Matthew 27:1
Matthew 27:1. THE SECOND AND FORMAL MEETING OF THE SANHEDRIN St Mark 15:1; St Luke 22:66-71; not mentioned by St John.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 27:1. THE SECOND AND FORMAL MEETING OF THE SANHEDRIN St Mark 15:1; St Luke 22:66-71; not mentioned by St John.... [ Continue Reading ]
אBL, several Versions and Fathers omit Ποντίῳ before Πιλάτῳ. The majority of MSS. give both names. Josephus generally has Πιλᾶτος only. 2. THE DELIVERY TO PONTIUS PILATE St Mark 15:1; St Luke 23:1; St John 18:28; ‘then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of Judgment (or _Prætorium_), and it... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REMORSE OF JUDAS. HE RETURNS THE SILVER SHEKELS. THE USE MADE OF THEM Peculiar to St Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἸΔῺΝ ὍΤΙ Κ.Τ.Λ. It has been argued from these words that Judas had not expected this result of his treachery. He had hoped that Jesus would by a mighty manifestation of His divine power usher in at once the Kingdom whose coming was too long delayed. The whole tenour of the narrative, however, contra... [ Continue Reading ]
ὌΨΗΙ has far higher authority than ὄψει. The Ionic termination of 2nd person in -ῃ was the usual form in late Attic, but the older termination in -ει was retained in three verbs—βούλει—οἴει—ὄψει, even after -ῃ became common in other instances, hence the variation in the MSS. 4. ἈΘΩ͂ΙΟΝ, ‘innocent,’... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ΤῸΝ ΝΑῸΝ for ἐν τῷ ναῷ (אBL). In favour of ἐν τ. ν. AC and many uncials. The variation and evenly-balanced evidence is another proof of the close relationship between εἰς and ἐν. If εἰς τ. ν. be the true reading a very early copyist finds ἐν τ. ν. to be more intelligible or more natural. 5. ΕἸΣ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ΤῸΝ ΚΟΡΒΑΝΑ͂Ν. For the prohibition cp. Deuteronomy 23:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸΝ�.Τ.Λ. Tradition places _Aceldama_ (Acts 1:19) in the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem. The Athenians also had their κεραμεικός, the Potters’ Quarter, in the most beautiful suburb of their city, where the illustrious dead were buried. ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΞΈΝΟΙΣ. i.e. for the Jews of the dispersion, Hellen... [ Continue Reading ]
ἝΩΣ ΤΗ͂Σ ΣΉΜΕΡΟΝ (ἩΜΈΡΑΣ). Cp. Latin, ‘hodierno die,’ Cic. _Cat._ III. 9. 21, and frequently.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ῬΗΘῈΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. The citation is from Zechariah 11:12, but neither the Hebrew nor the LXX. version is followed exactly. The Hebrew literally translated is: “And Jehovah said to me, ‘Cast it into the treasury;’ a goodly price that I was prised at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and ca... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣῪ ΕἾ Ὁ ΒΑΣΙΛΕῪΣ Κ.Τ.Λ.; The answer of Jesus to this question, and His explanation to Pilate of the Kingdom of God are given at length, John 18:33-37; observe especially that the servants of the kingdom would fight, if they fought at all, not against Rome but against Israel who had rejected the Mess... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRIAL BEFORE PONTIUS PILATE St Mark 15:2-15; St Luke 23:2-5; Luke 23:13-24; St John 18:29 to John 19:16 St Luke states the threefold charge most clearly: ‘We found this [fellow] (1) perverting the nation; (2) and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar; (3) saying that he himself is Christ a King.’... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΕΚΡΊΝΑΤΟ. 1 aor. mid. for the more usual 1 aor. passive. Of this form four instances occur in the Synoptic gospels, three in the parallel accounts of the Passion, the fourth Luke 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
Note the emphatic position of λίαν. Reserve during his trial was the last thing that Pilate’s experience had led him to expect from a Jew.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΟΛΎΕΙΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. The origin of this custom is quite unknown; St Mark says, ‘as he had ever done unto them,’ as if the custom originated with Pilate; St Luke has, ‘of necessity he must release;’ St John, ‘Ye have a custom.’ No trace of this custom is found in the Talmud. But the release of prisoners... [ Continue Reading ]
