John 18:30
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
They answered and said to him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to you.
American King James Version (AKJV)
They answered and said to him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to you.
American Standard Version (ASV)
They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
They said to him in answer, If the man was not a wrongdoer we would not have given him up to you.
Webster's Revision
They answered and said to him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to thee.
World English Bible
They answered him, "If this man weren't an evildoer, we wouldn't have delivered him up to you."
English Revised Version (ERV)
They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evil-doer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee.
Definitions for John 18:30
Clarke's John 18:30 Bible Commentary
If he were not a malefactor - So they did not wish to make Pilate the judge, but the executor of the sentence which they had already illegally passed.
Barnes's John 18:30 Bible Commentary
If he were not a malefactor - A violator of the law. If we had not determined that he was such, and was worthy of death, Matthew 26:66. From this it appears that they did not deliver him up to be tried, but hoped that Pilate would at once, give sentence that he should be executed according to their request. It is probable that in ordinary cases the Roman governor was not accustomed to make very strict inquiry into the justice of the sentence. The Jewish Sanhedrin tried causes and pronounced sentence, and the sentence was usually approved by the governor; but in this case Pilate, evidently contrary to their expectations, proceeded himself to rehear and retry the cause. He had doubtless heard of the miracles of Jesus. He seems to have been strongly pre-possessed with the belief of his innocence. He knew that they had delivered him from mere envy Matthew 27:18, and hence, he inquired of them the nature of the case, and the kind of charge which they expected to substantiate against him.