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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_27:1-2
1Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; 2and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.
Mat_27:1 "Now when morning came" Romans held court early each day, probably because of the heat. Most of the pilgrims and citizens of Jerusalem were not awake yet. It would have been around 6 a.m.
▣ "all the chief priests" The plural referred to the priestly family of Annas, who had purchased this office from the Romans. He was succeeded by several of his sons and sons-in-law.
▣ "conferred together" Jesus' statements in Mat_26:64 condemned Him in their minds of blasphemy, which was punishable by stoning, but they wanted Him to bear the curse of crucifixion (cf. Deu_21:23). Therefore, they had to come up with a charge that the Romans would act on. This is where the charge that He claimed to be King of the Jews was used as a political threat against Roman rule.
Mat_27:2 "bound Him" Jesus was bound during these trials possibly because (1) they were afraid of His performing magic to release Himself; (2) it was a way to humiliate Him; or (3) it was the common procedure with criminals.
▣ "Pilate the governor" Probably this took place at the Roman Fortress of Antonia which was built next to the Temple, although it could have been at Herod's palace, which was made available to the Roman officials when they were in Jerusalem. The Romans stationed extra troops from Caesarea by the Sea in Jerusalem during the Jewish feast days in case of riot (cf. Mat_27:24). Pilate was appointed Governor from a.d. 26-36. History depicts him as a cruel, ruthless man.
It has been surmised that the Jewish leadership brought Jesus to Pilate
1. to fulfill Jesus' prophecy about being killed by Gentiles
2. to have the Romans crucify Him because in this day the Sanhedrin did not have the authority of capital punishment
However, Jesus was accused of blasphemy and, therefore, should have been stoned. The Jews did this very thing to Stephen in Acts 7 and did not ask permission from the Romans. I think these Jewish leaders wanted Jesus crucified to have the divine curse of Deu_21:23 enacted on Him. They wanted this Messianic pretender cursed by God! Jesus did bear the "curse" (cf. Gal_3:13; Col_2:14) for us!
There is a Greek manuscript variation here. In several good ancient manuscripts Pilate's first name, Pontius, is present, (cf. MSS A, C, W, and the Vulgate). It also appears in Luk_3:1; Act_4:27 and 1Ti_6:13. The two names are the norm in the early church literature. However, it is absent in MSS à , B, and L, as well as Mar_15:1 and Luk_23:1.
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