The persons indicated by they are not specifically identified. In the words of one scholar: “In Matthew’s abbreviated account it looks as though the members of the Council themselves spat on Jesus and struck him; the various groups are not well defined.” Matthew does seem to distinguish between those who spat in his face and beat him and those who slapped him, though no further distinction is possible on the basis of the Greek text. One may translate “Then some of the men spat in his face and beat him. Others slapped him and said….”

In some societies spitting on someone is part of a blessing, but here it was definitely an insult. Translators in such cultures may have to say “spat in his face to insult him.”

The text does not say where on his body Jesus was struck and slapped, nor should the translation, although slapping would normally be on the face.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .