Pontius Pilate, whether out of a genuine concern for justice or a sardonic resistance to the Jews' petty politics, desired to free Christ. However, lacking the necessary moral strength, he ultimately handed Christ over to the garrison for crucifixion, but not before symbolically washing his hands of the matter. Matthew records that at this moment, all the people answered and said, 'His blood be on us and on our children.' This phrase likely refers to the rabble, incited by the Temple leaders, who acted in accordance with what God had ordained from the foundation of the world. In the execution of God's plan, both Gentile and Jew played a role.

Peter's sermon in Acts 2 confronts the men of Israel with their role in crucifying Jesus of Nazareth, the One attested by God through miracles and delivered according to divine counsel. The apostle declares that they took Him by lawless hands, crucified Him, and put Him to death. When Peter announces that God has made this Jesus both Lord and Christ, the listeners are cut to the heart. Their guilt stems from the realization that they have committed deicide, the killing of their own God, Savior, Messiah, and King. The same crowd that had cried out for Barabbas and demanded crucifixion now recognizes the enormity of having slain the very One they had long expected to worship. This awareness of having murdered their Redeemer produces an overwhelming sense of condemnation that prompts the urgent question, "What shall we do?" Peter responds by directing them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins so they may receive the Holy Spirit. In this way the text presents deicide as the gravest expression of human sin, one that God sovereignly uses to awaken profound guilt and thereby draw people to the only remedy available: forgiveness through the very Savior they had rejected.