Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 19:1-3

"Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands." — John 19:1-3 (ASV)

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. And said, Hail, King of the Jews!

Just as they would say, "Ave Imperator" – "Hail emperor" – so they imitated that greeting which they applied to Caesar, applying it to Jesus in mockery.

In their use of the title "King of the Jews," the utmost scorn was thrown into its final part, "of the Jews." There had been a general tradition that a king would arise from among the Jews who would subdue the nations. The Romans, therefore, jested at the very thought that they could be conquered by the leader of such a despised race as the Jews, and so they mockingly declared Him "King of the Jews."