John Calvin Commentary John 19:13

"When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha." — John 19:13 (ASV)

And sat down on the judgment-seat. From this we see what conflicting opinions passed through Pilate's mind, as if he were an actor playing two roles. He ascends the judgment-seat to pronounce the death sentence on Christ solemnly and in the customary form; yet he openly declares that he does so reluctantly and against his conscience. When he calls Christ king, he speaks ironically, meaning that it was a trivial charge that the Jews brought against him; or rather, to calm their fury, he warns them that it would bring disgrace on the whole nation if a report were to spread that a person of their nation had been condemned to die for aspiring to kingly power.

In the place which is called the Stone-pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. When the Evangelist says that גבתא (Gabbatha) was the name of the place in Hebrew, he means the Chaldaic or Syriac language, which was then in common use; for in Hebrew, גבה (Gabach) means to be lofty. It was proper, therefore, that Christ should be condemned from a lofty place, so that he, coming from heaven as the supreme Judge, may acquit us at the last day.