Bible Strands
John 19:6
As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “You take Him and crucify Him,” Pilate replied, “for I find no basis for a charge against Him.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chief priests and temple officers shout at Pilate to execute Jesus immediately after He is presented wearing a crown of thorns and purple robe. Pilate replies by telling them to take Him and crucify Him, stating he finds no legal basis for a charge.
The words — ἀρχιερεῖς (archiereis) literally means chief priests, identifying the primary religious authorities driving the demand. The conjunction οὖν (oun) translates as therefore, linking their reaction directly to Pilate’s presentation of Jesus in the preceding scene.
The thread — The conflict over judicial authority appears in John 18:31, where Pilate tells the Jews to judge Jesus by their own law and they reply they are not permitted to execute anyone. Pilate’s repeated claim of finding no basis for a charge surfaces again in John 19:4, while the crowd’s unified demand to crucify Jesus is recorded in Matthew 27:22.
Why it lands — The text shows religious leaders demanding execution while a Roman governor deflects responsibility by citing a lack of legal grounds. A reader must confront the reality that the demand for death proceeds despite official declarations of innocence, placing the burden of action on those who hold the power to carry it out.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
Cross-references
- John 18:31 “You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.
- John 19:4 Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.”
- Matthew 27:22 “What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”
- Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”
- Mark 15:12 So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”
- Luke 23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
- Acts 2:23 He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.
- Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.
- Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
- Acts 13:27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.