John Calvin Commentary John 19:12

"Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar`s friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar." — John 19:12 (ASV)

From that time Pilate sought to release him. Though Pilate does not conduct himself conscientiously, and is motivated more by ambition than by a regard for justice, and, for that reason, is wretchedly irresolute, yet his modesty is commendable in this respect: when he is severely reproved by Christ, he does not fly into a passion, but, on the contrary, is still more inclined to release him. He is a judge, and yet he meekly permits the accused person to be his reprover; indeed, scarcely one person in a hundred will be found who so mildly endures a rebuke, even from one who is his equal.

You are not Caesar’s friend. By threats they prevail on Pilate to condemn Christ, for they could do nothing more hateful, or more fitted to produce terror, than to make him suspected of disloyalty to Caesar. "You show," they say, "that you do not care about Caesar’s authority, if you acquit him who has endeavored to throw everything into confusion." This wickedness finally broke down the resolution of Pilate, who, until now, had only been shaken by their furious clamors.

Nor is it without good reason that the Evangelist so laboriously examines and details these circumstances; for it is of great importance to us to know that Pilate did not condemn Christ before he had several times acquitted him with his own mouth, so that we may learn from it that he was condemned for our sins, and not on his own account.

We may also learn from it how voluntarily he offered himself to die, when he disdained to make use of the judge's favorable disposition toward him. Indeed, it was this obedience that caused his death to be a sacrifice of sweet savour (Ephesians 5:2), for blotting out all sins.