| Matthew 27:24
| And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; having taken water, washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man: look you to it.
| Taken water. It was the custom of the ancients, when they wished to shew themselves innocent of any alleged crime, to take water and wash their hands in public. (St. Remigius) --- Because the element of water naturally signifies purity. See Virgil, Aeneid xi. ver. 718. Me bello รจ tanto digressum, et caede recenti Attractare nefas, donec me flumine vivo Abluero.
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