Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 13:28
And though they found no cause of death [in him,] yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
28. they found no cause of death in him ] These words are a part of the declaration of Pilate (Luk 23:22).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And though they found … – They found no crime which deserved death. This is conclusively shown by the trial itself. After all their efforts; after the treason of Judas; after their employing false witnesses; still no crime was laid to his charge. The Sanhedrin condemned him for blasphemy; and yet they knew that they could not substantiate the charge before Pilate, and they therefore endeavored to procure his condemnation on the ground of sedition. Compare Luk 22:70-71, with Luk 23:1-2.
Yet desired they Pilate … – Mat 27:1-2; Luk 23:4-5.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 28. They found no cause of death in him] No reason why he should be condemned. Though they accused him of several things, yet they could not substantiate the most trifling charge against him; and yet, in opposition to all justice and equity, desired Pilate to put him to death! This points their perfidy in the strongest light.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Though they found no cause of death in him; he was a Lamb without blemish; neither had he offended the rabble that was so slanderous against him, unless by such vast goodness and kindness towards them he branded them for ingratitude.
Yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain, Mat 27:22. The Jews did condemn him, but they could not put him to death, the Romans, under whom they were subject, having reserved the power of life and death wholly unto themselves; and therefore they desired Pilate to confirm their sentence, and to cause it to be executed.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
28. found no cause of deaththoughthey sought it (Mat 26:59;Mat 26:60).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And though they found no cause of death in him,…. That is, no crime that deserved death; they sought for such, but could find none; they suborned false witnesses, who brought charges against him, but could not support them; wherefore Pilate, his judge, several times declared his innocence, and would have discharged him:
yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain; they were urgent and importunate with him, that he would order him to be put to death; the power of life and death being then in the hands of the Romans; the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, “that they might slay him”; and the Arabic version, “that he might slay him”; and the Ethiopic version renders the whole quite contrary to the sense, “and they gave power to Pilate to hang him”; whereas the power of putting him to death was in Pilate, and not in them: and therefore they were pressing upon him, that he would order his execution, notwithstanding his innocence.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Though they found no cause of death ( ). Second aorist active with usual negative of the participle. As a matter of fact the Sanhedrin did charge Jesus with blasphemy, but could not prove it (Matt 26:65; Matt 27:24; Luke 23:22). At this time no Gospel had probably been written, but Paul knew that Jesus was innocent. He uses this same idiom about his own innocence (Ac 28:18).
That he should be slain ( ). First aorist passive infinitive, the accusative case, the direct object of (first aorist middle indicative, asked as a favour to themselves).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And though they found no cause of death in Him,” (kai medemian aitian thanatou heurontes) “And finding not even one cause (legal, moral, ethical, or religious-use) of (or justification for) His death,” in Him, in His attitude or conduct, Mar 15:13-14; Joh 19:4; Joh 19:6. Tho judicially declared innocent by Pilate, Jesus was still released to the Jewish mob for crucifixion in a most illegal manner; Why? the answer is that an acquitted man, one found by a judge to be innocent, is no subject for punishment as a criminal.
2) “Yet desired they Pilate that He should be slain,” (etesanto Pilaton anairethenai auton) “They still petitioned, requested, or appealed to Pilate to destroy Him, put Him away, to crucify Him;” The “they” who did this were the Jews, Israelites, including the religious rulers, leaders, and elders among them, Mat 27:1-2; Mat 27:20; Mat 27:26; Joh 19:12; Joh 19:15-16; Joh 19:18.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
28. When as they found no cause of death. It was very pertinent to the matter that they should know that Christ was put to death guiltless, for we could not have been justified by his death, if he had suffered death for his own evil deeds; therefore it was requisite that he should be guiltless, that his death might be a satisfaction for the sins of the world. And, undoubtedly, I think that Paul did plainly declare that Pilate condemned Christ, not according to the office of a judge, but that he consented that he should be put to death after that he was overcome with the ungodly requests of the people; and also that the Jews were driven by lust, and not enforced by reason, to desire Christ’s death.: For it stood him upon to terrify the hearers, that they might not couple themselves (809) to so wicked a fact. But Luke doth now in few words set down, after his common custom, those things which Paul did then more at large declare.
(809) “ Se adjungerent socios,” join themselves as associates.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(28) And though they found no cause of death in him.Technically, the Sanhedrin had condemned our Lord on the charge of blasphemy (Mat. 26:66), but they had been unable to prove the charge by any adequate evidence (Mat. 26:60), and finally condemned him by extorting words from His own lips. When they came before Pilate they shrank at first from urging that accusation, and contented themselves with stating in general terms that they had condemned Him as a malefactor (Joh. 18:30); though afterwards, as if seeking to terrify the wavering governor, they added that by their law He ought to die because He made Himself the Son of God (Joh. 19:7), and that by making Himself a king He spake against the emperor (Joh. 19:12).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
28. No cause yet desired be slain These be bold words following upon the apostle’s heart-touching appeals to his brethren in the flesh. They are a charge of causeless murder against the spiritual lords of Judaism. There could be no doubt that upon some minds in the assembly the words would be appalling. But it would not be the Gentile monotheists, but the Judaists that would be thrilled with horror.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Act 13:28-29 . ] and , without having found, they desired. On , comp. Act 2:23 , Act 10:39 .
.] The subject is the inhabitants of Jerusalem and their rulers, as in the preceding. Joseph and Nicodemus (Joh 19:28 f.) were, in fact, both; therefore Paul, although those were favourably inclined to Jesus, could in this summary narrative continue with the same subject, because an exact historical discrimination was not here of moment, and the taking down from the cross and the placing in the grave were simply the adjuncts of the crucifixion and the premisses of the corporeal resurrection (1Co 15:4 ). On . , comp. Jos 8:29 ; Mar 15:46 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
28 And though they found no cause of death in him , yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
Ver. 28. See Trapp on “ Mat 27:22 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
28 .] Not, ‘ though ,’ but rather because they found no cause: when they found no cause of death in him, they besought , &c.: see Luk 23:22-23 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
though they = having. no. Greek. medeis.
cause. Greek. aitia. See Joh 18:38; Joh 19:4, Joh 19:6.
slain. Greek. anaireo. See note on Act 2:23.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
28.] Not, though, but rather because they found no cause: when they found no cause of death in him, they besought, &c.: see Luk 23:22-23.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 13:28. , no cause) The innocence of Christ.-, when they found) although they sought it.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Act 3:13, Act 3:14, Mat 27:19, Mat 27:22-25, Mar 15:13-15, Luk 23:4, Luk 23:5, Luk 23:14-16, Luk 23:21-25, Joh 18:38, Joh 19:4, Joh 19:12-16
Reciprocal: Mat 26:66 – He Mat 27:4 – the innocent Mar 12:7 – This Luk 22:22 – truly Act 5:30 – ye slew Jam 5:6 – have
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
Act 13:28. In spite of there being no charge sustained against Jesus, the Jews called for his death. In so doing they fulfilled the prophecies about him. (See verse 27.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 13:28. And though they found no cause of death in him. They accused Jesus of blasphemy and sedition, but were utterly unable to prove either charge.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes one verse 27