Luke 23:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Pilate presented the opportunity to release Christ for the third time, yet for the third occasion, the crowd shouted against Him, thus solidifying their deep desire for His death through their repeated outcry. As the esteemed Peter declared, they rejected the Holy One, the Righteous One, and instead requested the release of a murderer (Acts 3:14). Their love for such violence is evident, as they participated in the uprising against the Romans and became the agents of countless slaughters, leading to their own ruin.

This is the trial they had to face. They were consigned to be torn apart and killed, perishing alongside their kin. ‘For they shouted, as it is written, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him.’ The Lord rebuked their wicked outcry, echoing the words of Jeremiah, ‘I have forsaken My house, I have forsaken My inheritance: I have given My beloved, My soul, into the hands of her enemies.

In the same chapter, Matthew provides additional information.

Pilate inquired of them, 'What shall I do with Jesus, the exalted Christ?' They all responded, 'Let Him be crucified.' (Matthew 27:22) What a perplexing situation for the Roman governor! The custom allowed the crowd to request the release of one condemned person, but they were not permitted to decide the fate of the other accused. Having erred in his misguided hope of restoring innocence, Pilate now commits a clear folly by seeking the populace's judgment on a matter that was not theirs to determine. In this instance, the crowd would have easily claimed authority that was not theirs, even without the provocation from Jesus’ adversaries. However, they quickly asserted what judgment should fall upon Jesus. Thus, the people proclaimed in unison: crucify, crucify Him. (Mark 14:12, 13)

Pilate, noticing the determination of the chief priests, proposed that Jesus be released, as it was customary to grant clemency to a prisoner during the Passover festival. This would allow the ruling of the Sanhedrin to stand while keeping the accused alive. In an effort to appease their animosity towards Jesus, Pilate ordered Him to be whipped. However, the crowd, following the instigation of the chief priests, shouted for Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus. As Pilate grappled with what course of action to take, he received a message from his wife, who had just experienced a vivid dream urging him not to condemn the Righteous One (Matt. 27:19).

Pilate was taken aback by such a response. Ashamed of this unforeseen development, he spoke to the assembled people once more: "Very well, I will set Barabbas free; but what am I to do with Jesus, who is known as the Christ?" This was yet another unacceptable compromise on the part of the governor. To declare the accused innocent and then, instead of releasing Him on the spot, to solicit the mob's opinion on His fate—this also involves deliberating the fate of the One who is blameless. To waver like this exposes one's lack of authority, conviction, and a tendency to conform to the whims of the crowd. When the crowd becomes a vessel for spiritual persuasion and is compelled to comply, the moment they reveal their inability to act before the crowd, it only leads to reckless audacity. What could Pilate anticipate when he allowed the people to decide the fate of Jesus Christ? "Let Him be crucified!" they cried out in a frenzy.

Overwhelmed 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 referred to Jesus as "king" to provoke the conscience of the crowd. For a moment, he set aside the direct concerns of Roman law, which frowned upon the notion of a Jewish king, aiming to highlight the absurdity of their situation. The people, driven by malice, were demanding the freedom of a man they themselves had acknowledged with palm branches as the Son of David, while condemning Jesus, whom the chief priests labeled a deceiver, in favor of a criminal. However, this inquiry yielded no results; instead, it only emboldened the leaders among the assembly to declare openly their true desires. At that moment, a furious response erupted: ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’ 'Hatzleb otos, hatzleb!' - Σταύρωσον, σταύρωσον αὐτόν! - Crucifige, crucifige eum!’ cried the multitude, likely using every language familiar to them. Luke 23:21

At the same time, the agonized shouts of ‘crucify Him, crucify Him’ (Luke 23:20) vividly revealed the resolve of the crowd below. The duration of Pilate's indecision remains unknown, but ultimately, the desperate cries of the frenzied, unaware mob not only outweighed his wife's plea but also drowned out his own moral compass. "And the cry of them and of the chief priests prevailed," as the Gospel writer notes, "and Pilate resolved to be at their petition."