Mark 15:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe the eagerness for blood among the Jewish authorities and the restraint shown by Pilate, who nonetheless bears guilt for failing to uphold what is just. The crowd shouted, "Crucify Him," while Pilate, albeit feebly, made an effort to save Jesus from judgment. He repeatedly inquired, "What shall I do with Jesus?" attempting to provide an opportunity for the people to exonerate the Lord, leading him to hesitate and stall in his decision.

To ensure that the responsibility for this wrongdoing is not shifted from the Jewish leaders to the soldiers, the Gospel states: It was the third hour, and they crucified Him. A diligent reader will discover that those who condemned Him to be crucified were the same ones who shouted: Crucify Him at the third hour. The actions carried out by the soldiers occurred later, at the sixth hour.

The educated assembly gathered around the stone pavement. Pilate posed the question, “Which of the two do you wish for me to release to you? Shall I release the King of the Jews?” (His use of this title was quite inappropriate, appearing to the learned as a mocking jibe.) The crowd responded from every side, “Not him, but Barabbas!” In his bewilderment, uncertain of how to proceed, Pilate questioned the crowd, as if hesitantly, “What should I do with the alleged King of the Jews?” The throng shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him!”—as if they wielded authority over the decision. Their unanimous call for this method of execution shows that those who demanded it were acutely aware of what they were calling for.

The Roman prefect displayed a baffling lack of understanding! According to their customs, the populace could request the release of one convicted individual. However, they had no authority over the judgment of another defendant. Pilate, having faltered in his misguided attempt to uphold innocence, now commits a fundamental error by soliciting the crowd for a verdict on a matter beyond their jurisdiction. In such circumstances, the people might easily claim a power that was not rightfully theirs, even without the prodding of Jesus's adversaries. Nevertheless, they took it upon themselves to declare what punishment should be inflicted upon Jesus. Consequently, the crowd unified their voices: crucify Him, crucify Him (Mk. 14:12, 13, Lk. 23:20, 21).

Pilate, witnessing the relentless demands of the chief priests, proposed that Jesus be released, as it was customary to pardon a prisoner during Passover. By doing so, the judgment of the Sanhedrin could still stand, allowing the accused to remain alive. To appease their animosity toward Jesus, Pilate ordered Him to be flogged. However, the crowd shouted, following the directives of the chief priests: they preferred Barabbas over Jesus. Confused about how to proceed, Pilate received a message from his wife, who had just experienced a troubling dream in which she empathized deeply with the Innocent One. She urged him to ensure that He not be condemned, which Pilate recognized might be the case (Matt. 27:19).

Pilate was caught off guard by the crowd's response. Flustered by this unexpected development, he turned once more to the people, stating, “I will release Barabbas to you; but what then should I do with Jesus, who is called the Christ?” This was yet another unacceptable compromise from the governor. He had determined the accused was blameless, yet instead of setting Him free right away, he sought the opinion of the unruly mob regarding what to do with Him, the one who is innocent of any wrongdoing. Such vacillation reveals an individual’s impotence, a wavering conviction, and an eagerness to conform to the public’s whims. While the crowd may be swayed by the spirit's influence and compelled to obey it, simultaneously exhibiting their own powerlessness can lead to an outrageous arrogance. What could Pilate possibly anticipate when he allowed the crowd to declare their verdict on Jesus Christ? - “Let Him be crucified!” - they cried out in a frenzy.

With this inquiry, he gained no ground; instead, he inadvertently prompted the crowd's leaders to articulate their desires more explicitly. For the first time, a fierce outcry erupted: "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" The people cried out in various tongues, “Hatzleb otos, hatzleb!” - Σταύρωσον, σταύρωσον αὐτόν! - Crucifige, crucifige eum! (Luke 23:21). It was now clear where their intentions lay. Despite Pilate’s attempts to seize the moments of quiet in the tumult, he pressed on with stubbornness, but alas, his resolve seemed to wane with each passing moment.

Simultaneously, the haunting shouts of ‘crucify Him, crucify Him’ (Luke 23:20) resonated powerfully, reflecting the resolve of the multitude gathered below. The duration of Pilate's indecision remains uncertain, yet ultimately, the frantic cries of the delirious crowd overshadowed not only his wife's counsel but also silenced his inner moral struggle. “And the cry of them and of the chief priests prevailed,” the evangelist notes, “and Pilate resolved to be at their petition.”