AND STRAIGHTWAY IN THE MORNING,.... As soon as it was break of day, or daylight appeared: THE CHIEF PRIESTS HELD A CONSULTATION WITH THE ELDERS AND SCRIBES; who were the principal men in the sanhedrim: AND THE WHOLE COUNCIL; which, on this extraordinary occasion, was convened; the result of which... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PILATE ASKED HIM, ART THOU THE KING OF THE JEWS?.... Which either he had heard before that it was said by him, and his followers; or was what the Jews now suggested to him as his crime, which they desired sentence of death might pass upon him: AND HE ANSWERING, SAID UNTO HIM, THOU SAYEST IT; wh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHIEF PRIESTS ACCUSED HIM OF MANY THINGS,.... As that he was a magician, and a blasphemer, and gave out that he was the Son of God; and that he made himself a king, and even forbad the people to give tribute to Caesar, and moved discord, sedition, and rebellion throughout the land; BUT HE A... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PILATE ASKED HIM AGAIN,.... In the presence of the chief priests, who laid so many things to his charge; for the former question was put, when Jesus and he were alone in the judgment hall, whither the Jews would not enter for fear of being defiled; see John 18:28; SAYING, ANSWEREST THOU NOTHIN... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JESUS YET ANSWERED NOTHING,.... He still continued silent, and made no defence for himself, which the governor was willing to give him an opportunity to make, and, as his friend, urged him to it: SO THAT PILATE MARVELLED; what should be the meaning of his silence, when he was so capable of defe... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW AT THAT FEAST,.... The feast of the passover, which was at that instant; see John 18:39. The Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "at every feast"; as if the following custom was used at every feast in the year, at the feasts of pentecost and tabernacles, as well as at the passove... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS ONE NAMED BARABBAS,.... A prisoner of that name at Jerusalem; WHICH LAY BOUND WITH THEM THAT HAD MADE INSURRECTION WITH HIM: he had been at the head of a seditious mob, and he and his accomplices were taken and put in prison: WHO HAD COMMITTED MURDER IN THE INSURRECTION; which may be... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE MULTITUDE CRYING ALOUD,.... The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read, and when the "multitude", or "people went up", to the place called the pavement, where the judgment seat was; and so it is read in Beza's most ancient copy; but the former reading is to be preferred: BEGAN TO DESIRE ... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PILATE ANSWERED THEM; SAYING,.... Being satisfied of the innocence of Jesus, and being willing to dismiss him: WILL YE THAT I RELEASE UNTO YOU THE KING OF THE JEWS? he who is called so; and which he either said by way of derision both of Christ, and them; or else in order to prevail upon them t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE KNEW THAT THE CHIEF PRIESTS,.... The Persic version reads in the singular, "the chief of the priests", or the high priest, Caiaphas, HAD DELIVERED HIM FOR ENVY; at his popularity through his doctrine and miracles, and not from any principle of equity and justice, or from any regard to Caesar... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE CHIEF PRIESTS MOVED THE PEOPLE,.... Greatly solicited and persuaded them, both in person, and by their officers they employed, and dispersed among them, to make use of arguments with them to prevail upon them: THAT HE SHOULD RATHER RELEASE BARABBAS UNTO THEM; than Jesus of Nazareth; choosin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PILATE ANSWERED AND SAID AGAIN UNTO THEM,.... Being astonished that they should ask the release of such an infamous person; and being very desirous of saving Jesus: WHAT WILL YE THEN THAT I SHALL DO UNTO HIM, WHOM YE CALL THE KING OF THE JEWS? at least many of you; would you have me put him to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CRIED OUT AGAIN, CRUCIFY HIM. For they had cried so once before, though Matthew and Mark relate it not, yet Luke does, Luke 23:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PILATE SAID UNTO THEM,.... The third time, Luke 23:22; WHY, WHAT EVIL HATH HE DONE? worthy of death. They had charged him with many things, but proved nothing against him. Pilate could find no fault in him, and judged him an innocent person, and therefore was loth to condemn him: AND THEY CR... