Paragraph 19:12–16a

This paragraph tells of Pilate’s last attempt to get the Jewish religious leaders to agree to release Jesus. The Jewish leaders threatened him by implying that releasing Jesus would make the emperor angry. So finally Pilate condemned Jesus to death.

19:12a

From then on: The phrase that Berean Standard Bible translates as From then on is more literally “From this.” It introduces Pilate’s reaction to what Jesus said in 19:11. This phrase and the tense of “tried” in the following clause indicate that Pilate repeated his trying. Indicate either here or in the next clause that the action is repeated in a natural way in your language. For example:

From this point on (NET Bible)
-or-
From that moment (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Starting then

Pilate tried to release Him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tried to release Him indicates that Pilate wanted to set Jesus free. He did not do that by trying to remove Jesus’ ropes. His efforts were legal or verbal rather than physical. The tense of the Greek word indicates that he also made repeated efforts. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Pilate made efforts to release him (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Pilate was anxious to set him free (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
he tried to find a way to set Jesus free (Good News Translation)

19:12b

but the Jews kept shouting: This clause indicates that the Jews opposed Pilate’s efforts to release Jesus. The word but indicates a contrast between what Pilate wanted and what the Jews wanted. The Greek text emphasizes the phrase the Jews to indicate a change in the topic. For example:

But the Jews, they continued to shout (Kankanaey Back Translation)
-or-
But the crowd shouted back (Good News Translation)

the Jews: This phrase here refers to the people gathered at Pilate’s house who accused Jesus. Like Jesus and his disciples, they were Jewish. They included the chief priests and temple guards mentioned in 19:6a. This phrase was used to refer to the same group of people in 18:31, 18:38, and 19:7. See how you translated this phrase in those verses. For example:

some in the crowd (New Century Version)
-or-
the Jewish leaders (NET Bible)

kept shouting: The people shouted to express their opposition to what Pilate was trying to do. Here are other ways to translate this Greek verb:

shouted back (Good News Translation)
-or-
yelled (Contemporary English Version)

19:12c

If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar: This sentence expresses a condition (If you release this man) and a conclusion (you are no friend of Caesar). The Jews said that if the condition were fulfilled, then the conclusion would be true.

The Jews were trying to persuade Pilate to not release Jesus. They knew that it was important to him to be a friend of the emperor. Not being his friend could result in punishment or even death. So he would not want to do anything that would mean that he was not his friend. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

If you set him free, that means that you are not the Emperor’s friend! (Good News Translation)
-or-
You are not a friend of the emperor if you release this man!

If you release this man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as release means “set free.” For example:

If you set this man free (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
If you free this man (God’s Word)

you: This pronoun here is singular and refers to Pilate.

this man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this man is more literally “this one.” It is a way to refer to someone that implies that they are not important. Here it refers to Jesus.

you are no friend of Caesar: The phrase no friend of Caesar means “an enemy of the emperor.” The Jews were threatening Pilate. They said that freeing Jesus would be acting like an enemy of the Roman emperor. They implied that the emperor would notice what Pilate did and act to punish him. In some languages it may be natural to use a positive expression. For example:

you are an enemy of the emperor

Caesar: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as Caesar was the family name of the Roman Emperor (king of an empire), and it became a title. It was the emperor who had appointed Pilate to this job and he could also dismiss or execute (punish with death) Pilate. Here are other ways to translate this word:

the emperor
-or-
the ruler in Rome (Otomi Back Translation)
-or-
our (incl.) King Caesar who is in Rome (Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)

19:12d

Anyone who declares himself a king: This clause refers to the fact that Jesus claimed (declared) that he was the Messiah. The Messiah was thought to be the “king of the Jews.” Use the term for king that you used in 18:33 and 19:3.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as declares is more literally “makes,” as in 19:7. It implies that the person is not really a king but says he is and acts like a king. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Everyone who claims to be a king (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Everyone who makes himself a king (English Standard Version)
-or-
Anyone who says, “I am a king”

is defying Caesar: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is defying means “speaks against.” In this context it refers to rejecting and rebelling against the most powerful ruler. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

is against Caesar (New Century Version)
-or-
is an enemy of the Emperor (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
is a rebel against the Emperor (Good News Translation)
-or-
opposes Caesar (New American Standard Bible)

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