When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Ver. 24. He took water] Too weak an element to wash off guilt; which is not purged but by the blood of Christ, or fire of hell.
And washed his hands] An old ceremony, used in this case, both by Jews Deu 21:6-7 Act 18:6 and Gentiles, as the scholiast upon Sophocles testifieth. And it was as much as to say, the guilt of innocent blood doth no more stick to my conscience than the filth now washed off doth to my fingers. a Sed quid hoc est, saith one: Manus abluit Pilatus, et cor polluit. "O Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness," saith the prophet, Jeremiah 4:14. God and nature begin at the heart. And cleanse your hands, ye sinners, but withal, "Purify your hearts, ye doubleminded," saith the apostle,James 4:8. The very Turks before prayer wash both face and hands, sometimes the head and privates. But bodily exercise only profiteth little.
See ye to it] See thou to that, said they to Judas,Matthew 27:4. See ye to it, saith Pilate to them. "With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again," Matthew 7:2. They are paid in their own coin: their own very words, by a just judgment of God, are regested upon them.
a Εθος ην τοις παλαιοις οιτε η φονον ανθρωπον η αλλας σφαγας εποιουν, υδατι απονιπτειν τας χειρας εις καθαρσιν του μιασματος .