against Jesus to put him to death. | betrayed him, when he saw that he 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3 Then Judas, which had see Matt. xxi. 18-22, compared with Mark xi. 13-21. It is not stated, by either of the evangelists, that the council was dissolved or adjourned; but all represent the trial, the abuse, and the leading away to Pilate, as one continuous transaction. Indeed, Luke intimates that the trial was not ended until day-light; Luke xxii. 66-71; and at this time all agree that Jesus was led to Pilate; and it "was early "when he arrived. John xviii. 28. Took counsel against Jesus, to put him to death. Consulted upon a plan by which their purpose might be effected. They had condemned him on a charge of blasphemy; and they intended that this should satisfy the people. But they knew this charge would avail nothing before the Roman governor. Some new allegation must be made: and they resolved, as the sequel shows, to accuse him of treason. Luke xxiii. 2. 2. When they had bound him. While he was before the council, standing alone, it would seem they thought prudent to remove his bonds. John xviii. 12. But they bound him again, probably pinioning his arms, before they ventured to pass through the streets to the "hall of justice," lest he should escape and be protected by the people, who were not yet fully prepared for the atrocious wickedness which was meditated. Pontius Pilate, the governor. That is, the ruler appointed by the Roman government. His usual residence, at that time, was at Cesarea; but on feast-days, and seasons of unusual concourse at Jerusalem, he was generally present, ready to check any disturbances which might arise. Pilate was appointed governor of Judea, "by Tiberius, in the twelfth year of his reign," or about A. D. 26, and held the office "upon the whole ten years;" he is said to have been banished to Gaul; and "it is asserted that this same Pilate-fell into such calamities that he was forced to become his own murderer, and the avenger of his own wickedness. Divine justice, it seems, did not long protract his pun was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that ishment."-Eusebius Eccl. Hist., B. i. 9, ii. 7. 3-10. This passage may be regarded as parenthetical, describing the effect produced on Judas by the events which had occurred. The direct narrative is resumed, ver. 11. The other evangelists do not record the fate of Judas. But see Acts i. 16-20. 3. When he saw that he was condemned. That is, by the sanhedrim; for Jesus had not yet been carried before the Roman governor for condemnation by a power authorized to destroy his life. Repented himself. He was evidently disappointed at the result. "This shows that Judas did not suppose the affair would have terminated in this calamitous manner. He probably expected that Jesus would have worked a miracle to deliver himself, and not have suffered this condemnation to come upon him. When he saw him taken, bound, tried, and condemned; when he saw that all probability that he would deliver himself was taken away; he was overwhelmed with disappointment, sorrow, and remorse of conscience."-Barnes. If this be a true statement of the case,—and it certainly has that appearance, and is confirmed by the almost unanimous consent of commentators, then it should be regarded as a palliation of the guilt of Judas, inasmuch as he manifestly had no design that his Master should suffer serious or fatal injury. It has been said that his repentance was not genuine. I think, however, it will bear a very favorable comparison with that of Peter, which is considered genuine by most writers. Peter went out and wept bitterly; but he did not return, and confess the wrong, either to his Master whom he had denied, or to the Jews whom he had attempted to deceive. On the contrary, Judas did not vent all his sorrow privately, in concealment: but he openly confessed his wickedness, bore testimony to the innocence of Jesus in the presence of his enemies, and returned the wages of iniquity; thus doing all in his power I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. to remedy the evil he had occasioned. Here are presented sorrow, confession, and restitution to the extent of his power; which are generally regarded as characteristics of genuine repentance. Brought again the thirty pieces of silver, &c. The price was paid, probably, when Jesus was apprehended. When Judas saw the result, he advanced with the money and tendered it to the sanhedrim. