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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Athanasius of Alexandria
Now our Lord being truly the Saviour, wished not by saving Himself, but by saving His creatures, to be acknowledged the Saviour. For neither is a physician by healing himself known to be a physician, unless he also gives proof of his skill towards the sick. So the Lord being the Saviour had no need of salvation, nor by descending from the cross did He wish to be acknowledged the Saviour, but by dying. For truly a much greater salvation does the death of the Saviour bring to men, than the descent from the cross.
Theophylact of Ohrid
For, what must one conclude about the common people, when their rulers were mocking? This is the devil speaking through them. Just as on the pinnacle of the temple (Luke 4:9), so also here he says this, envying the salvation through the cross and desiring by every possible cunning to prevent it.
Justin Martyr
But when He says, 'I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people,' He prophesied the things which do exist, and which happen to Him. For we who believe on Him are everywhere a reproach, 'despised of the people;' for, rejected and dishonoured by your nation, He suffered those indignities which you planned against Him. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
Having mentioned the rulers, and said nothing of the priests, St. Luke comprehended under a general name all the chief men, so that hereby may be understood both the scribes and the elders.
Bede
And the rulers mocked him, along with them saying: He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ, the chosen one of God. Even unwillingly, the rulers and people of the Jews confess that he saved others. Therefore, your own sentence condemns you. For he who saved others could indeed save himself if he wished. "Let him save himself," they say, "if he is the Christ, the chosen one of God." On the contrary, he did not want to save himself by descending from the cross precisely because he is the chosen one of God. …
Bonaventure
Fifth, with respect to the malice of the rulers insulting him, he adds: And the people stood watching, and the rulers with them derided him, and thus was fulfilled that word of the Psalm: "All who saw me derided me, they spoke with their lips and shook their head"; and Job twelve: "The simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn. A lamp despised in the thoughts of the rich," namely, of the chief priests. …
Translation