“They shouted back again.
‘Crucify him!’”
οἱ δὲ πάλιν ἔκραξαν Σταύρωσον αὐτόν.
Something similar to this response of the crowd can be found in Matthew, chapter 27:22 and in Luke, chapter 23:21. Mark said that the crowd shouted back or cried out to Pilate (οἱ δὲ πάλιν ἔκραξαν) that he was to crucify Jesus (Σταύρωσον αὐτόν). Now the blame for the crucifixion shifts to the Jewish crowd or mob. Are you responsible for the death of Jesus?
“Pilate spoke
To them again.
‘Then what do
You wish me
To do
With the man
You call
The King of the Jews?’”
ὁ δὲ Πειλᾶτος πάλιν ἀποκριθεὶς ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς Τί οὖν ποιήσω ὃν λέγετε τὸν Βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων;
Something similar to this dialogue between Pilate and the crowd can be found in Matthew, chapter 27:22. Mark said that Pilate again asked the crowd (ὁ δὲ Πειλᾶτος πάλιν ἀποκριθεὶς ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς) what did they want him to do with the man called the King of the Jews (Τί οὖν ποιήσω ὃν λέγετε τὸν Βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων). Pilate seemed very concerned about this Jewish crowd and its wishes. Where do you stand?
“Then the people
As a whole answered.
‘His blood be on us
And on our children!’”
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς πᾶς ὁ λαὸς εἶπεν Τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ τέκνα ἡμῶν.
This is another unique passage to Matthew, not found in the other gospel stories. Matthew has the Jewish crowd admit their guilt as the people as a whole answered (καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς πᾶς ὁ λαὸς εἶπεν) that the blood of Jesus would be on them (Τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς) and their children (καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ τέκνα ἡμῶν). Thus, this passage has been cited as the source of much anti-Semitism that has the Jews as Christ killers throughout Christian history. The Christians at the time of this writing may have seen this as the cause for the destruction of the Jewish Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE. The bias of Matthew was completely on display.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 