John 18:31 Commentary and Bible Study

The Jews in effect say, ‘You’ve got to do it for us’, and Pilate isn’t having any of it. But then there is a commotion which isn’t recorded in John’s Gospel – it is in the other Gospels – that then the Jews, the Jewish leaders, brought in others. The crowds were beginning to gather, and they brought in a mob, as it were, to shriek and to shout against Christ, and to accuse him – they then formally accused him – of things that may be Roman offences: he made himself a Caesar; he set himself up in opposition to Caesar; he’s teaching that you mustn’t pay taxes to Caesar, and all these ridiculous accusations. Now that bothered Pilate, because Pilate was insecure, his position was precarious. If they had complained to Caesar that he wasn’t giving them justice it could lead to considerable trouble to him, and so he decides to review this.He had said all along he was going to be lifted up. He told the disciples all along he would face crucifixion. They had not taken it in.