Keraia
John 19

John 19:15

The Soldiers Mock Jesus · John 19:1–15
Read John 19

Translations

Modern
At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.
Traditional
But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cesar.
Literal
So they cried out, “Away with Him, away! Crucify Him!” Pilate says to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.”
Latin
Illi autem clamabant: Tolle, tolle, crucifige eum. Dicit eis Pilatus: Regem vestrum crucifigam? Responderunt pontifices: Non habemus regem, nisi Cæsarem.

Original

Greek
English
At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.

Notes

John 19:15

The final words of the priests, “We have no king but Caesar,” are a contradiction of the Old Testament belief that God was Israel’s king (compare Judges 8:23; 1 Samuel 8:7; 10:19). Jerusalem and its religious leaders were killing their true king while honoring Caesar, the pagan king of Rome (John 18:37).

John 19:1–16

Pilate had Jesus beaten after his sentencing (Mark 15:15). However, John here describes an earlier beating. This was likely Pilate's attempt to show that Jesus had been punished and he could release him (John 19:4). When this failed, Pilate passed his sentence and handed Jesus over to the Jewish leaders for crucifixion (19:16).

Events

Parallels

Isaiah 50:4–11 Matthew 27:27–31 Mark 15:16–20 Luke 22:63–65

People

Pilate: Roman governor who presided over Jesus' trial Tiberius: Roman emperor during Jesus' ministry and death

Glossary

Aramaic Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Caesarea Passion Preparation, Day of Procurator

Topics

Complicity: Pilate, in the Death of Jesus Cowardice: Pilate, in Condemning Jesus, Through Fear of the People Government: Corruption in Pilate, in Delivering Jesus to Death in Order to Please the Clamoring Multitude Hypocrisy: The Pharisees Irony: Pilate, Calling Jesus |King| Jesus, the Christ: Tried in Front of Pilate (In Jerusalem) Persecution of Jesus Priest: Miscellaneous Facts Concerning: Conspire to Destroy Jesus Sarcasm: The Persecutors of Jesus