John 19:15

They [ο ι]. The best texts read ejkeinoi, those (people). The pronoun of remote reference isolates and sharply distinguishes them from Jesus. See on 13 27.

Away with him [α ρ ο ν]. Literally, take away.

We have no king but Caesar. These words, uttered by the chief priests, are very significant. These chief representatives of the theocratic government of Israel thus formally and expressly renounce it, and declare their allegiance to a temporal and pagan power. This utterance is "the formal abdication of the Messianic hope."

16 - 17. Compare Matthew 27:31-34; Mark 14:20-23; Luke 23:26-33.