28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium , and it was early ; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled , but might eat the Passover . 29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said , "What accusation do you bring against this Man ?" 30 They answered and said to him, "If this Man were not an evildoer , we would not have delivered Him to you." 31 So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves , and judge Him according to your law ." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death ," 32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke , signifying by what kind of death He was about to die .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 18:28-32
Commentary on John 18:28-32
(Read John 18:28-32)
It was unjust to put one to death who had done so much good, therefore the Jews were willing to save themselves from reproach. Many fear the scandal of an ill thing, more than the sin of it. Christ had said he should be delivered to the Gentiles, and they should put him to death; hereby that saying was fulfilled. He had said that he should be crucified, lifted up. If the Jews had judged him by their law, he had been stoned; crucifying never was used among the Jews. It is determined concerning us, though not discovered to us, what death we shall die: this should free us from disquiet about that matter. Lord, what, when, and how, thou hast appointed.