John 19:15

KJV

But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} they cried out {G2905}, Away with {G142} him, away with {G142} him, crucify {G4717} him {G846}. Pilate {G4091} saith {G3004} unto them {G846}, Shall I crucify {G4717} your {G5216} King {G935}? The chief priests {G749} answered {G611}, We have {G2192} no {G3756} king {G935} but {G1508} Caesar {G2541}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Put him to death on the stake!” Pilate said to them, “You want me to execute your king on a stake?” The head cohanim answered, “We have no king but the Emperor.”

Berean Standard Bible

At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.

American Standard Version

They therefore cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 19:15 presents the climactic and chilling moment of Jesus' trial before Pilate, where the Jewish chief priests, driven by intense animosity and political expediency, vehemently demand Jesus' crucifixion. In a profound act of rejection of their Messiah and a shocking declaration of allegiance, they assert, "We have no king but Caesar," thereby sealing Jesus' fate and revealing the depth of their spiritual and national apostasy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the very end of Jesus' Roman trial, following Pilate's repeated attempts to release Jesus, whom he found innocent of any capital crime. Earlier in the chapter, Pilate had presented Jesus, scourged and crowned with thorns, to the crowd with the words, "Behold the Man!" ([John 19:5](/john/19-5 "John 19:5 - Pilate Presents Jesus")). Despite Pilate's efforts to appeal to their pity or reason, the chief priests and their officers persisted in their demand for crucifixion, escalating their cries. Pilate's question, "Shall I crucify your King?", is a final, ironic challenge, met with the ultimate renunciation of Jesus' kingship, leading directly to Pilate's concession and the handing over of Jesus for crucifixion ([John 19:16](/john/19-16 "John 19:16 - Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judea was under Roman occupation, a reality deeply resented by many Jews who longed for a Messiah to liberate them from foreign rule. The chief priests, members of the Sanhedrin, held significant religious and political power under Roman oversight. Their declaration, "We have no king but Caesar," was a calculated political maneuver. While they chafed under Roman authority, publicly disavowing any other king (especially one accused of sedition against Rome, like Jesus) was a strategic move to pressure Pilate. Pilate, as the Roman governor, was acutely aware of the need to maintain order and avoid any semblance of rebellion, especially during Passover, a time prone to unrest. Accusations of treason against Caesar were taken very seriously by Rome, making the priests' statement a potent threat that Pilate could not easily ignore without risking his own position.
* **Key Themes:** John 19:15 powerfully illustrates several key themes prevalent in John's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent is **The Rejection of Jesus' Kingship**. Despite Jesus' clear claims to kingship, albeit a kingdom "not of this world" ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - My Kingdom Is Not of This World")), the Jewish religious leaders explicitly deny Him as their King, choosing instead the pagan Roman emperor. This act fulfills prophecies of the Messiah being despised and rejected by His own people ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Despised and Rejected")). Another theme is **Political Expediency Over Truth**. The chief priests prioritize their earthly power and standing with Rome over acknowledging divine truth, demonstrating a willingness to compromise their spiritual heritage for worldly gain. Finally, the verse highlights **Profound Irony**, as those who should have been the first to recognize and welcome their King instead condemn Him, declaring allegiance to the very power that oppressed them, echoing the fickle nature of human loyalty seen earlier in the triumphal entry ([John 12:13](/john/12-13 "John 12:13 - Jesus' Triumphal Entry")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **cried out (Greek, _kraugázō'_):** From Strong's G2905, meaning "to clamor." This word signifies a loud, insistent, and often tumultuous shouting. It conveys not merely a request but a vehement, demanding outcry, indicative of the crowd's intense and aggressive disposition, fueled by the chief priests. It suggests a mob mentality, a collective roar demanding a specific outcome, overriding any semblance of judicial process or reason.
* **crucify (Greek, _stauróō'_):** From Strong's G4717, meaning "to impale on the cross; figuratively, to extinguish (subdue) passion or selfishness." This term refers to the brutal Roman method of execution. The repeated demand to "crucify him" underscores the extreme and violent nature of their desire for Jesus' death, a death reserved for the worst criminals and rebels, thereby seeking to utterly disgrace and annihilate Him.
* **King (Greek, _basileús'_):** From Strong's G935, meaning "a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)." This word is central to the conflict. Pilate's question, "Shall I crucify your King?", directly challenges their national and religious identity. The chief priests' denial of Jesus as King and their affirmation of Caesar is a pivotal moment, revealing their rejection of God's anointed ruler in favor of an earthly, pagan authority, effectively disavowing their Messianic hope.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him."**: This clause captures the escalating intensity of the crowd's demand, orchestrated by the religious leaders. The repetition of "Away with him" (Greek, _Airon! Airon!_) emphasizes their fervent and violent desire for Jesus' removal and execution. This is not a reasoned argument but a passionate, unified clamor for His death by crucifixion, the most humiliating and painful form of Roman capital punishment.
* **"Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King?"**: Pilate's question is laden with **irony** and a final attempt to appeal to the Jewish leaders' national identity and perhaps to provoke a moment of reflection. He highlights the absurdity of their demand to crucify one who, by their own traditions, could be their rightful King, implicitly challenging their loyalty and their understanding of the Messiah. It is a desperate probe, testing the limits of their animosity.
* **"The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar."**: This is the shocking and definitive declaration that seals Jesus' fate. Coming from the religious leaders of the Jewish people, it represents a profound theological and political capitulation. They explicitly reject their Messianic hope and their unique covenantal relationship with God, who was truly their King, in favor of allegiance to the Roman emperor. This statement is a calculated political maneuver, designed to force Pilate's hand by framing Jesus as a seditious threat to Roman authority, thus making His release an act of treason.

