John 10:18

No man taketh it from me Better, Noone taketh it from Me; not even God. See on John 10:28. Two points are insisted on; (1) that the Death is entirely voluntary; (2) that both Death and Resurrection are in accordance with a commission received from the Father. Comp. -Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit" (Luke 23:46). The precise words used by the two Apostles of Christ's death bring this out very clearly; -yielded up (literally -let go") the ghost" (Matthew 27:50); -gave up the ghost" (John 19:30; see note there). The word used by S. Mark and S. Luke (-breathed His last," or -expired") is less strong. Here there is an emphasis on the pronoun; -but Ilay it down of Myself."

I have power i.e. right, authority, liberty: same word as in John 1:12; John 5:27; John 17:2; John 19:10. This authority is the commandment of the Father: and hence this passage in no way contradicts the usual N.T. doctrine that Christ was raised to life again by the Father. Acts 2:24.

This commandment have I received Better, This commandment received I, viz., at the Incarnation: the commandment to die and rise again. Comp. John 4:34; John 5:30; John 6:38.