Lectio 4 Lecture 4 15 Per diem autem solemnem consueverat praeses populi dimittere unum vinctum, quem voluissent: 15. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 habebat autem tunc vinctum insignem, qui dicebatur Barrabas. 16. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Congregatis ergo illis, dixit Pilatus: Quem vultis dimittam vobis: Barabbam, an Iesum, qui dicitur Christus? 17. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, “Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?” 18 Sciebat enim quod per invidiam tradidissent eum. 18. For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19 Sedente autem illo pro tribunali, misit ad eum uxor eius, dicens: Nihil tibi, et iusto illi: multa enim passa sum hodie per visum propter eum. 19. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, “Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.” 20 Principes autem sacerdotum et seniores persuaserunt populis ut peterent Barabbam, Iesum vero perderent. 20. But the Chief Priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 Respondens autem praeses, ait illis: Quem vultis vobis de duobus dimitti? At illi dixerunt: Barabbam. 21. The governor answered and said unto them, “Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?” They said, “Barabbas.” 22 Dicit illis Pilatus: Quid igitur faciam de Iesu, qui dicitur Christus? 22. Pilate saith unto them, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” They all say unto him, “Let him be crucified.” 23 Dicunt omnes: Crucifigatur. Ait illis praeses: Quid enim mali fecit? At illi magis clamabant dicentes: Crucifigatur. 23. And the governor said, “Why, what evil bath he done?” But they cried out the more, saying, “Let him be crucified.” 24 Videns autem Pilatus quia nihil proficeret, sed magis tumultus fieret: accepta aqua, lavit manus coram populo, dicens: Innocens ego sum a sanguine iusti huius: vos videritis. 24. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it.” 25 Et respondens universus populus, dixit: Sanguis eius super nos, et super filios nostros. 25. Then answered all the people, and said, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” 26 Tunc dimisit illis Barabbam: Iesum autem flagellatum tradidit eis ut crucifigeretur. 26. Then released he Barabbas unto them and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Chrysostomus in Matth Quia Christus ad accusationes Iudaeorum nihil responderat, per quod posset eum Pilatus ab accusationibus Iudaeorum excusatum habere, aliud machinatur per quod eum liberare possit; unde dicitur per diem autem solemnem consueverat praeses dimittere populo vinctum unum quem voluissent. Chrys. Because Christ had answered nothing to the accusations of the Jews, by which Pilate could acquit Him of what was alleged against Him, he contrives other means of saving Him. “Now on the feast day the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner whom they would.” Origenes in Matth Sic enim quasdam gratias praestant gentes eis quos subiciunt sibi, donec confirmetur super eos iugum ipsorum; tamen consuetudo haec aliquando fuit apud Iudaeos: Saul enim non interfecit Ionatham, omni populo petente eum ad vitam. Origen Thus do the Gentiles show favours to those whom they subject to themselves, until their yoke is riveted. Yet did this practice obtain also among the Jews, Saul did not put Jonathan to death, because all the people sought his life. Chrysostomus in Matth Per hanc autem consuetudinem Christum eripere tentavit, ut neque umbram excusationis Iudaei sibi derelinquant. Manifestus homicida in comparatione Christi adducitur, de quo sequitur habebat autem tunc vinctum insignem, qui dicebatur Barabbas. Non simpliciter dicit latronem, sed insignem, hoc est in malitia diffamatum. Chrys. And he sought to rescue Christ by means of this practice, that the Jews might not have the shadow of an excuse left them. A convicted murderer is put in comparison with Christ, Barabbas, whom he calls not merely a robber, but a notable one, that is, renowned for crime. Hieronymus Iste Barabbas in Evangelio quod inscribitur iuxta Hebraeos, filius magistri eorum interpretatur, qui propter seditionem et homicidium fuerat condemnatus. Offert autem optionem eis Pilatus dimittendi quem vellent, latronem an Iesum, non dubitans Iesum potius eligendum; unde sequitur congregatis autem illis, dixit Pilatus: quem vultis dimittam vobis: Barabbam, an Iesum qui dicitur Christus? Jerome In the Gospel entitled ‘according to the Hebrews,’ Barabbas is interpreted, ‘The son of their master,’ who had been condemned for sedition and murder. Pilate gives them the choice between Jesus and the robber, not doubting but that Jesus would be the rather chosen. Chrysostomus in Matth Quasi dicat: si non vultis sicut innocentem dimittere, saltem condemnatum festivitati donetis. Si enim oportebat in peccatis