Chapter VIII.—Of the Absence of Any Discrepancies in the Accounts Which the
Evangelists Give of What Took Place in Pilate’s Presence.
32. He next proceeds as follows: “And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor
asked Him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus saith unto him, Thou sayest. And
when He was accused of the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then saith Pilate
unto Him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And He answered
him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the
governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had
then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate
said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called
Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered Him. But when he was set down on
the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just
man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests
and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. But
the governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto
you? And they said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which
is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified. The governor said to them, Why, what
evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate
saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water and
washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person;
see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Then released he Barabbas unto them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him
to them to be crucified.”1349 These are the things which Matthew has reported to have been
done to the Lord by Pilate.
33. Mark also presents an almost entire identity with the above, both in language and
in subject. The words, however, in which Pilate replied to the people when they asked him
to release one prisoner according to the custom of the feast, are reported by this evangelist
as follows: “But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of
the Jews?”1350 On the other hand, Matthew gives them thus: “Therefore when they were
gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas,
or Jesus which is called Christ?” There need be no difficulty in the circumstance that Matthew
says nothing about the people having requested that one should be released unto them. But
it may fairly be asked, what were the words which Pilate actually uttered, whether these re-
ported by Matthew, or those recited by Mark. For there seems to be some difference between
these two forms of expression, namely, “Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas,
1349 Matt. xxvii. 11–26.
1350 Mark xv. 9.
Of the Absence of Any Discrepancies in the Accounts Which the Evangelists Give of What Took Place in Pilate’s Presence.
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Of the Absence of Any Discrepancies in the Accounts Which the Evangelists…