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO PILATE, WILLING TO CONTENT THE PEOPLE,.... To satisfy and make them easy, who were become very noisy and tumultuous, and fearing the consequences of their resentment, should he not comply, of which he had formerly had experience; therefore to humour them, and keep in their favour, after he ha... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SOLDIERS LED HIM AWAY INTO THE HALL,.... From the place called the pavement, where was the judge's bench, from which he passed sentence on Christ, to a large room, CALLED THE PRAETORIUM, or judgment hall; being the hall, or room, where the praetor, or Roman magistrate, kept his court of jud... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CLOTHED HIM WITH PURPLE,.... Matthew calls it a "scarlet" robe; and the Persic version here renders it a "red garment": it was of a colour resembling purple; it was pretty near it, and therefore so called; which is what kings were used to wear; and so in derision of him, as a king, clothed... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEGAN TO SALUTE HIM, HAIL, KING OF THE JEWS!] In a mock way, wishing him long life and prosperity, as if he was a king just come to his throne, and this was his coronation day.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SMOTE HIM ON THE HEAD WITH A REED,.... Or cane, a walking stick which they had put into his hands for a sceptre: this they took out again, and struck him on the head with it, which drove the sharp pointed thorns into his temples: AND DID SPIT UPON HIM; "upon his face", as the Syriac, Arabi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD MOCKED HIM,.... To their satisfaction, and had had enough of this sort of diversion: THEY TOOK OFF THE PURPLE FROM HIM; and so, in their way, unkinged him; AND PUT HIS OWN CLOTHES ON HIM: both that he might be known to be the same person; and that the four soldiers, who had the c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY COMPEL ONE SIMON A CYRENIAN,.... Matthew 27:32; WHO PASSED BY; as they were leading Jesus to be crucified: COMING OUT OF THE COUNTRY; from some country village hard by, according to the Syriac, and Vulgate Latin versions; or out of the field, as the Persic and Ethiopic: he might have bee... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY BRING HIM UNTO THE PLACE, GOLGOTHA,.... A famous, or rather an infamous one, well known, and much noted for the many executions there: WHICH IS, BEING INTERPRETED, THE PLACE OF A SKULL; because the skulls of men that had been executed and buried there, being dug up again, lay scattered abo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY GAVE HIM TO DRINK WINE MINGLED WITH MYRRH,.... Wine mingled with frankincense was what was usually given by the Jews to persons going to die w: "he that goes to be executed they mix for him, בכוס של יין קורט של לבונה, "a grain of frankincense in a cup of wine", that his mind may be distur... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD CRUCIFIED HIM,.... Had fastened him to the cross, and reared it up, and he was hanging upon it: THEY PARTED HIS GARMENTS, CASTING LOTS UPON THEM, WHAT EVERY MAN SHOULD TAKE. This last clause, "what every man should take", is left out in the Arabic version. His garments they divide... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS THE THIRD HOUR, AND THEY CRUCIFIED HIM. The time of the daily sacrifice of the morning, at which the priests ought to have been; and the time when the sanhedrim usually began to sit x; for "the grand sanhedrim sat from the daily sacrifice of the morning, to the daily sacrifice of the eve... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SUPERSCRIPTION OF HIS ACCUSATION,.... Or "the cause of his death", as the Syriac and Persic versions read; the crime for which he suffered: WAS WRITTEN; over his head, upon the cross, to which it was fastened; the sum of which was, THE KING OF THE JEWS; Matthew 27:37.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WITH HIM THEY CRUCIFIED TWO THIEVES,.... For his greater reproach; THE ONE ON HIS RIGHT HAND, AND THE OTHER ON HIS LEFT; as if he had been one of them, and a principal among them; Matthew 27:38.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SCRIPTURE WAS FULFILLED, WHICH SAITH,.... In Isaiah 53:12; AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS: he was no transgressor of the law of God himself, but was perfectly conformable to it in his holy nature, harmless conversation, and complete obedience: he knew no sin, nor committed any... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT PASSED BY,.... In the road, and went by the cross. The Arabic version adds, "before him", Christ, as he hung on the cross: RAILED ON HIM, WAGGING THEIR HEADS; gave him opprobrious language, and used indecent gestures; AND SAYING, AH! THOU THAT DESTROYEST THE TEMPLE; the Vulgate Latin... [ Continue Reading ]