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, despised the traitor, and abandoned him to his fate. "And 5. Cast down the pieces of silver. The same pieces which had purchased the treason. They formerly tempted Judas: but now they were as burning coals in his bosom. He would not retain them, even though he knew the Jews would not deliver his Master. He cast them down, therefore, in the temple, to separate himself as far as he 4. Ihave sinned. I have done a great could from connexion with the guilty wrong. I have been guilty of ingrati- transaction. And departed, and went tude and base treachery. The love of and hanged himself. Rather, was money has induced me to commit sin. choked, or suffocated. His grief overIn that I have betrayed the innocent powered him and destroyed his life. blood. That is, in betraying one to This interpretation is admitted by many death, who is innocent: for, though this judicious critics, and is more easily harwas not his design, ver. 3, yet he saw ionized, than the common translation, that such was the result; and he ac- with the account in Acts i. 18. knowledged himself guilty of all the when they would not receive the money, consequences which followed his act, he would not carry back again, but though undesigned by him. This con- threw it down as a detestable thing, fession of Judas affords undeniable that he was resolved to rid his hands proof that Jesus was without spot and of; and, leaving it in the temple, deblameless. For had it been in his power parted to his home, and was there so to justify his own conduct by any alle- affected with sorrow, and horror, and gation of criminality, according to all despair, that in a fit of melancholy or which is known of human nature, Judas suffocation he suddenly fell down upon would not have hesitated a moment. his face, and burst, and died. Acts i. He had long known him. He had seen 18."-Hammond. "The word here and heard him, in public and in private. rendered hanged himself seems to sigNot one circumstance could he allege, nify also was suffocated or strangled by justifying even the suspicion of guilt. excess of grief. So in Tobit iii. 10, He, therefore, proclaimed openly and concerning Sara it is said, when she distinctly that Jesus was innocent, and heard these things, she was very sorrowthat himself was the guilty person; ful, so as that she was choked, (or sufthat he had sinned, in betraying the in- focated,) that is, with grief; not (as in nocent. What is that to us? They our English Translation) so that she were so fully determined to wreak their thought to have strangled herself."vengeance on Jesus, that they paid no Pearce. Grotius gives a similar interregard to this declaration of his inno-pretation; and also Erasmus and othcence. What care we, they said in effect, whether he is guilty or innocent? He is in our power, and that is sufficient for our purpose. The malignity of their feelings is clearly manifested. ¶ See thou to that. Or, in familiar language, that is your concern. In this case, as generally, while men gladly availed themselves of the treason, they ers. 6. It is not lawful, &c. It was forbidden by the law to devote to sacred uses the wages of iniquity, called an abomination. Deut. xxiii. 18. And the priests and elders, while engaged in a murderous act, were exceedingly scrupulous about violating the law! Well were they called hypocrites for such an to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him exact obedience to minor matters, while they recklessly violated the most important commandments of God. Matt. xxiii. 23-28. 7. Bought with them the potter's field. Probably a parcel of ground formerly occupied by a potter, for the manufacture of his ware. In Acts i. 18, it is said that Judas purchased this field. The two accounts are easily harmonized, by considering that Judas furnished the means for its purchase; and he might truly be called the purchaser, though others executed the bargain; for most dearly had he earned the price paid for it. Some have accounted for the remarkable cheapness of this field, by supposing it had already been deeply dug for clay, and was now of little value. This seems unreasonable, because such land would be altogether unfit for a place of burial. I think a better reason is suggested by Bishop Pearce; namely, that the pieces of money were not the half shekels, but a more valuable coin. See note on Matt. xxvi. 15. To bury strangers in. Either Gentiles, or those Jews who came to Jerusalem to attend the feasts, or for other purposes, and died there. |that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value: 10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointe me. 11 And Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him, saying, art thou the King of ficulty. (1.) Some say the whole of the Old Testament was formerly divided by the Jews into three parts, Moses, the Psalms, and Jeremiah,-the last division including all the prophecies, that of Jeremiah being placed first; so that a quotation from any of the prophets might be called a quotation from Jeremiah. (2.) Some have suggested that Jeremiah wrote a portion of the prophecy which is included in the Book of Zechariah; and that Matthew gave credit to the true author. (3.) Others, with more probability, have supposed that Matthew wrote simply the prophet, without designating any individual; and that the name was afterwards improperly inserted by some transcriber. Valued. Estimated to be worth so much. The word is often used in the same sense, in the present day. 10. As the Lord appointed me. That is, as the Lord directed or commanded me. The language of the prophet is applicable here, not only because a potter's field was purchased for thirty pieces of silver, in both cases, but because similar disregard and contempt of divine instruction was manifested by the Jews. 11-31. Parallel with Mark xv. 220; Luke xxiii. 