John Calvin Commentary Luke 23:16

"I will therefore chastise him, and release him." — Luke 23:16 (ASV)

I will therefore chastise him, and release him. If any slight offense had been committed that was not a capital crime, the Roman governors²⁶² were accustomed to have the offenders beaten with rods; this kind of punishment was called coerctio in the Latin language. Pilate, therefore, acts unjustly when, after pronouncing Christ free from all blame, he resolves to punish him as if he had been guilty of an ordinary offense. For he not only declares that he has found in him no crime worthy of death but asserts his innocence in the most unqualified manner. Why, then, does he beat him with rods?

But earthly men, who are not confirmed by the Spirit of God in a constant wish to do what is right, even though they are desirous to maintain integrity, are accustomed, in this manner, to yield so far as to commit small injuries when they are compelled. And not only do they consider it a valid excuse that they have not perpetrated a very heinous crime, but they even claim for themselves the praise of mildness because they have, to some extent, spared the innocent.

As to the Son of God, had he been dismissed in this manner, he would have carried with him the shame of having been scourged, without any advantage to our salvation; but on the cross, as in a magnificent chariot, he triumphed over his enemies and ours.

Would that²⁶³ the world were not now filled with many Pilates! But we see that what was begun in the head is accomplished in the members. The Popish clergy persecute his holy servants with the same cruelty with which the Jewish priests cried out, demanding that Christ should be put to death.

Many of the judges, indeed, willingly offer themselves as executioners to carry out their rage;²⁶⁴ but when they shrink from shedding blood, so as to save innocent men from dying, they scourge Christ himself, who is the only righteousness of God. For when they compel the worshippers of God to deny the Gospel for the purpose of saving their life, what else is it than to cause the name of Christ to undergo the disgrace of being beaten with rods? Yet in their defense they plead the violence of his enemies, as if this pretext were a sufficient cloak for their treacherous cowardice, which, if it was not excusable in Pilate, deserves to be viewed in them with the highest detestation.

But though our three Evangelists pass by this circumstance, it is evident from the Evangelist John (John 19:1) that Christ was beaten with rods while Pilate was still laboring to save his life, so that such an appalling spectacle might appease the rage of the people. But John has also added that it could not be appeased until the Author of life was put to death.

²⁶² “Les Gouverneurs deputez de par l’Empereur de Rome;” — “the Governors appointed by the Emperor of Rome.”;” — “the Governors appointed by the Emperor of Rome.”

²⁶³ “Pleust à Dieu.”.”

²⁶⁴ “Entre les juges, la plus grand’ part ne demandent pas mieux que de servir de bourreaux pour executer la rage des supposts de l’Antechrist.” — “Among the judges, the greater part ask nothing better than to act as hangmen to execute the rage of the supporters of Antichrist.”.” — “Among the judges, the greater part ask nothing better than to act as hangmen to execute the rage of the supporters of Antichrist.”