Luke 23:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Matthew likewise conveys another account within the same chapter.

Pilate inquired of them, "What should I do with Jesus, the exalted Christ?" To this, they all replied, "Let him be crucified" (Matthew 27:22). It is truly perplexing that the Roman governor should find himself in such a predicament. Customarily, the people had the option to request the release of one of the convicted. However, they were not granted the authority to make a decision regarding the fate of another accused individual. Having earlier erred in his misguided hopes of justifying innocence, Pilate now commits an even greater folly by seeking the crowd's judgment on a matter beyond their jurisdiction. In such circumstances, the crowd might have seized upon a right that was not theirs, irrespective of any influence from those opposed to Jesus. Nevertheless, they fervently sought to dictate what sentence should be passed on Jesus, ultimately responding as one with cries of "Crucify, crucify Him" (Mark 14:12, 13).

Pilate, observing the relentless insistence of the high priests, proposed that Jesus be released, as it was customary during Passover to free a prisoner. This would allow the ruling of the Sanhedrin to stand while keeping the accused alive. To appease their animosity toward Jesus, Pilate ordered Him to be scourged. Yet the crowd cried out, following the leaders’ instructions: let Barabbas go, not Jesus. Confounded by the situation, Pilate received a message from his wife, who had just experienced a significant dream concerning the Innocent One. Without explicitly naming Him, she urged that He should not be condemned, a fate Pilate aimed to prevent (Matt. 27:19).

Pilate was taken aback by such a response. Feeling the weight of this unforeseen situation, he once more spoke to the assembled people, saying, "I will release Barabbas to you; but what shall I do with Jesus, who is called the Christ?" This was yet another unacceptable compromise from the judge. He found the accused to be innocent, and instead of granting Him immediate freedom, sought the crowd's opinion on His fate, even though He was blameless. This back-and-forth only exposed his lack of authority, his wavering beliefs, and his desire to conform to the crowd's sentiments. When the crowd can be influenced by a spiritual force, compelling them to act, to show their own powerlessness in front of that crowd only breeds reckless audacity. What did Pilate think would happen when he urged the crowd to decide the fate of Jesus Christ? "Let him be crucified," they yelled in a frenzy.

Overcome by intense frustration, Pilate sought to postpone the proceedings and posed the question, "What do you want me to do with the King of the Jews?" He intentionally used that title to rouse the awareness of the crowd. For a time, he set aside the direct interests of Roman rule, which insisted that no reference be made to a King of the Jews, aiming instead to highlight the absurdity of their situation. The people, blinded by malice, were demanding the release of a man whom even the chief priests had accused of being a false prophet, the very one they had celebrated with palm branches as the Son of David, instead of freeing a mere thief and murderer. However, his question accomplished little and ultimately incited the leaders of the crowd to express their true desires more explicitly. For the first time, a vehement cry arose: "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" The crowd shouted in unison, likely in every tongue they knew. Luke 23:21.

Simultaneously, the vehement shouts of 'crucify Him, crucify Him' (Luke 23:20) powerfully conveyed the resolve of the crowd below. The duration of Pilate's indecision remains unknown, but ultimately, these frenzied cries from an unaware populace overwhelmed not only his wife's pleadings but also silenced his own inner voice. "And the cry of them and of the chief priests prevailed," the gospel writer notes, "and Pilate resolved to be at their petition."