manifestis existentem dimittere, multo magis in dubiis. Vide autem ordinem conversum. Petitio pro condemnatis solet esse plebis, concessio autem principis; nunc autem contrarium gestum est: princeps enim petit a plebe, et plebs ferocior redditur. Chrys. “Whom will ye that I release unto you?” &c. As much as to say, If ye will not let Him go as innocent, at least, yield Him, as convicted, to this holy day. For if you would have released one of whose guilt there was no doubt, much more should you do so in doubtful cases. Observe how circumstances are reversed. It is the populace who are wont to petition. for the condemned, and the prince to grant, but here it is the reverse, the prince asks of the people, and renders them thereby more violent. Glossa Quare autem Pilatus ad liberationem Christi laboravit, manifestat Evangelista cum subdit sciebat enim quod per invidiam tradidissent eum. Gloss., non occ. The Evangelist adds the reason why Pilate sought to deliver Christ, “For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.” Remigius Quae autem invidia fuerit, Ioannes manifestat, qui narrat eos dixisse: ecce mundus totus post eum vadit, et si dimittimus eum sic, omnes credent in eum. Notandum etiam, quia loco eius quod Matthaeus dicit an Iesum qui dicitur Christus? Marcus dicit: vultis dimittam vobis regem Iudaeorum? Soli namque reges Iudaeorum ungebantur, et ab ipsa unctione, Christi vocabantur. Remig. John explains what their envy was, when he says, “Behold, the world is gone after him;” (John 12:19) and, “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him.” (John 11:48) Observe also that in place of what Matthew says, “Jesus, who is called Christ,” Mark says, “Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?” (Mark 15:9) For the kings of the Jews alone were anointed, and from that anointing were called Christs. Chrysostomus in Matth Deinde subditur aliud quod sufficiens erat omnes a passione revocare; sequitur enim sedente autem illo pro tribunali, misit ad eum uxor eius dicens: nihil tibi et iusto illi. Cum demonstratione enim quae erat a rebus et somnus non parvum quid erat. Chrys. Then is added something else which alone was enough to deter all from putting Him to death; “When he was set on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man.” For joined with the proof afforded by the events themselves, a dream was no light confirmation. Rabanus Notandum vero, quia tribunal sedes est iudicis, solium regum, cathedrae magistrorum. In visionibus autem et somniis gentilis viri uxor hoc intellexit quod Iudaei vigilantes nec credere, nec intelligere voluerunt. Raban. It is to be noted, that the bench (tribunal) is the seat of the judge, the throne (solium) of the king, the chair (cathedra) of the master. In visions and dreams the wife of a Gentile understood what the Jews when awake would neither believe nor understand. Hieronymus Nota etiam, quod gentilibus saepe a Deo somnia revelantur, et quod in Pilato et uxore eius iustum dominum confitentibus gentilis populi testimonium sit. Jerome Observe also that visions are often vouchsafed by God to the Gentiles, and that the confession of Pilate and his wife that the Lord was innocent is a testimony of the Gentile people. Chrysostomus in Matth Sed cuius gratia non ipse Pilatus somnium videbat? Quia illa magis digna erat: vel quia si Pilatus vidisset, non aequaliter sibi creditum esset; vel forte neque dixisset; propter hoc dispensatur a Deo quod mulier vidit, ut manifestum omnibus fieret. Et non simpliciter videt, sed et patitur multa: sequitur enim multa enim passa sum hodie per visum propter eum: ut scilicet a compassione quae erat ad uxorem, desidior fieret vir circa occisionem. Sed et tempus non parum conferebat; etenim eadem nocte vidit. Chrys. But why did Pilate himself not see this vision? Because his wife was more worthy; or because if Pilate had seen it, he would not have had equal credit, or perhaps would not have told it; wherefore it is provided by God that his wife should see it, and thus it be made manifest to all. And she not merely sees it, but “suffers many things because of him,” so that sympathy with his wife would make the husband more slack to put Him to death. And the time agreed well, for it was the same night that she saw it. Augustinus in Serm. de passione Sic ergo iudex terretur in coniuge: et ut crimini Iudaeorum non praebeat in iudicio consensum, pertulit in uxoris afflictione iudicium: iudicatur ipse qui iudicat, et torquetur antequam torqueat. Chrys., Hom. iii, in Caen. Dom. Thus then the judge terrified through his wife, and that he might not consent in the judgment to the accusation of the Jews, himself endured judgment in the affliction of his wife; the judge is judged, and tortured before he tortures. Rabanus Vel aliter. Nunc demum Diabolus intelligens per Christum se spolia