I think I’m going to wait to see “The Passion of the Christ” on DVD so I can get the extra 15 minutes director’s cut of the scourging scenes. Anyway, I read a handful of reviews making the same criticism of the movie that goes something like this — Gibson’s film portrays the Jewish priests as the prime movers behind Jesus’ death and portrays Pontius Pilate as a passive, if not helpless, actor in the whole affair.
I haven’t seen the movie so I have no idea if this is an accurate summary of the film, but I’d really like to know how this could possibly be construed as a criticism of Gibson’s film. Haven’t these reviewers read Matthew 27?
15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.