Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 15:12
And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do [unto him] whom ye call the King of the Jews?
12. What will ye ] This question seems to have been put in disdain and anger; disdain at their fickleness, anger at the failure of his efforts to stem the torrent.
whom ye call the King of the Jews ] He may have hoped that the sound of the title might have not been in vain on the ears of those who had lately cried, “Blessed is the king that cometh in the name of the Lord,” “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David” (Luk 19:38; Mar 11:10). But he was bitterly deceived.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mar 15:12
The King of the Jews
Pilates question
I.
The title-King of the Jews.
II. The embarrassment that prompted the utterance of this question.
III. Regard this as a present question. What shall you do with reference to Him who is King of the Jews? Will you reject Him? Will you be neutral? Will you be like the Jews-for Him today, against Him tomorrow? Will your conscience be content if you simply call Him by His name? (Charles Stanford, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
And Pilate answered and said again unto them,…. Being astonished that they should ask the release of such an infamous person; and being very desirous of saving Jesus:
what will ye then that I shall do unto him, whom ye call the king of the Jews? at least many of you; would you have me put him to death? surely this can never be desired; or would you have me inflict some slight punishment on him, as scourging him, and so dismiss him?
[See comments on Mt 27:22].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Whom ye call the King of the Jews ( ). Pilate rubs it in on the Jews (cf. verse 9). The “then” () means since you have chosen Barabbas instead of Jesus.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And Pilate answered and said again unto them,”(tio de Pilatos palm apokeitheris elegan autois) ”Then Pilate responding again said to them,” apparently after they had cried, ”not Jesus, but Barabbas,” Joh 18:40.
2) “What will ye then that I shall do unto Him,” (ti oun poieso hon) “What then may I do to Him,” Mat 27:22. He sought the popular sanction of the masses, without conscience regarding the innocence of Jesus.
3) “Whom ye call the King of the Jews?” (hon legete ton Basilea ton loudion) “Whom you all call the King of the Jews?” Mar 15:9; Mat 27:17; Mat 27:22. He was there to administer Roman civil law, not usurp an adjudication, and authorize a religious oriented execution.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(12) Whom ye call the King of the Jews.We note in St. Marks report something of the same determination to fasten upon the Jews the reproach that it was indeed their king whom he had condemned, as we see afterwards in the title which he placed upon the cross, and in his refusal to alter it (Joh. 19:21-22).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And Pilate again answered and said to them, “What then shall I do to him whom you call the king of the Jews?” ’
Note the continual repetition of the title, ‘the king of the Jews’ by Pilate. In his experience people who had borne that title had been popular with the people. So Pilate possibly hoped by this question to obtain the request for a further release which would have nicely solved his problem. At a cry of ‘release Him’ he could be magnanimous and achieve his object at the same time. And in normal circumstance that might well have been what he would have got. The crowd, if they knew of Him, probably had nothing against Jesus, except that they might see Him as being too soft on the Romans (unless they had learned that he was a rumoured Temple destroyer). But the Chief Priests and their bullies would have nothing of it, and Barabbas’ supporters were only really interested in obtaining Barabbas’ release. From their point of view this man could easily be sacrificed if it meant getting their own way. He certainly must not be allowed to get in the way of Barabbas’ release. So let Him take Barabbas’ place. Let Him be crucified instead.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
12. ] . . . . = Matt. Neither of these expressions can well have been copied from the other.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 15:12 . It is presupposed that the people have intimated their preference for Barabbas perhaps by the cry: not Jesus, but Barabbas. Hence Pilate proceeds to ask: “what, then, am I to do with Him whom ye call ( ) the King of the Jews?” That whom ye call was very astute. It ought to bring out the real feeling of the people, as from the next verse we learn that it did.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
12.] . . . . = Matt. Neither of these expressions can well have been copied from the other.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
What: Mat 27:22, Mat 27:23, Luk 23:20-24, Joh 19:14-16
whom: Mar 15:1, Mar 15:2, Mar 11:9-11, Pro 2:6, Pro 2:7, Isa 9:6, Isa 9:7, Jer 23:5, Jer 23:6, Zec 9:9, Mat 2:2-4, Mat 21:5, Luk 23:2, Act 5:31
Reciprocal: Joh 19:6 – the chief priests
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
Pilate was evidently surprised at the selection of the people. If they were willing to have so wicked a prisoner as Barabbas turned loose upon the community, they certainly could not wish for anything severe to be done to as harmless a person as Jesus, hence he asked them directly for their verdict concerning him.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The people’s choice left Pilate with a problem. What would he do with innocent Jesus? Pilate’s wife had just warned him to have nothing to do with that innocent man (Mat 27:19). He put the question to the crowd. The religious leaders probably started the chant calling for Jesus’ crucifixion, not just capital punishment, but it quickly spread through the crowd. The mob ignored Pilate’s request for reasonable reconsideration and continued chanting.