SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:8
Cuando Pilato oyó esta palabra, tuvo más miedo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 19:8
Verse 8. He was the more afraid] While Jesus was accused only as a disturber of the peace of the nation, which accusation Pilate knew to be false, he knew he could deliver him, because the judgment in that case belonged to himself; but when the Jews brought a charge against him of the most capital nature, from their own laws, he then saw that he had every thing to fear, if he did not deliver Jesus to their will. The Sanhedrin must not be offended-the populace must not be irritated: from the former a complaint might be sent against him to Caesar; the latter might revolt, or proceed to some acts of violence, the end of which could not be foreseen. Pilate was certainly to be pitied: he saw what was right, and he wished to do it; but he had not sufficient firmness of mind. He did not attend to that important maxim, Fiat justitia: ruat caelum. Let justice be done, though the heavens should be dissolved. He had a vile people to govern, and it was not an easy matter to keep them quiet. Some suppose that Pilate's fear arose from hearing that Jesus had said he was the Son of God; because Pilate, who was a polytheist, believed that it was possible for the offspring of the gods to visit mortals; and he was afraid to condemn Jesus, for fear of offending some of the supreme deities. Perhaps the question in the succeeding verse refers to this.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. When Pilate therefore heard that saying , etc.] That Jesus had asserted himself to be the Son of God, and that the Jews had a law to put such a person to death that was guilty of such blasphemy: he was the more afraid ; he was afraid to put him to death, or to consent to it before; partly on account of his wife’s message to him, and partly upon a conviction of the innocence of Christ, in his own conscience: and now he was more afraid, since here was a charge brought against him he did not well understand the meaning of; and a law of theirs pretended to be violated hereby, which should he pay no regard to, might occasion a tumult, since they were already become very clamorous and noisy; and he might be the more uneasy, test the thing they charged him with asserting, should be really fact; that he was one of the gods come down in the likeness of man; or that he was some demi-god at least, or so nearly related to deity, that it might be dangerous for him to have anything to do with him this way: and in this suspicion he might be strengthened, partly from the writings of the Heathens, which speak of such sort of beings; and partly from the miracles he might have heard were performed by Jesus; and also by calling to mind what he had lately said to him, that his kingdom was not of this world, and that he was come into it to bear witness to the truth.
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
οτε 3753 ADV ουν 3767 CONJ ηκουσεν 191 5656 V-AAI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM πιλατος 4091 N-NSM τουτον 5126 D-ASM τον 3588 T-ASM λογον 3056 N-ASM μαλλον 3123 ADV εφοβηθη 5399 5675 V-AOI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. The more afraid. "These words of the Jews produced an effect on Pilate for which they were not prepared. The saying gives strength to a dreadful presentiment which was gradually forming within him. All that he had heard related of the miracles of Jesus, the mysterious character of His person, of His words and of His conduct, the strange message which he had just received from his wife - all is suddenly explained by the term "Son of God." Was this extraordinary man truly a divine being who had appeared on the earth? The truth naturally presents itself to his mind in the form of pagan superstitions and mythological legends" (Godet).