2-25; John xviii. 28 8. The field of blood. The field purchased with the price of blood, ver. 6. It is called aceldama, Acts i. 19; which-40; xix. 1-16. signified, in the dialect then used, the field of blood. It was near the walls of the city, and is said by recent travellers to be still used as a place of burial. Unto this day. That is, the time when Matthew wrote this gospel. Up to that time, at least, retained its horribly significant name. 9. Then was fulfilled, &c. That is, the language of the prophet was peculiarly applicable to this case. The phrase often occurs in this sense. Jeremy the prophet. No such language is found in Jeremiah: but almost precisely the same is found in Zechariah, xi. 12, 13. Several methods have been proposed for the relief of this dif The 11. The direct narrative, broken off at ver. 3, is here resumed, the history of Judas having been carried forward to its final catastrophe. ¶ Jesus stood before the governor. Many of the preliminary circumstances of the examination before Pilate are omitted by Matthew. See John xviii. 28-32. priests led our Lord to the "hall of judgment," to procure against him a sentence of death. Hopeless of obtaining such a sentence upon the charge of blasphemy, they resorted to another,the charge of treason,-which among the Romans, as among other nations, was a capital offence. Accordingly they alleged, "We found this fellow the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. 15 Now at that feast, the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable Galilee to this place." Luke xxiii. 5. In one sense this was true,—but not in the sense which they designed to convey. He had stirred up the people, to a considerable extent, but not to acts of violence or rebellion; on the contrary, he had stirred them up to examine their own hearts, to reform their lives, to abandon their sins, and to practise righteousness. This surely was not treasonable. perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying, that he himself is Christ, a king." Luke xxiii. 2. Art thou the king of the Jews? "Thou art the king of the Jews? There can be no doubt that this is an interrogation; but it is equally certain, that the form of the expression is such as admits us to understand it either as an affirmation, or as an interrogation. Now, I imagine it is this particularity in the form of the question, which has 14. To never a word. An antiquated given rise to the customary affirmative phrase, denoting to not one word. He answer, thou sayest, wherein the an- remained perfectly silent and calm. swerer, without mistaking the other's No answer was necessary. The charge meaning, expresses his assent to the itself was absurd, that a person of his words, considered in the simple form, habits of life, having not a single folas an assertion; and this assent serves lower of sufficient courage to stand by equally as an answer to the question." him in his hour of need, was dangerous -Campbell. In this question, Pilate to the safety of the Roman Empire. manifests his surprise that one so meek ¶ The governor marvelled greatly. The and humble in appearance should claim calm dignity of our Lord, so unusual in to be a king. Thou sayest. That is, a person accused of high crimes, surthou sayest the truth. Equivalent to ĺprised Pilate. At this point, it would am. But, to convince Pilate that this fact furnished no ground for an allegation of treason, or of opposition to the Roman government, he explained to him that his kingdom was not of this world; that he aimed not at earthly power and glory: that he would countenance no violent acts for the acquisition of sovereignty; and that, his kingdom being spiritual, he only sought dominion in the heart. John xviii. 36, 37. 12. He answered nothing. He would not bandy words with the Jews. He knew himself to be innocent. He knew they could prove nothing against him. 13. How many things they witness against thee? It would seem they were tumultuous in their accusations. They had resolved that their prey should not escape; and therefore they continued to accuse him, very probably making use, as before, of false witnes"They were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from ses. seem, the Jews having spoken of Galilee as the place where the alleged offence was first committed, Pilate resolved to rid himself of this troublesome matter by sending the prisoner to Herod, then in Jerusalem, who had jurisdiction over Galilee. But after questioning, mocking, and deriding, our blessed Lord, Herod sent him back to Pilate. Luke xxiii. 