Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 26:66

"what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death." — Matthew 26:66 (ASV)

He is guilty of death—In modern English, the word “guilty” is almost always followed by the crime a person has committed. In older usage, it was followed by the punishment the person deserved . The decision, as far as the meeting went, was unanimous. The sentence was passed. It remained, however, to carry the sentence into effect, and this, while the Roman governor was at Jerusalem, presented a difficulty that had to be met by proceedings of another kind. The Jews, or at least their rulers who courted the favor of Rome, ostentatiously disclaimed the power of punishing capital offenses (John 18:31).