“shouted” is “cried out” in KJV and denotes a loud shout. Dods translates this as “roared” and Moffat as “yelled”. This cry is one that the whole crowd soon takes up (Matt 27:22). Pilate’s attempts at compromise between right and wrong have only increased the hatred and animosity of the crowd he was so trying to appease. This should be a lesson to us to never try to meet on a middle ground with the world on issues that are totally opposed to the way of God.

Matthew 27:22  “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”

The pronouns “you” and “I” which Pilate used are set in emphatic contrast to each other. It is as if he were saying that he wanted nothing to do with this and for them to do it themselves. The problem with his statement is that the Jews could not kill by crucifixion, either by their law or by Roman law. Pilate expected the crowd to give in and ask for the release of Jesus and their totally unexpected and boisterous response has taken him by surprise and his reply is one of a man goaded into making an unreasonable remark.

This is the third time Pilate has declared the innocence of Jesus. He exasperatingly gives in to the crowd and tells them to crucify Jesus themselves and gives as his reason for this surrender to the crowd’s wishes the innocence of Jesus which Robertson calls “the strangest judicial decision ever rendered”.

Pilate betrayed his trust as a judge for Rome. He was entrusted with power to protect the innocent and yet he knew that Jesus was innocent and still he talked with Christ’s accusers. What do you think should Pilate have done?

What is Jesus doing during this uproar over Him between the crowd, the religious authorities, and the Roman judge? Nothing. He is just standing there meek and mild without saying a single thing in His own defense just as was foretold in (Isa 53:7). As Maclaren notes, He was “the least conspicuous figure in the history of His own trial.”

Isaiah 53:7  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.