Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
Ver. 17. Whom will ye that I release?] Pilate hoped they would never be so grossly wicked as to prefer such a stigmatical varlet. a But why did he give them the liberty of such a choice? Why did he not rather (as Job) "break the jaws of the wicked, and pluck the spoil out of their teeth?" Job 29:17. Should not the standard be made of hardest metals? the chief post of the house be heart of oak? Was it not pusillanimity and popularity that misled Pilate, and so muzzled him, that he could not contradict the manyheaded multitude?
a A man or lad acting as an attendant or servant; a menial, a groom. ŒD