sua amissurum, sicut primum per mulierem mortem intulerat, ita per mulierem vult Christum de manibus Iudaeorum liberare, ne per eius mortem mortis amittat imperium. Raban. Or otherwise; The devil now at last understanding that he should lose his trophies through Christ, as be had at the first brought in death by a woman, so by a woman he would deliver Christ out of the hands of His enemies, lest through His death he should lose the sovereignty of death. Chrysostomus in Matth Nihil autem praemissorum Christi adversarios movit, quia eos omnino invidia excaecaverat: unde ex propria malitia plebem corrumpunt: et hoc est quod sequitur principes autem sacerdotum, et seniores persuaserunt populo ut peterent Barabbam, Iesum vero perderent. Chrys. But none of the foregoing things moved Christ’s enemies, because envy had altogether blinded them, and of their own wickedness they corrupt the people, for they “persuaded the people that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.” Origenes in Matth Et est videre nunc quomodo populus Iudaeorum a senioribus suis et Iudaicae culturae doctoribus suadetur, et excitatur adversus Iesum, ut perdant eum. Sequitur respondens autem praeses ait illis: quem vultis de duobus dimitti? Origen Thus it is plainly seen how the Jewish people is moved by its elders and the doctors of the Jewish system, and stirred up against Jesus to destroy Him. Glossa Respondisse autem dicitur Pilatus haec dicens, sive ad ea quae uxor nuntiaverat, sive ad petitionem populi, qui iuxta consuetudinem aliquem in die festo sibi dimitti petebat. Gloss., non occ. Pilate is said to make this answer, “Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?” either to the message of his wife, or the petition of the people, with whom it was a custom to ask such release on the feast-day. Origenes in Matth Turbae autem quasi ferae, quae spatiosam ambulant viam, voluerunt sibi Barabbam habere solutum: unde subditur at illi dixerunt: Barabbam. Ideo gens illa habet seditiones et homicidia et latrocinia, secundum quosdam gentis suae, in rebus quae foris habentur, secundum autem omnes, intus in anima. Ubi enim non est Iesus, illic lites et praelia sunt; ubi autem est, ibi sunt omnia bona et pax. Omnes etiam qui Iudaeis sunt similes, vel in dogmate, vel in vita, Barabbam sibi solvi desiderant: quicumque enim mala agit, solutus est in corpore eius Barabbas, Christus autem vinctus; qui autem bona agit, Christum habet solutum, Barabbam vinctum. Voluit autem Pilatus pudorem tantae iniquitatis eis incurrere; unde sequitur dicit illis Pilatus: quid igitur faciam de Iesu qui dicitur Christus? Non solum autem hoc, sed et mensuram colligere volens impietatis eorum. Illi autem nec hoc erubescunt, quod Pilatus Iesum Christum esse confitebatur, nec modum impietatis servant, unde sequitur dicunt omnes: crucifigatur; in quo multiplicaverunt impietatis suae mensuram, non solum homicidam postulantes ad vitam, sed etiam iustum ad mortem, et ad mortem turpissimam crucis. Origen But the populace, like wild beasts that rage the open plains, would have Barabbas released to them. For this people had seditions, murders, robberies, practised by some of their own nation in act, and nourished by all of them who believe not in Jesus, inwardly in their mind. Where Jesus is not, there are strifes and fightings; where He is, there is peace and all good things. All those who are like the Jews either in doctrine or life desire Barabbas to be loosed to them; for whoso does evil, Barabbas is loosed in his body, and Jesus bound; but he that does good has Christ loosed, and Barabbas bound. Pilate sought to strike them with shame for so great injustice, “What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ?” And not that only, but desiring to fill up the measure of their guilt. But neither do they blush that Pilate confessed Jesus to be the Christ, nor set any bounds to their impiety, They all say unto him, “Let him be crucified.” Thus they multiplied the sum of their wickedness, not only asking the life of a murderer, but the death of a righteous man, and that the shameful death of the cross. Rabanus Pendentes siquidem in ligno crucifixi, clavibus ad lignum pedibus manibusque confixi, producta morte necabantur, et diu vivebant in cruce, non quia longior vita eligebatur, sed quia mors ipsa protendebatur, ne dolor citius finiretur. Verum Iudaei de morte pessima cogitabant, sed a domino, non intelligentibus eis, electa erat; ipsam enim crucem Diabolo superato erat tamquam trophaeum in frontibus fidelium positurus. Raban. Those who were crucified being suspended on a cross, by nails driven into the wood through their hands and feet, perished by a lingering death, and lived long on the cross, not that they sought longer life, but that death was deferred to prolong their sufferings. The Jews indeed contrived this as