demands Barabbas's release, Pilate questions what to do with Jesus, knowing his wife's dream warned him, but the mob immediately shouts for Jesus to be crucified.
Pilate, feeling pressured by the crowd and the religious leaders, tries to find a way out of condemning Jesus by offering them a choice between Jesus and the notorious prisoner Barabbas. After the crowd, incited by the priests, demands Barabbas's release, Pilate questions what to do with Jesus, knowing his wife's dream warned him, but the mob immediately shouts for Jesus to be crucified.
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The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
Pilate offers the crowd a choice between Jesus and a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. They demand Barabbas' release and Jesus' crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Pilate Condemns Jesus
Despite acknowledging Jesus' innocence and his wife's warning, Pilate succumbs to the crowd's pressure and hands Jesus over to be crucified.
"Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”" — Pilate asks what to do with Jesus "who is called Christ," a subtle reminder of Jesus' true identity, yet the crowd's immediate, unified roar of "Let him be crucified!" reveals their willful rejection…