Origen notes that in some Codices Ἰησοῦν was read before λεγόμενον in this verse and before Βαραββᾶν in the next. There is, however, no good evidence for the insertion, and (as Tregelles remarks) Matthew 27:20; Matthew 27:26 are fatal to it. Possibly, according to the same critic, the reading arose... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΥΝΗΓΜΈΝΩΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. In accordance, probably, with the custom named, Matthew 27:15, an appeal was made to the _people_, not to the Sanhedrin. Pilate was sitting on the tribunal to ascertain the popular decision; at this point he was interrupted by his wife’s messengers, and while he was engaged with th... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠῚ ΤΟΥ͂ ΒΉΜΑΤΟΣ. The βῆμα, or _tribunal_, was generally a raised platform in the Basilica or court where the judges sat; here a portable tribunal, from which the sentence was pronounced; it was placed on a tesselated pavement called Gabbatha (John 19:13). Ἡ ΓΥΝῊ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. Claudia Procula or Procla:... [ Continue Reading ]
ἽΝΑ ΑἸΤΉΣΩΝΤΑΙ Κ.Τ.Λ. St Peter brings out the full meaning of this choice: ‘ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life’ (Acts 3:14-15). They saved the murderer, and slew the Saviour.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΊΝΑ ΘΈΛΕΤΕ Κ.Τ.Λ.; Once more the question is put to the people (see Matthew 27:17). His wife’s message had made Pilate anxious to acquit Jesus. But the very form of the question implied condemnation. Jesus was classed with Barabbas in the category of condemned prisoners.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΊ ΟΥ̓͂Ν ΠΟΙΉΣΩ ΤῸΝ ἸΗΣΟΥ͂Ν; ποιεῖν has the classical construction τι τινὰ (instead of the usual τι τινί) here only for certain. In the parallel passage, Mark 15:12, the reading of Lachm. and Treg. (ὃν λέγετε _om_.) gives another instance, and the reading of Tisch. is not inconsistent with this cons... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἹ ΔῈ ΠΕΡΙΣΣΩ͂Σ Κ.Τ.Λ. There is no further question even of a show of legality or justice: the traditional clemency is quite forgotten; the fanatical crowd, pressing round the doors of the Prætorium, which they cannot enter, join with excited gesticulation in one loud and furious cry for the blood o... [ Continue Reading ]
ἸΔῺΝ ΔῈ Κ.Τ.Λ. St Luke relates a further attempt on Pilate’s part to release Jesus, ‘I will chastise Him and let Him go’ (Luke 23:22). Will not the cruel torture of a Roman scourging melt their hearts? St John, at still greater length, narrates the struggle in Pilate’s mind between his sense of just... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ΑἿΜΑ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂ Κ.Τ.Λ. Also peculiar to Matthew. St Peter finds as the sole excuse for his fellow countrymen, ‘I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers’ (Acts 3:17). The prayer of Jesus on the cross for his murderers was meant for these as well as for the Roman soldiers.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΦΡΑΓΕΛΛΏΣΑΣ. Here and Mark 15:15, from Latin ‘_flagello_.’ Scourging usually preceded crucifixion. It was in itself a cruel and barbarous torture, under which the victim often perished.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἹ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩ͂ΤΑΙ ΤΟΥ͂ ἩΓΕΜΌΝΟΣ. The Procurator’s body-guard as opposed to ὅλην τὴν σπειραν. ΤῸ ΠΡΑΙΤΏΡΙΟΝ meant originally (1) the general’s tent; (2) it was then used for the residence of the governor or prince, cp. Acts 23:35; (3) then for an official Roman villa or country house; (4) barracks espe... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS IS MOCKED BY THE ROMAN SOLDIERS Mark 15:16-19; John 19:1-3 St Luke, who records the mockery of Herod’s soldiers, makes no mention of these insults on the part of the Roman guard.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΧΛΑΜΎΔΑ ΚΟΚΚΊΝΗΝ. A soldier’s scarf, Lat. _chlamys_: it was generally worn by superior officers, but its use was not confined to them. This may have been a worn-out scarf belonging to Pilate; it is different from ἐσθῆτα λαμπράν, (Luke 23:11), which Herod’s soldiers put on Jesus. Scarlet was the prop... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ΔΕΞΙΑ͂Ι for ἐπὶ τὴν δεξιάν. 29. ΣΤΈΦΑΝΟΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. It cannot be ascertained what especial kind of thorn was used. The soldiers, as Bp. Ellicott remarks, would take what first came to hand, utterly careless whether it was likely to inflict pain or no. Ὁ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥ̓Σ ΤΩ͂Ν ἸΟΥΔΑΊΩΝ. Cp. ch. Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΉΓΑΓΟΝ. See note ch. Matthew 26:57. St Mark has φέρουσιν, possibly implying that Jesus through physical weakness needed support on the way to the Cross.... [ Continue Reading ]
