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NASB | John 19:21 So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews'; but that He said, 'I am King of the Jews.'" |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 19:21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews'; but, 'He said, "I am King of the Jews."'" |
Bible Question: In John 19:21 why did the chief priest of the Jews want to change the writing on the cross |
Bible Answer: Hello, watchman. The inscription which Pilate wrote, and had fixed at the top of the cross, announced the crime for which he was crucified. Matthew called it, aitia—the accusation, Mark and Luke called it epigrapheµ—the inscription, John calls it by the proper Latin name, titlos—the title: and it was this, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Pilate intended this as a disgrace, that he, being Jesus of Nazareth, should pretend to be king of the Jews. The Jewish leaders however, took offense at the wording, for they would not have it written, "king of the Jews" but rather: "he called himself, I am the king of the Jews". In this they show themselves to be so spiteful to smear His honor along with His body. They were filled with such malice that they were attempting to soil His character, jealous as they were concerning the reputation of their beloved nation. It was not enough for these prosecutors to force Pilate to condemn Christ against his will, but they forced the issue over such a trivial matter. And worse yet, after charging Christ with the crime, had never even proved that He was guilty of such. |