ACC ~ John 19 v10

PILATE TRIES WAVING HIS WAND OF POWER

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Pilate thought this silence of Jesus was the silence of a madman. Therefore, he stretches over him, as it were, the wand of his official power and thought that he could, through fear, induce Jesus to return a fruitless answer against his will. For he says that nothing could hinder his inclining whichever way he chose, either to punish him or to take compassion on him. He [implies] that there was nothing that could make him give a verdict against his will since it was with him alone that the fate of the accused rested. He rebukes Jesus, therefore, as though he felt himself insulted by untimely silence. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12. [1]

[1] LF 48:615**.

THE STATE’S AUTHORITY COMES FROM GOD

AUGUSTINE: “There is no authority but God’s.” [1] Jesus also taught that someone is a greater sinner who maliciously delivers up the innocent to be killed by such an authority than the authority itself, if that authority kills him through fear of another authority that is greater still. This was the kind of authority that God had given to Pilate, since Pilate was under the authority of Caesar. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 116.5. [2]

[1] Rom 13:1.

[2] NPNF 1 7:426**.

Jn