John 19:19-22 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And Pilate wrote a title,— The governor, as usual, put up a title or writing on the cross, signifying the crime for which Jesus was condemned: this writing was in black characters, on a whitened board, and in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages, that foreigners, as well as natives, might be able to read it. All the evangelists have given an account of the title, but the words of it are different in each: the difference however may easily have arisen from the languages in which the title was written; for one evangelist may have inscribed the words of the Greek inscription, a second might translate the Hebrew, a third the Latin, and a fourth may have given a different translation to the Hebrew or Latin. Thus the inscription of the title may be exactlygiven by each of the evangelists, though the words that they have mentioned be different, especially as they all agree inthe meaning of it. It has been observed, that this title was written in Latin, on account of the dignity of the Roman empire; in Hebrew, on account of the place in which the punishment was inflicted; and inGreek, on account of the great con-fluence of the Hellenistic Jews which was at that time in Jerusalem; and because Greek was then a very universal language. The inscription set up in the temple to prohibit strangers from coming within those sacred limits, was written in all these three languages. It is indeed remarkable, that, by the influence of divine Providence, the cross of Christ bore an inscription in the languages of those nations which were soon to be subdued to his faith; for not only the Jewish religion was to give place to him, but likewise the Grecian learning, and the Roman strength. The superscription, however, highly displeased the chief priests, because as it represented the crime for which Jesus was condemned, so it insinuated that he had been acknowledged for the Messiah. Besides, being placed over the head of one who was suffering the most infamous punishment, it implied that all who attempted to deliver the Jews should come to the same end. Wherefore, the faith and hope of the nation being thus publicly ridiculed, the priests thought themselves highly affronted, and came to Pilate in great concern, desiring that the writing might be altered: but Pilate having plainly intended the affront, because the Jews had constrained him to crucify Jesus, contrary to his judgment and inclination; rejected their application with some warmth, and with that inflexibility which historians represent as part of his character.