the worst of deaths, but it had been chosen by the Lord without their privity, thereafter to place upon the foreheads of the faithful the same cross as a trophy of His victory over the Devil. Hieronymus Cum autem hoc responderent, non statim acquievit, sed iuxta suggestionem uxoris, quae mandaverat nihil tibi et iusto illi, ipse quoque respondit; unde sequitur ait illis praeses: quid enim mali fecit? Hoc dicendo Pilatus, absolvit Iesum. Sequitur at illi magis clamabant dicentes: crucifigatur, ut impleretur quod in Psalmo 21, 17 dicitur: circumdederunt me canes multi, congregatio malignantium obsedit me: et illud Ieremiae: facta est mihi hereditas mea sicut leo in silva; dederunt super me vocem suam. Jerome Yet even after this answer of theirs, Pilate did not at once assent, but in accordance with his wife’s suggestion, “Have thou nothing to do with that just man,” he answered, “Why, what evil hath he done?” This speech of Pilate’s acquits Jesus. “But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified;” that it might be fulfilled which is said in the Psalm, “Many dogs have compassed me, the congregation of the wicked hath inclosed me;” (Ps 22:16) and also that of Jeremiah, “Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest, they have given forth their voice against me.” (Jer 12:8) Augustinus de Cons. Evang Saepius autem Pilatus cum Iudaeis egit, volens ut dimitteretur Iesus: quod paucissimis verbis testatur Matthaeus cum subdit videns Pilatus quia nihil proficiebat, sed magis tumultus fieret: quod non diceret, nisi multum ille conatus fuisset, quamvis tacuerit quoties hoc tentavit ut erueret Iesum furori eorum. Sequitur accepta aqua, lavit manus coram populo, dicens: innocens ego sum a sanguine iusti huius. Aug., de Cons. Ev., iii, 8 Pilate many times pleaded with the Jews, desiring that Jesus might be released, which Matthew witnesses in very few words, when he says, “Pilate seeing that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made.” He would not have spoken thus, if Pilate had not striven much, though how many efforts he made to release Jesus he does not mention. Remigius Mos enim erat apud antiquos ut cum vellet quis se ostendere immunem ab aliquo crimine, accepta aqua, lavaret manus suas coram populo. Remig. It was customary among the ancients, when one would refuse to participate in any crime, to take water and wash his hands before the people. Hieronymus Pilatus ergo accepit aquam iuxta illud propheticum: lavabo inter innocentes manus meas, quodammodo in hoc contestans, et dicens: ego quidem innocentem volui liberare, sed quoniam seditio oritur, et rebellionis mihi contra Caesarem crimen impingitur, innocens sum a sanguine iusti huius. Iudex ergo qui cogitur contra dominum ferre sententiam, non damnat oblatum, sed arguit offerentes, iustum esse pronuntians eum qui crucifigendus est. Sequitur vos videritis, quasi dicat: ego minister legum sum, vox vestra sanguinem fundit. Sequitur et respondens universus populus dixit: sanguis eius super nos, et super filios nostros. Perseverat usque in praesentem diem haec imprecatio super Iudaeos, et sanguis domini non aufertur ab eis. Jerome Pilate took water in accordance with that, “I Will wash my hands in innocency,” (Ps 26:6) in a manner testifying and saying, I indeed have sought to deliver this innocent man, but since a tumult is rising, and the charge of treason to Caesar is urged against me, I am innocent of the blood of this just man. The judge then who is thus compelled to give sentence against the Lord, does not convict the accused, but the accusers, pronouncing innocent Him who is to be crucified. “See ye to it,” as though be had said, I am the law’s minister, it is your voice that has shed this blood. Then answered all the people and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” This imprecation rests at the present day upon the Jews, the Lord’s blood is not removed from them. Chrysostomus in Matth Intuere autem et hic Iudaeorum multam insaniam: eorum enim impetus et perniciosa concupiscentia non permittit eos quae oportet, inspicere, et sibi maledicunt dicentes sanguis eius super nos; quin et ad filios maledictionem attrahunt, dicentes super filios nostros. Sed tamen misericors Deus eorum sententiam non firmavit; sed ex eis et eorum filiis suscepit qui poenitentiam egerunt: etenim et Paulus ex ipsis fuit et multa millia eorum qui in Hierosolymis crediderunt. Chrys. Observe here the infatuation of the Jews; their headlong haste, and destructive passions will not let them see what they ought to see, and they curse themselves, saying, “His blood be upon us,” and even entail the curse upon their children. Yet a merciful God did not ratify this sentence, but accepted such of them and of their children as repented; for Paul was of them, and many thousands of those who in Jerusalem believed.