it.  They acted promptly,[2] and in order to combat the proposition of Pilate, they suggested to the crowd the name of a prisoner who enjoyed great popularity in Jerusalem.  By a singular coincidence, he also was called Jesus,[3] and bore the surname of Bar-Abba, or Bar-Rabban.[4] He was a well-known personage,[5] and had been arrested for taking part in an uproar in which murder had been committed.[6] A general clamor was raised, “Not this man; but Jesus Bar-Rabban;” and Pilate was obliged to release Jesus Bar-Rabban.

[Footnote 1:  Mark xv. 10.]

[Footnote 2:  Matt. xxvii. 20; Mark xv. 11.]

[Footnote 3:  The name of Jesus has disappeared in the greater part of the manuscripts.  This reading has, nevertheless, very great authorities in its favor.]

[Footnote 4:  Matt. xxvii. 16.]

[Footnote 5:  Cf.  St. Jerome.  In Matt. xxvii. 16.]

[Footnote 6:  Mark xv. 7; Luke xxiii. 19.  John (xviii. 40), who makes him a robber, appears here too much further from the truth than Mark.]

His embarrassment increased.  He feared that too much indulgence shown to a prisoner, to whom was given the title of “King of the Jews,” might compromise him.  Fanaticism, moreover, compels all powers to make terms with it.  Pilate thought himself obliged to make some concession; but still hesitating to shed blood, in order to satisfy men whom he hated, wished to turn the thing into a jest.  Affecting to laugh at the pompous title they had given to Jesus, he caused him to be scourged.[1] Scourging was the general preliminary of crucifixion.[2] Perhaps Pilate wished it to be believed that this sentence had already been pronounced, hoping that the preliminary would suffice.  Then took place (according to all the narratives) a revolting scene.  The soldiers put a scarlet robe on his back, a crown formed of branches of thorns upon his head, and a reed in his hand.  Thus attired, he was led to the tribunal in front of the people.  The soldiers defiled before him, striking him in turn, and knelt to him, saying, “Hail!  King of the Jews."[3] Others, it is said, spit upon him, and struck his head with the reed.  It is difficult to understand how Roman dignity could stoop to acts so shameful.  It is true that Pilate, in the capacity of procurator, had under his command scarcely any but auxiliary troops.[4] Roman citizens, as the legionaries were, would not have degraded themselves by such conduct.

[Footnote 1:  Matt. xxvii. 26; Mark xv. 15; John xix. 1.]

[Footnote 2:  Jos., B.J., II. xiv. 9, V. xi. 1, VII. vi. 4; Titus-Livy, XXXIII. 36; Quintus Curtius, VII. xi. 28.]

[Footnote 3:  Matt. xxvii. 27, and following; Mark xv. 16, and following; Luke xxiii. 11; John xix. 2, and following.]

[Footnote 4:  See Inscript.  Rom. of Algeria, No. 5, fragm.  B.]