Mat 27:24 | RWP | e4.org | Washed his hands ( απενιψατο τας χειρας ). As a last resort since the hubbub ( θορυβος ) increased because of his vacillation. The verb απονιπτω means to wash off and the middle voice means that he washed off his hands for himself as a common symbol of cleanliness and added his pious claim with a slap at them. I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man (or this blood ); see ye to it . ( Αθωιος ειμ απο του αιματος του δικαιου τουτου or του αιματος τουτου as some manuscripts have it, υμεις οψεσθε .) The Jews used this symbol ( ; ; ). Plummer doubts if Pilate said these words with a direct reference to his wife's message ( ), but I fail to see the ground for that scepticism. The so-called Gospel of Peter says that Pilate washed his hands because the Jews refused to do so.

‏ Matthew 27:24

Washed his hands ( απενιψατο τας χειρας ). As a last resort since the hubbub ( θορυβος ) increased because of his vacillation. The verb απονιπτω means to wash off and the middle voice means that he washed off his hands for himself as a common symbol of cleanliness and added his pious claim with a slap at them.

I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man (or

this blood);

see ye to it. ( Αθωιος ειμ απο του αιματος του δικαιου τουτου or του αιματος τουτου as some manuscripts have it, υμεις οψεσθε.) The Jews used this symbol (De 21:6; Ps 26:6; 73:13). Plummer doubts if Pilate said these words with a direct reference to his wife's message (26:19), but I fail to see the ground for that scepticism. The so-called Gospel of Peter says that Pilate washed his hands because the Jews refused to do so.