John Chapter 18 verse 31 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(31) Take ye him, and judge him according to your law.--Pilate takes them at their word. They claim the judicial right; let them exercise it. Their law gave them power to punish, but not the right of capital punishment. If they claim that the matter is wholly within their own power of judgment, then the sentence must also be limited to their own power. He can only execute a sentence which is pronounced by himself after formal trial.It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.--Their words admit that they did not possess the power of life and death, while they imply that they had sentenced Jesus to death. They verbally give up the power, but in reality claim it, and regard the procurator as their executioner. The Jews had lost this power since the time that Archelaus was deposed, and Judaea became a Roman province (A.D. 6 or 7). The Talmud speaks of the loss of this power forty years or more before the destruction of Jerusalem. (Comp. Lightfoot's Note here, and in Matthew 26:3.)On the stoning of Stephen, which was an illegal act, comp. Notes on Acts 7:57 et seq.Parallel Commentaries ...Greek“You takeΛάβετε (Labete)Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person PluralStrong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. Himαὐτὸν (auton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person SingularStrong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.andκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. judgeκρίνατε (krinate)Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person PluralStrong's 2919: Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.Himαὐτόν (auton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person SingularStrong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.byκατὰ (kata)PrepositionStrong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).yourὑμῶν (hymōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person PluralStrong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.[own]τὸν (ton)Article - Accusative Masculine SingularStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.law,”νόμον (nomon)Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularStrong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.PilateΠιλᾶτος (Pilatos)Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 4091: Pilate. Of Latin origin; close-pressed, i.e. Firm; Pilatus, a Roman.toldΕἶπεν (Eipen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularStrong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.them.αὐτοῖς (autois)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person PluralStrong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.“We are not permittedἔξεστιν (exestin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularStrong's 1832: It is permitted, lawful, possible. to execute anyone,”ἀποκτεῖναι (apokteinai)Verb - Aorist Infinitive ActiveStrong's 615: To put to death, kill; fig: I abolish. From apo and kteino; to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy.theοἱ (hoi)Article - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.JewsἸουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.replied.Εἶπον (Eipon)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralStrong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.Jump to PreviousDeath Execute Jews Judge Judged Law Permitted Pilate Power Right Yourselves