JOHN 19:13 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.”
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judge's seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha — Pilate's public adjudication at the "Lithostrotos" (Greek) or "Gabbatha" (Aramaic, meaning "place of stones") establishes the formal judgment seat. This elevated platform emphasizes Pilate's authority and formality, yet the location proves historically difficult to identify. John's attention to place names (toponyms) suggests eyewitness detail and the weight of historical judgment at a specific location.
Church Fathers on John 19:13
The Jews thought they could alarm Pilate more by the mention of Caesar, than by telling him of their law, as they had done above; We have a law, and by that law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God. So it follows. But the Jews cried out, saying, you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend; whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.
But how can you prove this? By His purple, His diadem, His chariot, His guards? Did He not wall; about with His twelve disciples only, and every thing mean about Him, food, dress, and habitation?
The tribunal is the seat of the judge, as the throne is the seat of the king, and the chair the seat of the doctor.
Read all 15 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!