1When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus so that they might put him to death. [27:2] And having bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
MAT 27:1-2
Jesus Delivered to Pilate
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Jewish context, the chief priests and elders held significant religious and social authority, often functioning as intermediaries between the Jewish populace and Roman governance. The (council) mentioned here was likely the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish judicial body, which operated under Roman oversight but retained jurisdiction in religious matters. Their decision to seek Jesus’ death reflects both religious and political tensions. The use of (against) underscores their deliberate hostility, framing Jesus as a threat to both Jewish religious order and Roman stability. The verb (to put to death) highlights the judicial nature of their intent, aligning with Roman legal procedures that required local authorities to present cases to the governor for capital punishment. Pontius Pilate, as the Roman prefect, represented imperial authority, and the (handing over) of Jesus to him signifies a formal transfer of jurisdiction, blending Jewish religious condemnation with Roman political execution.
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How other translations render this
MAT 27:1
- KJV
- When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
- BSB
- When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.
- Koinōnos
- When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus so that they might put him to death.
MAT 27:2
- KJV
- And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
- BSB
- They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.
- Koinōnos
- And having bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3
“And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, 9 those that loved him at the first did not forsake him”
Cited to ground: Pontius Pilate, as the Roman prefect, represented imperial authority, and the (handing over) of Jesus to him signifies a formal transfer of jurisdiction, blending Jewish religious condemnation with Roman political execution.
Translator's notes
MAT 27:1
- counsel:The word translated 'counsel' here often referred to a formal advisory body, particularly the council of advisors to a Roman magistrate, indicating a structured and official deliberation.
- against:The term translated 'against' here implies a hostile direction or opposition, often with the sense of 'down upon' or 'in opposition to,' suggesting an adversarial stance.
- they might put to death:The phrase 'they might put to death' comes from a word that specifically means to kill or execute, often with the implication of a judicial or violent end.
MAT 27:2
- delivered:The word translated 'delivered' carries the sense of handing someone over, often to an authority or for a specific purpose, and can imply betrayal or surrender.