which also occurs in Apoc. xvii. 4; xviii. 12. See on Luke xvi. 19. Matthew has xoxxivny, scarlet.
Robe (iudruov). Better, as Rev., garment, since robe gives the impression of a trailing garment. See on Matt. v.40. Mat- thew has yAauwda, a short military cloak (xxviii. 28). Luke de- scribes the garment as Aapmrpav, gorgeous, bright or brilliant (xxiii. 11).
3. And said. Add cal jpyovro mpos avr, and kept coming unto Him, before and said or kept saying. The imperfect de- notes the successive acts of homage of the soldiers as they came up one after the other.
They smote Him with their hands (€did0uv atte parricpa- ta). Lit., kept gwing Him blows with their hands. See on XViil. 22.
5. Came Jesus forth. From the Pretorium.
Wearing (dopav). Not dépwr, bearing, but the frequentative form of that verb, denoting an habitual or continuous bearing : hence, wearing, as though it were His natural dress.
6. They cried out. See on xviii. 40. Crucify. The best texts omit Him.
Take ye Him (AdBere avrov pets). According to the Greek order, “take Him ye.” Rev., take Him yourselves. See on xviii. 31.
7. We havealaw. We,emphatic. Whatever your decision may be, we have a law, etc.
By our law. The best texts omit our: Read by that law, as Rev.
8. The more afraid. “These words of the Jews produced an effect on Pilate for which they were not prepared. The
saying gives strength to a dreadful presentiment which was gradually forming within him. All that he had heard related of the miracles of Jesus, the mysterious character of His per- son, of His words and of His conduct, the strange message which he had just received from his wife—all is suddenly ex- plained by the term “ Son of God.” Was this extraordinary man truly a divine being who had appeared on the earth? The truth naturally presents itself to his mind in the form of pagan superstitions and mythological legends” (Godet).
11. He that delivered. Caiaphas.
12. From thenceforth (é« rovrov). Incorrect. Rev., rightly, upon this.
Sought (é&jrev). Imperfect tense. Made repeated attempts.
Czesar’s friend. A title conferred, since the time of Au- gustus, upon provincial governors. Probably, however, not used by the Jews in this technical sense, but merely as a way of saying “Thou art not true to the emperor.”
Ceesar (76 Kaicapi). Lit., the Cesar. The term, which was at first a proper name, the surname of Julius Cesar, adopted by Augustus and his successors, became an appellative, appropriated by all the emperors as a title. Thus the emperor at this time was Ttberius Caesar. A distinction was, however, introduced between this title and that of Augustus, which was first given to Octavianus the first emperor. The title “ Augustus” was always reserved for the monarch, while “Cesar” was more freely communicated to his relations; and from the reign of Hadrian at least (a.p. 117-138) was appropriated to the second person in the state, who was considered as the presumptive heir of the empire.
13. That saying (rodrov Tov Adyov). The best texts read TeV AOyov TodTwr, these words. He was afraid of an accusation at Rome before Tiberius, an accusation which could be justified by his misrule.