Bound him is interpreted by Good News Translation to mean “put him in chains,” though it is not necessary to assume that chains were in fact used. Bound is used here causatively: “had him bound” or “commanded their servants, ‘Tie him up’ ” or “… ‘Put him in chains.’ ”

For some translators, led him away needs to be “led him away from there,” or better yet, relating it to the next clause, “led him from there to hand him to Pilate.”

Delivered is better translated “handed over.” It is the same verb frequently rendered “betray,” and from it comes the form “the betrayer.”

Pilate (Pontius Pilate) was the Roman governor of Judea during the period A.D. 26–36. The title governor describes Pilate’s military authority and would not have been his official title. According to what is known from other sources, Pilate was an extremely corrupt person, given to violence and acts of cruelty. A governor does not rule so much as he administers on behalf of the rulers. But this distinction is not always possible to keep. “Ruler of that province (or, area) for the Roman Emperor” or “the one the Roman Emperor put in charge of that area” may express this idea.

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 .