Why, what evil hath he done? — The question attested the judge’s conviction of the innocence of the accused, but it attested also the cowardice of the judge. He was startled at the passionate malignity of the cry of the multitude and the priests, but had not the courage to resist it. We find from Luke 23:22. that he had recourse to the desperate expedient of suggesting a milder punishment — “I will chastise,” i.e., scourge, “Him, and let Him go;” but the suggestion itself showed his weakness, and therefore did but stimulate the crowd to persist in their demand for death.
Related Commentaries of Matthew 27:23
Matthew 27:23
23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.