priests might easily be standing bj. The difficulty is to under- stand where the parties could be, when the priests said " write not ; " and it is one which must be left unsettled. It seems, however, certain that once put over our Lord's head, the title was not expected to be taken down ; and the request was not to alter it, after being put up, but to write a different title be- fore it was put up.
Bengel observes, that this is the only place in St. John's Gos- pel where the chief priests are called " the chief priests of the Jews." He thinks it is intended to mark emphatically the bit- ter hatred with which the priests of the Jews regarded the King of the Jews.
We may well believe that even the wickedest men at their worst, are often more sore and uncomfortable inwardly than they appear outwardly. This it was that probably lay at the bottom of the cliief priests' remonstrance about the title. Herod's cry, " It is John the Baptist," after John was dead, is another case in point.
22. — \_Pilat6 answered...! have written.'] The hard, haughty, im- perious character of the wicked Roman Governor comes out forcibly in these words. They show his contempt for the Jews : — " Trouble me not about the title : I have written it, and I shall not alter it to please you." — They suggest the idea that he was willing enough to be revenged on them for their obsti- nate refusal to meet his wishes, and consent to our Lord's re- lease. He was glad to hold them up to scorn and contempt, as a people who crucified their own king. It is likely enough that between his wife and his own conscience and the chief priests, the Roman Governor was vexed, worried, and irritated, and savagely resolved not to gratify the Jews any further in any matter. He had gone as far as he chose, in allowing them to murder an innocent and just person. He would not go an inch further. He now made a stand, and showed that he could be firm and unyielding and unbending when he liked. It is no uncommon thing to see a wicked man, when he has given way to the devil and trampled on his conscience in one direction, trying to make up for it by being lirm in another.
Calvin observes that Pilate, by publishing in three languages Christ's title, was " by a secret guidance made a herald of the Gospel." He contrasts his conduct with that of the Papists who prohibit the reading of the Gospel and the Scriptures by the common people. Gualter says much the same.
Bullinger remarks that Pilate acted like Caiaphas when he said, " It is expedient that one die for the people, not knowing what he said." Just so Pilate little knew what testimony he was bearing to Christ's kingly office.
Leigh quotes a saying of Augustine : "If a man like Pilate can say, what I have written I have written, and will not alter,