I give you charge in the sight of God, who brings all things to life, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Under Pontius Pilate Some expound it of the words and particular testimony Christ gave when he said he was king, but not of this world, who came to teach the truth. We may rather understand it with others, of all Christ taught and suffered under Pilate, or whilst he was governor of Judea. (Witham)
Again he calls God to witness, as he had done a little before, at once to increase his disciple's awe, and to secure his safety, and to show that these were not human commandments, that receiving the commandment as from the Lord Himself, and ever bearing in mind the Witness before Whom he heard it, he may have it more fearfully impressed upon his mind.
I charge you, he says, before God, Who quickens all things.
Here is at once consolation in the dangers which awaited him, and a remembrance of the resurrection awakened in him.
And before Jesus Christ, Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession.
The exhortation again is derived from the example of his Master, and what he means is this; as He had done, so ought you to do, for for this cause He witnessed 1 Peter 2:21, that we might tread in His steps.
A good confession. What he does in his Epistle to the Hebrews,— Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him end...
And also of that precept of which he says, "I charge thee in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Jesus Christ who witnessed a good confession under Pontius Pilate, that thou keep this commandment? "
