Verse 6. They cried out, saying, Crucify him, &c. The view of the Saviour's meekness only exasperated them the more. They had resolved on his death; and as they saw Pilate disposed to acquit him, they redoubled their cries, and endeavoured to gain by tumult, and clamour, and terror, what they saw they could not obtain by justice. When men are determined on evil, they cannot be reasoned with. Every argument tends to defeat their plans, and they press on in iniquity with the more earnestness in proportion as sound reasons are urged to stay their course. Thus sinners go in the way of wickedness down to death. They make up in firmness of purpose what they lack in reason. They are more fixed in their plans in proportion as God faithfully warns them and their friends admonish them.

Take ye him, &c. These are evidently the words of a man weary with their importunity and with the subject, and yet resolved not to sanction their conduct. It was not the act of a judge delivering him up according to the forms of the law, for they did not understand it so. It was equivalent to this:

"I am satisfied of his innocence, and shall not

pronounce the sentence of death. If you are bent

on his ruin -- if you are determined to put to death an

innocent man -- if my judgment does not satisfy you -- take

him and put him to death on your own responsibility,

and take the consequences. It cannot be done with

my consent, nor in the due form of law; and if done,

it must be by you, without authority, and in the face

of justice."

See Mt 27:24.