31, 32. JESUS IS LED TO CRUCIFIXION Mark 15:20-21; Luke 23:26-32; John 19:16-17 St Luke has several particulars of what happened on the way to Golgotha, omitted in the other Gospels. The great company of people and of women who followed Him; the touching address of Jesus to the women; the last war... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΝΘΡΩΠΟΝ ΚΥΡΗΝΑΙ͂ΟΝ. (1) ‘coming out of the country’ (Mark and Luke), (2) the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark). (1) This has been thought to imply that Simon was returning from work, and hence that it cannot have been the actual day of the Feast. Simon was probably coming into the city for the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ΤΌΠΟΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. The site of Golgotha is not known for certain, but see notes to Plan of Jerusalem; it was outside the walls, but ‘nigh to the city’ (John 19:20), probably near the public road where people passed by (Matthew 27:39), it contained a garden (John 19:41). The name, which = ‘place of a s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF JESUS Mark 15:22-37; Luke 23:33-46; John 19:18-30 St Mark’s account differs little from St Matthew’s. St Luke names the mockery of the soldiers and the words of the robbers to one another and to Jesus. Three of the sayings on the cross are related by St Luke only: ‘Fath... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἾΝΟΝ for ὄξος, with the more ancient MSS. A and many uncials have the reading of the _textus receptus_. 34. ΟἾΝΟΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. ‘Wine mingled with myrrh’ (Mark). This was the ‘sour wine,’ or _posca_, ordinarily drunk by the Roman soldiers. ‘Vinum atque acetum milites nostros solere accipere: uno die vinu... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the _textus receptus_ has: ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ προφήτου· Διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον. The omission is made on quite decisive evidence, the authorities being headed by אABDL. 35. ΣΤΑΥΡΏΣΑΝΤΕΣ. From the fact of the _titulus_ or inscription... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΤΉΡΟΥΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ, fearing lest a rescue should be attempted by the friends of Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῊΝ ΑἸΤΊΑΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. It was the Roman custom to place on the cross over the criminal’s head, a _titulus_, or placard, stating the crime for which he suffered. St John records Pilate’s refusal to alter the inscription, and mentions that the title was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin. Ὁ ΒΑΣΙΛΕῪΣ ΤΩ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΎΟ ΛΗΙΣΤΑΊ, ‘Two robbers’; in all probability partners in the crime of Barabbas. The mountain robbers, or banditti, were always ready to take part in such desperate risings against the Roman power. In the eyes of the Jews they would be patriots. Josephus tells of one leader of robbers who burnt th... [ Continue Reading ]
See Psalms 22:7. This was not a Psalm of David, but was probably ‘composed by one of the exiles during the Babylonish Captivity … who would cling to the thought that he suffered not only as an individual, but as one of the chosen of God. But it has more than an individual reference. It looks forward... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΚΑΤΑΛΎΩΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. This is the mockery of the Jewish populace, who have caught up the charges brought against Jesus before the Sanhedrin. The taunts of the soldiers are named by St Luke alone: ‘If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself’ (Matthew 23:37).... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἹ�.Τ.Λ. Members of the Sanhedrin, the ‘rulers’ of Luke 23:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΛΛΟΥΣ ἜΣΩΣΕΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. These words in the original would recall the ‘hosannas’ in the Temple which had enraged the chief priests; see note, ch. Matthew 21:9. They also connect themselves with the name of Jesus (σωτήρ). ΒΑΣΙΛΕῪΣ ἸΣΡΑΉΛ. Comp. ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδ. _supra_ Matthew 27:37, and see John 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΈΠΟΙΘΕΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. See Psalms 22:8 [LXX. Matthew 21:9]: ἤλπισεν ἐπὶ Κύριον, ῥυσάσθω αὐτὸν σωσάτω αὐτὸν ὅτι θέλει αὐτόν. The chief priests unconsciously apply to the true Messiah the very words of a Messianic psalm. ΕἸ ΘΈΛΕΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ. A late construction frequent in LXX. Cp. the quotation chs. Matthew 9:1... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ Δʼ ΑΥ̓ΤῸ Κ.Τ.Λ. They would naturally catch at the thought that the deliverer failed to give deliverance. St Luke alone relates that ‘one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him … the other answering rebuked him.’ It is by no means impossible that the penitent robber may have seen and h... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΌ ΔῈ ἝΚΤΗΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. From 12 to 3 o’clock in the afternoon, the hours of the Paschal sacrifice. ΣΚΌΤΟΣ ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ Κ.Τ.Λ. Not the darkness of an eclipse, for it was the time of the Paschal full moon, but a miraculous darkness symbolic of that solemn hour, and veiling the agonies of the Son of Man, when... [ Continue Reading ]
ἨΛῚ ἨΛΊ, ΛΕΜᾺ ΣΑΒΑΧΘΑΝΕΊ; (Psalms 22:1). Sh’baktani is an Aramaic form and occurs in the Chaldee paraphrase for the Hebrew azabtani. Such quotations of the Aramaic are very valuable and interesting as evidence of the language most familiar to Jesus, and also of the reverent accuracy of the Evangelis... [ Continue Reading ]
ἩΛΊΑΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. This was probably spoken in pure mockery, not in a real belief that Jesus expected the personal reappearance of Elijah, Wetstein notes that there were tales current among the Jews of the intervention of Elijah to rescue persons from the imminent peril of death.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΛΑΒῺΝ ΣΠΌΓΓΟΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. The soldiers’ sour wine (_posca_), the reed, or hyssop stalk (John), and the sponge, were kept in readiness to quench the sufferers’ thirst.... [ Continue Reading ]
After this verse the important MSS. אBCL insert these words: ἄλλος δὲ λαβὼν λόγχην ἔνυξεν αὐτοῦ τὴν πλευράν, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὕδωρ καὶ αἷμα. Cp. John 19:34. Evidence from the Fathers points to the very early existence of this important reading, which states that the Saviour was pierced while still living... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΡΆΞΑΣ ΦΩΝΗ͂Ι ΜΕΓΆΛΗΙ. Perhaps an inarticulate cry is meant, or perhaps the sixth word from the cross, τετέλεσται. John 19:30. ἈΦΗ͂ΚΕΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. As in classical Greek, Hdt. IV. 190, φυλάσσοντες ἐπεὰν�: and Eur. _Hec._ 571, ἑπεὶ δʼ ἀφῆκε πνεῦμα. St Luke preserves the exact words, πάτερ, εἰς χεῖράς σου... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ΚΑΤΑΠΈΤΑΣΜΑ Κ.Τ.Λ. The veil meant is that which separated the holy of holies from the holy place. The rending of the veil signifies that henceforth there is free access for man to God the Father through Jesus Christ. Cp. ‘Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood... [ Continue Reading ]
EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED THE CRUCIFIXION. (1) THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE RENT; (2) THE EARTHQUAKE; (3) THE SAINTS ARISE; (4) THE CENTURION AT THE CROSS; (5) THE WATCHING OF THE WOMEN Of these, (2) and (3) are peculiar to St Matthew Mark 15:38-41; Luke 23:45; Luke 23:47-49, where the grief of the spectator... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΩ͂Ν ΚΕΚΟΙΜΗΜΈΝΩΝ ἉΓΊΩΝ. κοιμᾶσθαι twice in this gospel, here figuratively of death; ch. Matthew 28:13, of literal sleep. The figure is quite classical, as ὡς ὁ μὲν αὖθι πεσὼν κοιμήσατο χάλκεον ὕπνον, _Il._ λ. 241. Cp. the beautiful lines of Moschus, _Id._ III. 109–111: ἄμμες δʼ οἱ μεγάλοι καὶ καρτ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚ ΤΩ͂Ν ΜΝΗΜΕΊΩΝ. There were doubtless other tombs besides Joseph’s near Golgotha. ἜΓΕΡΣΙΝ, late in this sense.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΙΝΌΜΕΝΑ, BD, some cursives and Origen; for γενόμενα אACL and many other uncials. 54. ἙΚΑΤΌΝΤΑΡΧΟΣ. The centurion in command of the guard of four soldiers who watched the execution. It is interesting to think that this officer would in all probability generally be quartered in the garrison town of... [ Continue Reading ]
