Since Judaea had been reduced to a Roman province, on the deposition of Archelaus, in the year 7 of our era, the Jewish authorities had lost the _jus gladii_, which the Romans always reserved to themselves in the provinces incorporated with the empire. Perhaps, as Langen concludes, with some probabi... [ Continue Reading ]
2 _d. The Civil Judgment: Luke 23:1-25_. Here we have the description, on the one hand, of the series of manoeuvres used by the Jews to obtain from Pilate the execution of the sentence, and on the other, of the series of Pilate's expedients, or counter-manoeuvres, to get rid of the case which was fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke alone relates this remarkable circumstance. By this step the clever Roman gained two ends at once. First he got rid of the business which was imposed on him, and then he took the first step toward a reconciliation with Herod (Luke 23:12). The cause of their quarrel had probably been some confli... [ Continue Reading ]
Not having succeeded in this way, Pilate finds himself reduced to seek another expedient. Two present themselves to his mind: first, the offer to chastise Jesus, that is to say, to scourge Him; then the proposition to release Him as a pardoned malefactor, according to the custom of the feast. The pe... [ Continue Reading ]
This manoeuvre having failed, Pilate returns to the expedient on which he reckons most; he will try to satisfy the anger of the most infuriated, and to excite the pity of those who are yet capable of this feeling, by a beginning of punishment. The real contents of the declaration announced by the πρ... [ Continue Reading ]
1 _st. Luke 23:26-32_. The punishment required to be inflicted outside the city (Lev 24:14); it was the type of exclusion from human society (Hebrews 13). John 19:17 informs us that Jesus went out of the city bearing His cross Himself, according to custom (Matthew 10:38). But we are left in ignoranc... [ Continue Reading ]
We divide this piece into three parts: the way to the cross (Luke 23:26-32); the crucifixion (Luke 23:33-38); the time passed on the cross (39-46).... [ Continue Reading ]
2 _d. Luke 23:33-38_. Is the spot where Jesus was crucified that which is shown for it at the present day in the enclosure of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre? The question does not seem yet decided. Though this place is now within the city enclosure, it might not have been so then. The name _place... [ Continue Reading ]
3 _d. Luke 23:39-46_. Matthew and Mark ascribe the same jestings to the _two_ thieves. The partisans of harmony at any price think that they both began with blasphemy, and that one of them afterwards came to himself. In any case, it must be assumed that Matthew and Mark did not know this change of m... [ Continue Reading ]
THIRD CYCLE: CLOSE OF THE ACCOUNT OF THE PASSION, LUKE 23:47-56. Vers. 47-49. These verses describe the immediate effects of our Lord's death, first on the Roman centurion (Luke 23:47), then on the people (Luke 23:48), lastly on the followers of Jesus (Luke 23:49). Mark says of the centurion: _Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Burial of Jesus._ According to John, the Jewish authorities requested Pilate to have the bodies removed before the beginning of the next day, which was a Sabbath of extraordinary solemnity. For though Jesus and His companions in punishment were not yet dead, and though the law Deu 21:22 did no... [ Continue Reading ]
VERS. 55, 56. The embalming of Jesus having been done in haste, the women proposed to complete it. This same evening, therefore, they prepared the odoriferous herbs (ἀρώματα) and the perfumed oils (μύρα) necessary for the purpose; and the hour of the Sabbath being come, they rested. Once more, what... [ Continue Reading ]