John 19

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

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.

The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

What does John 19:22 mean?

Explanation

[Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.] (John 19:22) is a response by Pontius Pilate to the Jewish leaders' protest regarding the inscription Pilate had ordered to be placed on Jesus Christ's cross.

The sign, which read "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" in three languages (Hebrew, Latin, and Greek), was meant to specify the reason for Jesus' execution.

However, the Jewish authorities requested that it be changed to indicate that Jesus only claimed to be the king of the Jews. Pilate's statement shows his determination to let the inscription stand as it was.

This verse reveals not only Pilate's authority but also the tension between him and the Jewish leadership, as well as how Jesus' kingship is viewed from different perspectives.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

At the time, Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea, and he had the authority to approve crucifixions, which were a Roman method of execution.

The Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate, accusing him of claiming to be a king, which was seen as a challenge to Roman authority.

The sign that Pilate commanded be placed above Jesus’ head on the cross was a common practice meant to publicly state the crime(s) of the condemned.

In the context of Roman rule over Judea and the fraught relations with the Jewish populace, Pilate's declaration stands as a refusal to bow to the pressures from Jewish leaders.

Theological Insights

This verse is significant in Christian theology because it can be seen as Pilate's inadvertent affirmation of Jesus' true kingship.

Even though the title was meant to mock Jesus and identify his supposed crime, Christians interpret it as the truth that Jesus was indeed the king of the Jews, and by extension, the spiritual King of all humanity.

This moment has also been discussed as a sign of God's sovereignty, with the idea that Pilate was used as an instrument to proclaim Jesus' kingship despite himself.

Different theological traditions may emphasize Pilate's political motives, the fulfillment of prophecy, or divine providence through this event.

Practical Applications

This verse can be used to reflect on standing firm in one's decisions and beliefs, particularly in the face of opposition. It also speaks to the authority one holds and how it should be exercised.

In addition, the insistence on the truth in the face of political and social pressure has relevance in contemporary discussions about integrity and the nature of truth.

Cross-References

Matthew 27:37: "And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
Luke 23:38: "And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
Mark 15:26: "And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek is "ὃ γέγραφα γέγραφα" (ho gegrapha gegrapha), which translates directly as “What I have written, I have written.” The phrase uses the perfect tense for the verb "to write" (γράφω, graphō), indicating a completed action with continuing results.

The repetition is typical of Johannine writing, adding emphasis to the finality of Pilate’s decision.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparatively, in various cultures and religions, the concept of a reluctant or unintentional proclamation of truth by an authority figure has parallels.

In Roman and Greek mythology, oracles or gods often proclaimed truths that would come to pass in cryptic ways, despite human resistance or misunderstanding.

In Hinduism, the concept of Sanatana Dharma, or the eternal truth, can exist irrespective of human interpretations and proclamations.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, there isn't a direct connection to this verse, as it is a historical and theological statement rather than one regarding natural phenomena.

However, the disciplines of archaeology and historical linguistics contribute to confirming the plausibility of the details in the New Testament, such as the practice of placing inscriptions above the condemned, and the multi-lingual nature of inscriptions in the Roman Empire.

commentaries

Commentaries on this verse vary.

Some biblical scholars see Pilate's statement as indicative of the finality of Roman legal decisions. Others suggest that Pilate, perhaps out of frustration or resentment towards the Jewish leaders' insistence, refused to change the sign as a small act of defiance.

The verse also attracts much commentary in Christian theological reflection, where it is often presented as an example of God's plan working through human actions, even when those actions are meant in a different spirit.

John 19

John 19

What does John 19:22 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 19:22 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?