PETER charges the crucifixion on the Jews. But the Jews only instigated it; the Romans, who were Gentiles, executed him. The Jews were the more responsible party, as they persisted in clamoring for his crucifixion, when Pilate, the Roman judge wanted to let him go. The Jews premeditated, designed and instigated the crucifixion; the Romans performed the deed, or were tools in the hands of the Jews and executed the will of the Jews.
But when the matter is more fully comprehended the whole world were represented in the transaction. The entire nation of Israel was represented in the Sandhedrim, and the nations, apart from the Jews, the Gentiles, were represented in the Roman court, and thus all the world was represented and implicated in the awful act of crucifying the Lord of glory.
The Jews were, as we have said, the instigators of the crucifixion, but did not, therefore, have the sole responsibility, as the Gentiles, or the Roman court, had the power to release him and desired to do so, but voluntarily yielded to the wishes of the Jews in giving him up to be crucified, and with their own hands executed him. The Jews had no power to inflict capital punishment without the assent of the Roman court. The Jews were the instigators and the Romans the willing tools to execute their will.