The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 227

hA<l neither worcls nor mirncles for R mnn so Jesus after 110 hnd undergone this drendful <lispose<l, in whom, besides, he saw with and disgraceful punishment; would so.tiefy, horror the murderer of John the Baptist. porlmps melt to pity, the hearkl of tbeeo ]\,•fore this perBOnage, a monstrous mixture restless enemies of his. of bloody ll'vity nnd sombre superstition, he Ver. 17.-{For of nooeseity ho must release mnintaiue<I a silence which even the accusn• ono unto them at the feast.) l'robnbly, how- tion of the Nlnhedrin (ver. 10) could not ever, before the scourging was inflicted, tho J.,11,l him t.o break. Herod, wounded and attempt to liberate Jesus in nccol'dnnce witll humiliated, took vengeance on this conduct a custom bclongiug to tbo.t feast was made b_r contempt." by Pilato. We know it foiled, and n con• Yer. 11.-And Herod with his men of demned robber called Br1rnbbae was pre• wnr set him at nought, and mocked him, ferred by tho people. 'I'he more ancient and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and authorities omit this verse (17). It pro• sent him again to Pilate. He treated him, bably wo.s introduced at an early period into not as a criminal, but RS a mischievous re- many m11.nuscripts of St. Luke ae a mnrginnl ligious Enthusiast, worthy only of contempt gloss, as nn explnne.tory statement based on nn,l scorn. The "gorgeous robe," more ac- tho words of M11tt. xxvii. 15 or of Me.rk xv. 6. curately, "bright raiment," was a white As a Hebrew custom, it is never mentioned festal mantlti such as Jewish kings and se.ve in this place. Such o. release was a Tioman nobles wore on great occasions. It common incident of a Le.tin Lectisternium, wns probably an old robe of white tissue of or feast in honour of the gods. The Greeks some kind, embroidered with silver. Dean ha<l a similar custom at the Thesmophorie.. Plumptre suggests that we mightventnro to It was probably introduced at Jeruso.lem by trace in tb is outrage a vindictive retaliation the Roman power. for the words whieh the Teacher had once Vers.18, 19.-A.nd theyoriedout all atonoe, ~poken-with evident allusion to Herod's saying, Away with this Man I and release court-of those who were gorgeonsly appa• unto us Barabbaa: (who for a oertain se- relled (,·h. vii 25). It was this Herod of dition made in tha city, and for murder, whom the Lord had spoken so recently with was cast into prison). Barabbe.s, whoso re- for him a rare bitterness, "Go ye, aud tell lease the people demanded at the inetigntion that fox [literally, •she-fox'] Herod" (eh. of the influential men of the Se.nhedrin, was xiii. 32). e. notable leader in one of the late insur• \'er. 12.-A.nd the same day Pile.te and rectionory movements eo common at this Herod were made friends together. This time. St. John styles him n robber; this nnion of two ench bitter enemies in their well describes the charo.cter of the me.n; eumity 11.g11inst Jesus evidently struck t~e e. bandit chief who cnrried on his lawless early Church with sad wonderment. It 1s career under the veil of patriotism, and referred to in the first recorded hymn of the we.e supported and protected in conse- Church of Christ (Acts iv. 27). How often quence by many of the peoplo. The mean• Loe the ftrange sad scene been repro- iag of his name Bar-.dbbas is " Son of a duced in the world's story since I Worldly (famous) father," or possibly Bar-Ral1bas, men apparently irreeoncile.ble meet tog~ther " Son of a (fa.moue) rabbi." A curious in frieu<l .. hip when opportunity offers itself reading is alluded to by Origen, which insei-ts for wounding Chrut I before Barabbas the word "Jesus." It does Vers. 13-25.-The Lord 18 tried again not, however, appear in any of the older or before Pilate, u:ho wi,.1wB to release ltim, but, more trustworthy anthorities. Jesus was ooer-perBuad~d l,y the JeteB, deliverB him to be a common name at that period, and it is crur.ified. possible that "when De.rabbas was led out, Yers. 13-16.-A.nd Pilate . . . said unto the Roman, with some scorn, asked tho them . . . behold I , .. have found no fault populace whom they preferred-Josue Do.r- in this llan . . . No, nor yet Herod: •.. lo, Abbas or Jesus who is ea.lied Christ I" (Far- nothing worthy of death i.a done unto him ; rar). That this reading existed in very more accurately rendered, iB done by him. early times ie indisputable, and Origcn, This was the Roman's deliberate judgment who epeoially notice~ it, approves of its publicly delivered. The decii,-i.on then an- omieeiun, not on critical, but on dogmatio nounced, tliat he would ecom-ge him (ver. grounds. Hi), wns singularly unjust and cruel. Pilato Ver. 23.-And they were instant with positively subjected a l'llnn wli?m he !1ad loud voioes, requiring that he might be pronounced inn,,cent to the horrible punish- oruoifled. The Roman governor now found ment of scourging,jw;t to satisfy the clamour that all his devices t.o liberate Jesus with of the Sanhedrist.s, because Le dreo.ded what the consent and approval of the Jews were they might accuse hi111 of at Rome, where fruitless. After the clamour which resulted he knew h,i had enemies ! He thought, in the release of Be.rnbbas ho.cl ceased, thti 'll'rougly ne it turned out, that the eight of terrible cry, "Crucify I.Jim I" was rnisud on. xxm. 1-56.J 'l'IIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKF:. 23i