John 19:1

CHAPTER XIX.

Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns, and mocked by the

soldiers, 1-3.

He to brought forth by Pilate, wearing the purple robe; and the

Jews clamour for his death, 4-8.

Conversation between our Lord and Pilate, 9-11.

Pilate expostulates with the Jews on their barbarous demands;

but they become more inveterate, and he delivers Christ into

their hands, 12-16.

He, bearing his cross, is led to Golgotha, and crucified, 17-22.

The soldiers cast lots for his raiment, 23, 24.

Jesus commends his mother to the care of John, 25-27.

Jesus thirsts, receives vinegar, and dies, 28-30.

The Jews request that the legs of those who were crucified might

be broken; the soldiers break those of the two thieves, and

pierce the side of Christ; the Scriptures fulfilled in these

acts, 31-37.

Joseph of Arimathea begs the body of Christ; and Nicodemus

brings spices to embalm it, 38-40.

He is laid in a new sepulchre, 41, 42.

NOTES ON CHAP. XIX.

Verse John 19:1. Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him.] That is, caused him to be scourged: for we cannot with Bede suppose that he scourged him with his own hand.

As our Lord was scourged by order of Pilate, it is probable he was scourged in the Roman manner, which was much more severe than that of the Jews. The latter never gave more than thirty-nine blows; for the law had absolutely forbidden a man to be abused, or his flesh cut in this chastisement, Deuteronomy 25:3. The common method of whipping or flogging in some places, especially that of a military kind, is a disgrace to the nation where it is done, to the laws, and to humanity. See Matthew 27:26, and the note there. Though it was customary to scourge the person who was to be crucified, yet it appears that Pilate had another end in view by scourging our Lord. He hoped that this would have satisfied the Jews, and that he might then have dismissed Jesus. This appears from Luke 23:16.