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Joh_19:12. ʼΕκ τούτου ] Not: from this time forward (so usually); for ἐζήτει , κ . τ . λ ., is a particular act, which is immediately answered by the Jews with loud outcries; but: on this ground, as Joh_6:66, occasioned by this speech of Jesus (so also Luthardt and Lange).
ἐξήτει , κ . τ . λ ., he sought to release Him (Joh_10:30; Luk_5:18; Luk_13:24; Luk_19:3; Act_27:30, et al.). In what this attempt, which, though made, yet remained unaccomplished (hence imperf.), may more definitely have consisted, John does not say, and therefore it was, probably, only in renewed representations which he made. That which is usually supplied, as though μᾶλλον , as in Joh_15:18, were expressed therewith: he sought still more, he sought most earnestly (“previously he appears to John rather to have played with the matter,” Lücke), and the like, is capriciously imported, as also the rendering: now he demanded peremptorily, etc. (Steinmeyer).
With ἐὰν τοῦτον , κ . τ . λ ., the Jews cunningly enough again return to and fasten upon the political side of the accusation, ὡς οὐ παροπτέον τῷ Πιλάτῳ διὰ τὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ Καίσαρος φόβον , Euth. Zigabenus. How greatly must he, who in so many features of his administration had anything but clean hands (Josephus, Antt. xviii. 3. 1 ff.; Philo, de legat. ad Caj. p. 1033), have desired to see avoided an accusation before Tiberius, so suspicious and jealous of his authority! (Suetonius, Tib. 58; Tacitus, Ann. iii. 38.) Comp. Hausrath, Christl. Zeitgesch. I. p. 312 ff.
φίλος τοῦ Καίσ .] Not in the titular sense of amicus Cacsaris, as high officials bore this title (see Wetstein; Grimm on 1Ma_2:18), in which, however, the sense of confidant (counsellor) of Caesar exists; but faithful to the emperor, friendly to him, and readily devoted to his interests (Xen. Anab. iii. 2. 5).
He who makes himself a king, by the fact, that is, of declaring himself to be such (comp. Joh_10:33), thereby declares himself ( ἀντιλέγει ) against the emperor. Accordingly, ἀντιλέγει is not generally: he opposes (Grotius, De Wette, Maier); but the emphasis lies upon the correlates βασιλέα and Καίσαρι .