ἸΩΣῊΦ for Ἰωσῆ: the first is supported by א*DL, Versions and Origen, and the second by ABC, many other uncials and Fathers. 56. St Mark (Mark 15:40) specifies the group as ‘Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less (rather, _the little_) and of Joses, and Salome.’ ΜΑΡΊΑ Ἡ ΜΑΓΔΑΛΗΝΉ. Men... [ Continue Reading ]
Arimathæa is generally identified with Ramathaim-zophim, on Mount Ephraim, the birth-place of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1), the site of which is undetermined. Many authorities place it much nearer to Jerusalem than the position indicated in the map. ἸΩΣΉΦ. From the other two Synoptic Gospels we learn that... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ENTOMBMENT Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42 Matthew 27:62-66 are peculiar to St Matthew. St Mark notes the wonder of Pilate that Jesus was already dead, and the evidence of the centurion to the fact. St John mentions the co-operation of Nicodemus—like Joseph, a member of the Sanhedr... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚΈΛΕΥΣΕΝ�, after having ascertained from the centurion that Jesus was dead. Usually those who suffered crucifixion lingered for days upon the cross. By Roman law the corpse of a crucified person was not buried except by express permission of the Emperor. A concession was made in favour of the Jews,... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝΤΥΛΊΣΣΕΙΝ, an Aristophanic word, meaning, ‘to wrap or envelope closely,’ so to swathe the dead body with bandages. Cp. Acts 5:6, where συστέλλειν is used in a similar sense, and John 11:44, δεδεμένος τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὰς χεῖρας κειρίαις, καὶ ἧ ὄψις αὐτοῦ σουδαρίῳ περιδέδετο. ΣΙΝΔΌΝΙ ΚΑΘΑΡΑ͂Ι, ‘fine... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΘΗΚΕΝ ΑΥ̓ΤῸ Κ.Τ.Λ. καινῷ, ‘new,’ in the sense of not having been used. St John mentions that the tomb was ‘in a garden in the place where he was crucified’ (John 19:41). It was probably hewn out of the face of the rock near the ground (John 20:11), and the body of Jesus would lie horizontally in it... [ Continue Reading ]
Ἡ ἌΛΛΗ ΜΑΡΊΑ. The mother of James the less (or little, ὁ μικρός) and Joses (Mark 15:47). ΤΟΥ͂ ΤΆΦΟΥ. St Matthew is the only writer in the N.T. who uses the word τάφος (Romans 3:13 is a quotation): τάφος is strictly, the place where the dead is ‘laid or put away with care.’ See Curtius, _Etym._ 502.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΗ͂Ι ΔῈ ἘΠΑΎΡΙΟΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. It was after sunset on Nisan 14. The preparation (παρασκευή) was over, the Sabbath and the Paschal feast had commenced. This explanation of the somewhat unusual phrase accords with the view already taken of the Last Supper and the Passover. While Christ’s enemies were busy t... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΜΝΉΣΘΗΜΕΝ. ‘We remembered,’ it occurred to us, aorist of an action just past. ΠΛΆΝΟΣ … ΠΛΆΝΗ, ‘deceiver’ … ‘deceit.’ The relation between the two words is lost in A.V. ΜΕΤᾺ ΤΡΕΙ͂Σ Κ.Τ.Λ. For this present cp. ch. Matthew 24:41; Matthew 26:2. It appears from this that the priests and Pharisees und... [ Continue Reading ]
ΝΥΚΤΌΣ, almost certainly a gloss, with very small support. 64. ΤΩ͂Ι ΛΑΩ͂Ι. As frequently in N.T. in a special sense, the people of Israel, the Jews. ἨΓΈΡΘΗ. ‘He rose.’... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΧΕΤΕ ΚΟΥΣΤΩΔΊΑΝ. The meaning is either (1) that Pilate refuses the request; ‘Ye have a watch of your own’—(_a_) the Levitical temple guard, or more probably (_b_) a small body of soldiers whom Pilate may have already placed at their disposal—or (2) he grants it curtly and angrily, ‘Take a watch; be... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΦΡΑΓΊΣΑΝΤΕΣ. ‘The sealing was by means of a cord or string passing across the stone at the mouth of the sepulchre and fastened at either end to the rock by sealing clay’ (Alford). Cp. Daniel 6:17 : καὶ ἐσφραγίσατο ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐν τῷ δακτυλίῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ δακτυλίῳ τῶν μεγιστάνων αὐτοῦ (sc. τὸν λίθο... [ Continue Reading ]