Joh 19:11, Act 3:13 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 11. No power . No such power as you claim. You have not originated the power which you have. You have just as much as is given , and your ability ex tends no farther. Except it were given thee . It has been conceded or granted to you. God has ordered your life, your circumstances, and the extent of your dominion. This was a reproof of a proud man in office, who was forgetful of the great Source of his authority, and who supposed that by his own talents or fortune he had risen to his present place. Alas! how many men in office forget that God gives them their rank, and vainly think that it is owing to their own talents or merits that they have risen to such an elevation. Men of office and talent, as well as others, should remember that God gives them what they have, and that they have no influence except as it is conceded to them from on high. From above . From God, or by his direction, and by the arrangements of his providence. : "There is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." The words "from above" often refer to God or to heaven , (in the Greek). The providence of God was remarkable in so ordering affairs that a man, flexible and yielding like Pilate, should be intrusted with power in Judea. Had it been a man firm and unyielding in his duty--one who could not be terrified or awed by the multitude-- Jesus would not have been delivered to be crucified, . God thus brings about his wise ends; and while Pilate was free , and acted out his nature without compulsion, yet the purposes of God, long before predicted, were fulfilled, and Jesus made an atonement for the sins of the world. Thus God overrules the wickedness and folly of men. He so orders affairs that the true character of men shall be brought out , and makes use of that character to advance his own great purposes. Therefore . On this account. "You are a magistrate. Your power, as such, is given you by God. You are not, indeed, guilty for accusing me, or malignantly arraigning me; but you have power intrusted to you over my life; and the Jews, who knew this, and who knew that the power of a magistrate was given to him by God, have the greater sin for seeking my condemnation before a tribunal appointed by God, and for endeavouring to obtain so solemn a sanction to their own malignant and wicked purposes. They have endeavoured to avail themselves of the civil power, the sacred appointment of God, and on this account their sin is greater." This does not mean that their sin was greater than that of Pilate, though that was true; but their sin was greater on account of the fact that they perseveringly and malignantly endeavoured to obtain the sanction of the magistrate to their wicked proceedings. Nor does it mean, because God had purposed his death ( ), and given power to Pilate, that therefore their sin was greater, for God's purpose in the case made it neither more nor less. It did not change the nature of their free acts. This passage teaches no such doctrine, but that their sin was aggravated by malignantly endeavouring to obtain the sanction of a magistrate who was invested with authority by God , and who wielded the power that God gave him. By this Pilate ought to have been convinced, and was convinced, of their wickedness, and hence he sought more and more to release him. He that delivered me . The singular here is put for the plural, including Judas, the high-priests, and the Sanhedrim. (h) "thou couldest have no power" (i) "except" (k) "he that delivered me" (l) "the greater sin"

John 19:11

Verse 11. No power. No such power as you claim. You have not originated the power which you have. You have just as much as is given, and your ability ex tends no farther.

Except it were given thee. It has been conceded or granted to you. God has ordered your life, your circumstances, and the extent of your dominion. This was a reproof of a proud man in office, who was forgetful of the great Source of his authority, and who supposed that by his own talents or fortune he had risen to his present place. Alas! how many men in office forget that God gives them their rank, and vainly think that it is owing to their own talents or merits that they have risen to such an elevation. Men of office and talent, as well as others, should remember that God gives them what they have, and that they have no influence except as it is conceded to them from on high.

From above. From God, or by his direction, and by the arrangements of his providence. Rom 13:1: "There is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." The words "from above" often refer to God or to heaven, Jas 1:17; 3:15,17, Jn 3:3 (in the Greek). The providence of God was remarkable in so ordering affairs that a man, flexible and yielding like Pilate, should be intrusted with power in Judea. Had it been a man firm and unyielding in his duty--one who could not be terrified or awed by the multitude-- Jesus would not have been delivered to be crucified, Acts 2:23. God thus brings about his wise ends; and while Pilate was free, and acted out his nature without compulsion, yet the purposes of God, long before predicted, were fulfilled, and Jesus made an atonement for the sins of the world. Thus God overrules the wickedness and folly of men. He so orders affairs that the true character of men shall be brought out, and makes use of that character to advance his own great purposes.

Therefore. On this account. "You are a magistrate. Your power, as such, is given

you by God. You are not, indeed, guilty for accusing

me, or malignantly arraigning me; but you have power

intrusted to you over my life; and the Jews, who

knew this, and who knew that the power of a magistrate

was given to him by God, have the greater sin for

seeking my condemnation before a tribunal appointed by

God, and for endeavouring to obtain so solemn a

sanction to their own malignant and wicked purposes.

They have endeavoured to avail themselves of the civil

power, the sacred appointment of God, and

on this account their sin is greater."

This does not mean that their sin was greater than that of Pilate, though that was true; but their sin was greater on account of the fact that they perseveringly and malignantly endeavoured to obtain the sanction of the magistrate to their wicked proceedings. Nor does it mean, because God had purposed his death (Acts 2:23), and given power to Pilate, that therefore their sin was greater, for God's purpose in the case made it neither more nor less. It did not change the nature of their free acts. This passage teaches no such doctrine, but that their sin was aggravated by malignantly endeavouring to obtain the sanction of a magistrate who was invested with authority by God, and who wielded the power that God gave him. By this Pilate ought to have been convinced, and was convinced, of their wickedness, and hence he sought more and more to release him.

He that delivered me. The singular here is put for the plural, including Judas, the high-priests, and the Sanhedrim.

(h) "thou couldest have no power" Lk 22:53, Jn 7:30 (i) "except" Ps 39:9 (k) "he that delivered me" Mk 14:44, Jn 18:3 (l) "the greater sin" He 6:4-8, Jas 4:17

Acts 3:13

Verse 13. The God of Abraham. He is called the God of Abraham be- cause Abraham acknowledged him as his God, and because God showed himself to be his Friend. Comp. Mt 22:32, Ex 3:6,15, Gen 28:13, 26:24. It was important to show that it was the same God who had done this that had been acknowledged by their fathers; and that they were not about to introduce the worship of any other God. And it was especially important, because the promise had been made to Abraham, that in his seed should all the families of the earth be blessed, Gen 12:3. Comp. Gal 3:16.

Hath glorified. Has honoured. You denied, despised, and murdered him; but God has exalted and honoured him. This miracle was done in the name of Jesus, Acts 3:6. It was the power of God that had restored him; and by putting forth this power God had shown that he approved the work of his Son, and was disposed to honour him in the view of men. Comp. Jn 17:1, Eph 1:20-22, Php 2:9-11 Heb 2:9, Rev 1:5-18.

Ye delivered up. That is, you delivered him to the Romans to be put to death. Acts 2:23.

And denied him in the presence of Pilate. Denied that he was the Messiah. Were unwilling to own him as your long-expected King, Jn 19:15.

When he was determined, etc. Mt 27:17-25, Lk 23:16-23. Pilate was satisfied of his innocence; but he was weak, and timid, and irresolute, and yielded to their wishes. The fact that Pilate regarded him as innocent was a strong aggravation of their crime. They should have regarded him as innocent; but they urged on his condemnation, against the deliberate judgment of him before whom they had arraigned him; and thus showed how obstinately they were resolved on his death.

(a) "God of Abraham" Mt 22:32 (b) "hath glorified" Acts 5:30,31 (c) "his son Jesus" Jn 17:1, Eph 1:20-22, Php 2:9-11, Heb 2:9 Rev 1:5,18 (d) "denied him" Jn 19:15 (*) "let him go" "Release him"