King of the Jews. The civil title. The theocratic title, king of Israel (i. 49; xii. 13) is addressed to Jesus on the cross (Matt. xxvii. 42; Mark xv. 32) in mockery.
35. AmlaJew? As if Jesus’ question implied that Pilate had been taking counsel with the Jews.
36. Servants (U7npéra:). Only in this passage in the Gos- pels, of Christians. Compare Acts xiii. 5; 1 Cor. iv. 1. Oor- responding with Christ as a king.
Fight (7yevifovro). The imperfect tense, denoting action in progress: would now be striving.
37. Art thou then (ovcotv ef od). The interrogative particle ovxovy, not therefore, occurs only here in the New Testament. It is ironical. In ver. 33 the emphasis is on thow: here upon king. So then, after all, thou art a king.
Was | born—came I (yeyévvnuar—éAjfrv9a). Both perfects. Hawe I been born—am I come. So Rev. The Greek order is 7 Sor this have been born, ete., throwing the emphasis on Christ’s person and destiny. The perfect describes His birth and com- ing not merely as historical facts, but as abiding in their results, Compare this confession before Pilate (1 Tim. vi. 13) with the corresponding confession before the high-priest (Matt. xxvi. 64). “The one, addressed to the Jews, is framed in the language of prophecy ; the other, addressed to a Roman, appeals to the universal testimony of conscience. The one speaks of a future manifestation of glory, the other speaks of a present manifes- tation of truth. The one looks forward to the Return, the other looks backward to the Incarnation” (Westcott).
Of the truth (€« ris adnJelas). Lit., out of: sprung from: whose life and words issue from the truth. See on xiv. 6, and compare viii. 47.
38. Truth. Not with the article as in the previous verse, the truth. Jesus meant the absolute truth: Pilate, truth in any