_Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him_ The Romans usually scourged the criminals whom they condemned to be crucified, which was the reason why Pilate ordered our Lord to be scourged before he delivered him up to suffer that punishment. See note on Matthew 27:26. _And the soldiers platted a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pilate went forth again_ Although he had given sentence that it should be as the Jews desired, and had delivered Jesus to the soldiers, to be scourged and crucified, he thought, if he were shown to the people in the condition in which he now was, covered with blood and wounds through the scourges,... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid_ He before feared to shed innocent blood, and now he became more afraid than ever to take his life; suspecting, probably, that the account which he heard of him might be true, and that he might be a divine person. For doubtless he had heard of s... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Pilate heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth_ Brought him out of the palace a second time; _and sat down in the judgment-seat_ On the tribunal which was then erected without the palace; _in a place that was called_, in Greek, λιθοστρωτον, _the Pavement_ So called on account of a beautiful... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then delivered he him_ Having now laid aside all thoughts of saving Jesus, Pilate gave him up to the will of his enemies, and commanded the soldiers to prepare for his execution. _And they took Jesus, and led him away_ After they had insulted and abused him, as is related Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Pilate wrote a title_, &c. The governor, as usual, put a title or writing on the cross, signifying the crime for which Jesus was condemned. This writing probably was in black characters on a whitened board. _And the writing was_, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS Here, as Bengelius has ob... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus_ That is, erected the cross with him upon it; they _took his garments, and made four parts_, &c. Because four soldiers only are mentioned in the division of the clothes, it does not follow that only four were present at the crucifixion. Since, if sol... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now_ While Jesus, hanging on the cross, suffered all manner of insults and sorrows; _there stood by the cross his mother_ “Neither her own danger, nor the sadness of the spectacle, nor the reproaches and insults of the people, could restrain her from performing the last office of duty and tendernes... [ Continue Reading ]
_After this_ After what is related above; and after other events recorded by the other evangelists, such as the three hours supernatural darkness, and the doleful exclamation of Jesus, _Eloi, Eloi,_ &c., of which see notes on Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; _Jesus, knowing that all things_ All the grievo... [ Continue Reading ]
_That the bodies should not remain on the cross_ It was customary among the Romans to let the bodies of persons who had been executed continue on the crosses, or stakes, till they were devoured by birds or beasts of prey. But the law of Moses expressly prohibited the Jews from suffering the bodies o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly_ Because he durst not openly profess his faith in him; _for fear of the Jews _ And their rulers, who were so strongly prejudiced against him. This man, acknowledging Christ even when his chosen disciples forsook him, _besought Pilate that... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then_ To prepare for his interment; _they took the body of Jesus_ Without regarding the reproach to which it might expose them; _and wound it in linen clothes_ Wrapped it in a great many folds of linen; _with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury_ Or rather, _to embalm_, for the proper m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now in the place where he was crucified_ In the same tract of land; _there was a garden_ But the cross did not stand in the garden; _and in the garden a sepulchre_ Which happened very commodiously for his immediate interment. By the circumstance of the sepulchre's being “nigh to the place where Jes... [ Continue Reading ]