John Calvin Commentary John 19:11

"Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin." — John 19:11 (ASV)

You would have no power. Some explain this in a general sense: that nothing is done in the world except by the permission of God, as if Christ had said that Pilate, though he thinks he can do all things, will do nothing more than God permits. The statement is undoubtedly true that this world is regulated by God's governance, and that, whatever the efforts of wicked men may be, they still cannot even move a finger except as the secret power of God directs.

But I prefer the opinion of those who limit this passage's application to the office of the magistrate. For by these words, Christ rebukes Pilate's foolish boasting, in which he extols himself as if his power were not from God; as if he had said, You claim everything for yourself, as if you did not have to render an account one day to God; but it was not without His providence that you were made a judge.

Consider, then, that His heavenly throne is far higher than your tribunal. It is impossible to find any admonition better suited to repress the insolence of those who rule over others, so that they may not abuse their authority. The father imagines that he may do what he pleases towards his children, the husband towards his wife, the master towards his servants, and the prince towards his people, unless they look to God, who has determined that their authority shall be limited by a fixed rule.

Therefore he who delivered me to you. Some think that this declares the Jews to be more guilty than Pilate because, with wicked hatred and malicious treachery, they are enraged against an innocent man—that is, those of them who were private individuals and not clothed with lawful authority.

But I think that this circumstance makes their guilt more heinous and less excusable on another ground: they constrain a divinely appointed government to comply with their lawless desires. For it is a monstrous sacrilege to pervert a holy ordinance of God to promote any wickedness.

The robber who, with his own hand, cuts the throat of a wretched passerby is justly held in abhorrence; but he who, under the forms of a judicial trial, puts an innocent man to death is much more wicked.

Yet Christ does not aggravate their guilt to extenuate Pilate's; for he does not institute a comparison between Pilate and them but rather includes them all in the same condemnation, because they equally pollute a holy power. There is only this difference: he makes a direct attack on the Jews but indirectly censures Pilate, who complies with their wicked desire.