19:10a
So Pilate said to Him: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So introduces Pilate’s response to Jesus’ silence. His response was a rhetorical question. Introduce this response in a way that is natural in your language. For example:
Pilate then said to him (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Pilate therefore said to him (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Pilate asked (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
So Pilate said (NET Bible)
So: The connector So indicates that Pilate’s reply was the result of Jesus not answering him.
Do You refuse to speak to me?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses surprise and anger. Jesus’ silence offended Pilate because he had authority (see 19:10b–c) and expected Jesus to answer his questions. He was also surprised that Jesus did not speak to him.
The Greek text emphasizes the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to me. That emphasizes Pilate’s anger and surprise. It also leads to his next questions where he makes sure that Jesus knows his authority. Here are some ways to translate this surprise and anger:
• Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Why won’t you answer my question? (Contemporary English Version)
• Use a statement. For example:
You are refusing to talk to me.
-or-
You are not answering me.
19:10b–c
Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?: This is a rhetorical question. It is used to scold and emphasizes that Pilate did have power. As Roman governor, Pilate had the authority to judge people and to punish or free them. Pilate scolded Jesus for not answering his question.
There are two ways to translate this rebuke:
• Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Don’t you know that I have the power to let you go free or to nail you to a cross? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Surely you know that I have authority to release you, and authority to crucify you? (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you? (New International Version)
• Use a statement. For example:
Remember, I have the authority to set you free and also to have you crucified. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I have the right/power to order the soldiers to kill you by nailing you to a cross. Or I can tell them to free you.
Translate this rebuke in a way that is most natural in your language.
to release You: This phrase refers to Pilate releasing or freeing Jesus from being a prisoner. The pronoun You is singular and refers to Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
to set you free (Good News Translation)
-or-
to free you (God’s Word)
-or-
to let you go free (Contemporary English Version)
to crucify You: The verb crucify means to execute (punish with death) by nailing to a cross. See the notes and how you translated this word in 19:6b. Again, Pilate would not do this himself but would order the soldiers to do it. Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
nail you to a cross (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
cause you (sing.) to be killed on a cross
-or-
order you to be executed on a cross
You: This pronoun is again singular and again refers to Jesus.
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