7-11. 15. Now at that feast. The Passover. The governor was wont, &c. Was accustomed. The practice of releasing prisoners, and pardoning offences, on days of festivity and great rejoicing, is very ancient, and it continues even now. It seems that Pilate had been accustomed, at every Passover, to release one prisoner; and that he gratified the Jews by allowing them to select the object of clemency. practice probably soothed their feelings somewhat, and made them submit the more patiently to their galling bondage. This 16. Notable. A word formerly much used, and indicating noticeable, either for good or evil. It is here used in its bad sense, and means notorious, or infamous. He was imprisoned for murder and sedition. Luke xxiii. 19. 17. When they were gathered together. Probably, at their return from Herod; for it cannot be doubted that the priests pursued our Lord from place to place, determined that he should not escape the death to which they had devoted him. Whom will ye that I release, &c. Pilate appears to have been satisfied that Jesus was innocent, and to have desired to liberate him. But he was so feeble of purpose, he had so little moral courage, that he dared not do that directly and legally, which he desired to do indirectly and as a matter of favor. He resorted therefore to petty devices, hoping to find an opportunity to effect his design without danger of inconvenience to himself. By suggesting that it would be well for the people to choose between the innocent Jesus and the notoriously guilty Barabbas, he supposed they might be induced to demand the liberation of Jesus; for it was probably not unknown to him, that, only a few days previously, they had manifested much respect towards him. And this was a matter to be settled by the people, not by the priests. Perhaps, had the answer been given on the instant, the expectation of Pilate would not have been disappointed. But, a little time being taken for consultation, the priests mingled with the people, and succeeded in persuading them to demand Barabbas, ver. 20. So that Pilate's scheme failed entirely. 18. He knew thal for envy, &c. He understood their ruling passion. Jesus had acquired more fame than they, as a religious teacher. They were envious of his popularity. They were vexed that the confidence of the people was so much transferred from them to him. But they were exasperated beyond endurance, that he should claim authority to rebuke them for their sinfulness 19 When he was set down on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream, because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that in the hearing of the multitude. ¶ Delivered him. They had delivered him to the officers of justice, and into the hands of the legal authority. 19. The judgment-scat. An elevated seat, or throne, which seems to have been placed, on this occasion, outside of the "hall of judgment," upon the pavement. John xix. 13. The Jews "went not into the judgment-hall lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover." John xviii. 28. They seem not to have feared defilement from the murderous work in which they were engaged; but they were very fearful of contracting any ceremonial defilement which might prevent them from eating the Passover. See Matt. xxiii. 24. In compliance with their scruples, Pilate, having several times gone out of the hall to confer with the Jews, as appears by John's narrative, finally caused his throne or judgmentseat to be removed out of the hall into the presence of the Jews, preparatory to a final decision of the case. T Have thou nothing to do with that just man, &c. That is, be not instrumental of any harm to him. Pilate's wife seems to have been fully persuaded that Jesus was innocent, and extremely anxious that he should not be condemned. It is possible she was a believer; but I know not that there is any evidence of the fact. Suffered many things this day in a dream, &c. By the ancients, much confidence was placed in dreams. Doubtless, communications from the spiritual world have sometimes been made to men in dreams. But, ordinarily, no reliance whatever can be placed on them. Pilate's wife had probably heard of the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, and the circumstances attending it. Her husband had been aroused very early that morning, to sit in judgment upon him. In the excited state of her mind, it was natural that her morning dreams should have reference to that subject; and they seem to |