Church Fathers Commentary John 19:1-5

"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. And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him. Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold, the man!" — John 19:1-5 (ASV)

St. Augustine of Hippo: When the Jews cried out that they did not want Jesus released for the Passover, but Barabbas instead, Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. Pilate seems to have done this for no other reason than to satisfy the malice of the Jews with a punishment short of death. For this reason, he allowed his soldiers to do what followed, or perhaps even commanded them. However, the Evangelist only says that the soldiers did this, not that Pilate commanded them: 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! and they smote Him with their hands.

St. John Chrysostom: Since Pilate had called Him the King of the Jews, they put the royal dress on Him in mockery.

The Venerable Bede: For instead of a diadem, they put a crown of thorns on Him, and a purple robe to represent the royal purple that kings wear. Matthew says it was a scarlet robe, but scarlet and purple are different names for the same color. And though the soldiers did this in mockery, their acts have a meaning for us. For the crown of thorns signifies His taking of our sins upon Himself—the thorns which the earth of our body brings forth. And the purple robe signifies the flesh crucified. For our Lord is robed in purple wherever He is glorified by the triumphs of holy martyrs.

St. John Chrysostom: They did not do this at the governor's command, but to gratify the Jews. For they were not commanded by him to go to the garden at night either; rather, the Jews gave them money to go. However, He bore all these insults silently. Yet when you hear of them, keep steadfastly in your mind the King of the whole earth and Lord of Angels bearing all these insults in silence, and imitate His example.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Thus was fulfilled what Christ had prophesied about Himself; thus were martyrs taught to suffer all that the malice of persecutors could inflict; thus that kingdom which was not of this world conquers the proud world, not by fierce fighting, but by patient suffering.

St. John Chrysostom: So that the Jews might cease from their fury on seeing Him thus insulted, Pilate brought Jesus out before them crowned. Pilate therefore went forth again and says to them, Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Thus it is clear that these things were not done without Pilate’s knowledge—whether he commanded or only permitted them—for the reason we have mentioned: namely, that His enemies, seeing the insults heaped upon Him, might no longer thirst for His blood. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe—not the insignia of empire, but the marks of ridicule. And Pilate says to them, Behold the man!—as if to say, "If you envy the King, then spare the outcast. The humiliation is overflowing; let your envy subside."