_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 27:2. PONTIUS PILATE.—Must have belonged, by birth or adoption, to the _gens_ of the Pontii, one of whom, C. Pontius Telesinus, had been the leader of the Samnites in their second and third wars against Rome, B.C. 321–292. The cognomen Pilatus means “armed with the _pilum_ o... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 27:11. TIE GOVERNOR ASKED HIM.—Pilate, true to the Roman sense of justice, refused merely to confirm the sentence of the Sanhedrin (_Carr_). Matthew 27:16. BARABBAS.—“Son of Abba,” _i.e_. Son of Father (so-and-so). The name would originally be given to one who was the son... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 27:27. THE COMMON HALL.—Literally, the _Prætorium_, a word which, applied originally to the tent of the prætor, or general, and so to the headquarters of the camp, had come to be used with a somewhat wide range of meaning, (1) for the residence of a prince or governor; or... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 27:35. THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED, ETC.—Omitted in R.V. It ought not to be questioned that the words were interpolated by the copyists, from John 19:24 (_Scrivener_). Matthew 27:36. THEY WATCHED HIM THERE.—See R.V. They remained on guard over Him. Matthew 27:37. HIS ACCUS... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 27:45. FROM THE SIXTH HOUR.—The first three Gospels agree as to time and fact. Assuming them to follow the usual Jewish reckoning (as in Acts 2:15; Acts 3:1; Acts 10:3; Acts 10:9) this would be noon. St. John names the “sixth hour” as the time of our Lord’s final condemnatio... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 27:57. EVEN.—The first or early evening. See Deuteronomy 21:23; Jos., _B. J_., IV. Matthew 27:2. ARIMATHÆA.—Generally identified’ with Ramathaim-zophim, on Mount Ephraim, the birth-place of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1), the site of which is not certainly known. JOSEPH.—A member of... [ Continue Reading ]