#### Literary Devices
The passage is rich with **Irony**, particularly **Dramatic Irony**. Pilate's question, "Shall I crucify your King?", is deeply ironic, as he unknowingly points to Jesus' true identity as the King of Kings, even as the Jewish leaders reject Him. The chief priests' declaration, "We have no king but Caesar," is a profound **Verbal Irony**, as these religious leaders, who longed for liberation from Roman rule, publicly pledge ultimate allegiance to their oppressor, denying their heritage and their true Messiah. The **Repetition** of "Away with him, away with him" serves to emphasize the vehemence and unified hatred of the crowd, building dramatic tension. There is also a strong **Contrast** between Pilate's attempt to release Jesus and the chief priests' relentless demand for His death, and between the spiritual kingship of Jesus and the earthly, political kingship of Caesar.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 19:15 stands as a stark testament to humanity's capacity to reject divine truth and choose worldly power. The chief priests' declaration, "We have no king but Caesar," is a profound act of apostasy, a renunciation of their covenantal relationship with God, who had always been Israel's true King. This moment highlights the core conflict between God's kingdom and the kingdoms of this world, and the tragic consequences when religious authority prioritizes political expediency over spiritual fidelity. It underscores the theme of rejection that permeates Jesus' ministry, culminating in His crucifixion, yet paradoxically paving the way for His ultimate enthronement as the true King.

* [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Despised and Rejected"): "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
* [John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - My Kingdom Is Not of This World"): "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
* [Psalm 2:2](/psalms/2-2 "Psalm 2:2 - Kings of the Earth Take Counsel Together"): "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying..."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This pivotal scene in John 19:15 serves as a powerful mirror, challenging us to honestly examine the allegiances of our own hearts. The chief priests, despite their religious position, chose worldly power and political security over acknowledging and submitting to their rightful King. Their declaration, "We have no king but Caesar," is a chilling reminder of how easily we can substitute earthly authorities, personal ambitions, or cultural pressures for the supreme authority of Jesus Christ. True discipleship calls for an unwavering confession of Jesus as Lord and King, not merely in word but in the daily priorities and decisions of our lives. When faced with choices that pit the values of the world against the commands of Christ, where do our loyalties truly lie? This passage compels us to consider whether our actions consistently reflect the truth that Jesus alone reigns as King in our lives, even when such allegiance is unpopular, inconvenient, or costly.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Caesars" (worldly powers, comforts, or ambitions) might I be tempted to prioritize over Christ in my own life?**
* **In what ways might I, like the chief priests, reject or diminish Jesus' kingship through my choices or attitudes?**
* **How can my daily life more fully demonstrate that Jesus Christ is truly my ultimate King and authority?**

### FAQ
**Why did the chief priests say, "We have no king but Caesar," when they longed for freedom from Roman rule?**

Answer: The chief priests' declaration was a calculated political maneuver rather than a genuine expression of loyalty to Caesar. They deeply resented Roman occupation and longed for a Messiah who would liberate them. However, at this moment, their primary goal was to secure Jesus' execution. By declaring "We have no king but Caesar," they were strategically framing Jesus as a rival king to the Roman emperor, thereby accusing Him of sedition and treason. This put immense pressure on Pilate, as releasing someone accused of such a crime would be seen as an act of disloyalty to Rome, potentially jeopardizing Pilate's own position. Their statement was a cynical sacrifice of their national and spiritual identity for the sake of maintaining their own power and eliminating Jesus, whom they perceived as a threat to their authority and traditions. This desperate act revealed the depth of their spiritual blindness and their willingness to compromise truth for political expediency.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound rejection of Jesus' kingship in [John 19:15](/john/19-15 "John 19:15 - No King But Caesar") paradoxically sets the stage for the ultimate demonstration of His true reign. Though humanity, represented by the chief priests, denied Him and demanded His crucifixion, Jesus' death was not a defeat but a sovereign act of God's redemptive plan. The very cross upon which He was impaled became His throne, from which He conquered sin and death. His kingdom, as He told Pilate, was "not of this world" ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - My Kingdom Is Not of This World")), yet it is a kingdom that transcends all earthly powers and will endure forever. The chief priests' declaration that they had "no king but Caesar" highlights the tragic irony that they rejected the very One who would ultimately be revealed as the "King of kings, and Lord of lords" ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")). Through His resurrection and ascension, Jesus was enthroned at the right hand of God, receiving "a name which is above every name" ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Jesus Exalted Above Every Name")), proving that His kingship, though rejected by men, is eternal, universal, and utterly supreme.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 23:18

And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this [man], and release unto us Barabbas:

Acts 22:22

¶ And they gave him audience unto this word, and [then] lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a [fellow] from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

Acts 21:36

For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.

John 19:6

When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify [him], crucify [him]. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify [him]: for I find no fault in him.

Genesis 49:10

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be].

Ezekiel 21:26

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this [shall] not [be] the same: exalt [him that is] low, and abase [him that is] high.

Ezekiel 21:27

I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no [more], until he come whose right it is; and I will give it [him].