the prisoner as worthy of death, they would not have brought him to the procurator, as none but criminal cases needed con- firmation by him."
81. — [Then said Pilate.. ..take... judge. ..lawl] This sentence indi- cates a desire on Pilate's part to have nothing to do with the case. From the very first he evidently wished to put it away from him, and, if he could, to avoid condemning our Lord. How this feeling originated, we cannot tell. Matthew and Mark say that he knew Jesus was delivered to him from " en- vy." Matthew says that his wife warned him to have nothing to do with that "just person." (Matt xxvii. 18 ; xxvii. 19; Mark xv. 10.) It is quite possible that the fame and character of Jesus had reached Pilate's ears long before He was brought before him. It is hard to suppose that such miracles as our Lord wrought, would never be talked of within the palace of the chief ruler of Judaea. The raising of Lazarus must surely have been reported among his servants. Our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, attended by myriads of people shouting, " Blessed is the King," must surely have been noted by the soldiers and officers of Pilate's guard. Can we wonder that all this made him regard our Lord with something like awe ? Wicked men are often very superstitious. His language now before us is that of one who would gladly evade the whole case, and leave the responsibility entirely with the Jews. " If He is, as you say, a malefactor, take Him into your own hands, and condemn Him to death according to your own law. Do as you like with Him ; but do not trouble me with the case." The word we render "judge," is literally much stronger in sense. It is rather condemn to death. The only punishment the Jews might inflict, if any (which is more than doubtful), was death by stoning.
The pitiable and miserable character of Pilate, the Roman Governor, begins to come into clear light from this point. We see him a man utterly destitute of moral courage, — knowing what was right and just in the case before him, yet afraid to act on his knowledge, — knowing that our Lord was innocent, yet not daring to displease the Jews by acquitting Him, — knowing that he was doing wrong, and yet afraid to do right. " The fear of man bringeth a snare." (Prov. xxix. 25.) Wretched and contemptible are those rulers and statesmen whose first principle is to please the people, even at the ex- pense of their own consciences, and who are ready to do what they know to be wrong rather than ofiend the mob ! Wretch- ed are those nations which for their sins are given over to be governed by such statesmen ! True godly rulers should lead the people, and not be led by them, should do what is right and leave consequences to God. A base determination to keep in with the world at any price, and a slavish fear of man's opinion, were leading principles in Pilate's character. There are many like him. Nothing is more common than to see