SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:12
Desde entonces procuraba Pilato soltarle; mas los Judíos daban voces, diciendo: Si a ste sueltas, no eres amigo de Csar; cualquiera que se hace rey, a Csar contradice.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 19:12
Verse 12. Pilate sought to release him] Pilate made five several attempts to release our Lord; as we may learn from Luke xxiii. 4, 15, 20, 22; ver. 4, 12, 13. Thou art not Caesar's friend] Thou dost not act like a person who has the interest of the emperor at heart. Ambassadors, prefects, counsellors, &c., were generally termed the friends of the emperor. This insinuation determined Pilate to make no longer resistance: he was afraid of being accused, and he knew Tiberius was one of the most jealous and distrustful princes in the world. During his reign, accusations of conspiracies were much in fashion; they were founded on the silliest pretenses, and punished with excessive rigour. See Calmet, Tacit. An. l. i. c. 72, 73, 74. Sueton. in Tiber. c. 58.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him , etc.] From the time that Christ spoke the above words; or, as the Syriac version renders it, adh lwjm , because of this, or on account of the words he had spoken; to which agree the Arabic and Ethiopic versions: he sought by all means, and studied every way to bring the Jews to agree to his release: his reasons were, because of the consciousness of guilt, and the danger of contracting more; the sense he might have of a Divine Being, to whom he was accountable for the exercise of his power; his suspicion that Jesus was the Son of God, or that he was more than a man; for he perceived that power went along with his words, by the effect they had on him: but though he sought to release him, he did not do it, nor use the power he boasted he had; the reason in himself was, he was desirous, that the Jews would concur with him; the secret one in providence was, God would not have it so; and yet things must be carried to this pitch, that it might appear that Christ suffered not for his own sins, but ours, and that he suffered willingly: but the Jews cried out, saying, if thou let this man go, thou art not Caesars friend . These were the chief priests, Scribes, and elders of the people, more especially, and by whom, the common people were stirred up to request his crucifixion: these still made a greater outcry, and in a more clamorous way urged, that should he be released, Pilate would show but little regard to Caesar, by whom he was raised to this dignity; who had put him into this trust; whom he represented, and in whose name he acted. This was a piece of craftiness in them, for nothing could more nearly affect Pilate, than an insinuation of want of friendship and fidelity to Tiberius, who was then Caesar, or emperor; and also, it was an instance of great hypocrisy in them, to pretend a regard to Caesar, when they scrupled paying tribute to him, and would have been glad, at any rate, to have been free from his yoke and government; and is a very spiteful hint, and carries in it a sort of threatening to Pilate, as if they would bring a charge against him to Caesar, should he let Jesus go with his life, whom they in a contemptuous manner call this man: adding, whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar ; returning to their former charge of sedition, finding that that of blasphemy had not its effect: their reasoning is very fallacious, and mere sophistry; for though it might be allowed that whoever set up himself as a temporal king in any of Caesars dominions, must be an enemy of his, a rebel against him; and such a declaration might be truly interpreted as high treason; yet Christ did not give out that he was such a king, but, on the contrary, that his kingdom was not of this world, and therefore did not assume to himself any part of Caesars dominions and government; and though the Jews would have took him by force, and made him a king, he refused it, and got out of their hands.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-18 - Little did Pilate think with what holy regard these sufferings of Christ would, in after-ages, be thought upon and spoken of by the bes and greatest of men. Our Lord Jesus came forth, willing to be expose to their scorn. It is good for every one with faith, to behold Chris Jesus in his sufferings. Behold him, and love him; be still lookin unto Jesus. Did their hatred sharpen their endeavours against him? an shall not our love for him quicken our endeavours for him and his kingdom? Pilate seems to have thought that Jesus might be some perso above the common order. Even natural conscience makes men afraid of being found fighting against God. As our Lord suffered for the sin both of Jews and Gentiles, it was a special part of the counsel of Divine Wisdom, that the Jews should first purpose his death, and the Gentiles carry that purpose into effect. Had not Christ been thu rejected of men, we had been for ever rejected of God. Now was the So of man delivered into the hands of wicked and unreasonable men. He wa led forth for us, that we might escape. He was nailed to the cross, a a Sacrifice bound to the altar. The Scripture was fulfilled; he did no die at the altar among the sacrifices, but among criminals sacrifice to public justice. And now let us pause, and with faith look upo Jesus. Was ever sorrow like unto his sorrow? See him bleeding, see his dying, see him and love him! love him, and live to him!
Greek Textus Receptus
εκ 1537 PREP τουτου 5127 D-GSN εζητει 2212 5707 V-IAI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM πιλατος 4091 N-NSM απολυσαι 630 5658 V-AAN αυτον 846 P-ASM οι 3588 T-NPM δε 1161 CONJ ιουδαιοι 2453 A-NPM εκραζον 2896 5707 V-IAI-3P λεγοντες 3004 5723 V-PAP-NPM εαν 1437 COND τουτον 5126 D-ASM απολυσης 630 5661 V-AAS-2S ουκ 3756 PRT-N ει 1488 5748 V-PXI-2S φιλος 5384 A-NSM του 3588 T-GSM καισαρος 2541 N-GSM πας 3956 A-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM βασιλεα 935 N-ASM αυτον 846 P-ASM ποιων 4160 5723 V-PAP-NSM αντιλεγει 483 5719 V-PAI-3S τω 3588 T-DSM καισαρι 2541 N-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
12. From thenceforth (ek toutou). Incorrect. Rev., rightly, upon this. Sought (ezhtei). Imperfect tense. Made repeated attempts.Caesar's friend. A title conferred, since the time of Augustus, upon provincial governors. Probably, however, not used by the Jews in this technical sense, but merely as a way of saying "Thou art not true to the emperor."
Caesar (tw Kaisari). Literally, the Caesar. The term, which was at first a proper name, the surname of Julius Caesar, adopted by Augustus and his successors, became an appellative, appropriated by all the emperors as a title. Thus the emperor at this time was Tiberius Caesar. A distinction was, however, introduced between this title and that of Augustus, which was first given to Octavianus the first emperor. The title "Augustus" was always reserved for the monarch, while "Caesar" was more freely communicated to his relations; and from the reign of Hadrian at least (A. D. 117-138) was appropriated to the second person in the state, who was considered as the presumptive heir of the empire.