SAVE THYSELF, AND COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS. Suggesting that if he was what he had pretended to be, and could do what he gave out he could, he might easily free himself from the cross, and make his escape; Matthew 27:39, Matthew 27:40.... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE ALSO THE CHIEF PRIESTS MOCKING,.... Or "laughed at one another", as the Syriac version renders it, having gained their point, and satiated their revenge on him: SAID AMONG THEMSELVES WITH THE SCRIBES; who were likewise his implacable enemies; HE SAVED OTHERS, HIMSELF HE CANNOT SAVE; Matth... [ Continue Reading ]
LET CHRIST THE KING OF ISRAEL,.... Who sets up for the Messiah, and whose followers call him the king of Israel, whom the nation expected: and if he is so, let him DESCEND NOW FROM THE CROSS, THAT WE MAY SEE; see him come down, and be eyewitnesses of his power: AND BELIEVE; that he is the Messiah... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE SIXTH HOUR WAS COME,.... Or twelve o'clock at noon, having hung upon the cross from about the third hour, or nine in the morning: THERE WAS DARKNESS OVER THE, WHOLE LAND UNTIL THE NINTH HOUR; or three o'clock in the afternoon. The Ethiopic version renders the whole thus, "and when it w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AT THE NINTH HOUR JESUS CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE,.... Matthew 27:46; SAYING, ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI? in Matthew it is, "Eli, Eli", Both "Eli" and "Eloi", are Hebrew words, and signify the same; and are both used in Psalms 22:1, from whence the whole is taken: WHICH IS, BEING INTERPRETED,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOME OF THEM THAT STOOD BY,.... The cross: WHEN THEY HEARD [IT]; the loud voice of Jesus, and the words he uttered: SAID, BEHOLD HE CALLETH ELIAS; whom they ignorantly, or wilfully took for Eloi; Matthew 27:47.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE RAN AND FILLED A SPONGE FULL OF VINEGAR,.... Christ at the same time saying, I thirst; see John 19:28; AND PUT IT ON A REED; an hyssop stalk, John 19:29; AND GAVE HIM TO DRINK; and so fulfilled a prophecy in Psalms 69:21; SAYING, or "they said", as the Syriac version reads it; not he that... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE,.... A second time, and said the words which are in Luke 23:46 and in John 19:30 AND GAVE UP THE GHOST. The Syriac version renders it, "and finished": his life, his days, his race, his ministry, and the work which was given him to do; Matthew 27:50.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE VAIL OF THE TEMPLE WAS RENT IN TWAIN, FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM. At which time also there was an earthquake, and the rocks were rent, and graves were opened, as Matthew relates, Matthew 27:51, Matthew 27:52.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE CENTURION, WHICH STOOD OVER AGAINST HIM,.... To watch him, that nobody released him, and that he did not come down from the cross himself; SAW THAT HE SO CRIED OUT, AND GAVE UP THE GHOST; that he cried with so loud and strong a voice, and the next moment expired: HE SAID, TRULY THIS M... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WERE ALSO WOMEN LOOKING ON AFAR OFF,.... At some distance from the cross, observing what was said and done; AMONG WHOM WAS MARY MAGDALENE; who had received great favours from Christ: AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES THE LESS; or "little", so called to distinguish him from James the son of Zebede... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ALSO, WHEN HE WAS IN GALILEE, FOLLOWED HIM,.... Wherever he went in Galilee, and from thence to Jerusalem: AND MINISTERED UNTO HIM; of their worldly substance, Luke 8:3: AND MANY OTHER WOMEN WHICH CAME UP WITH HIM INTO JERUSALEM; from the same parts; see Matthew 27:55.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW WHEN THE EVEN WAS COME,.... "Of the preparation", as the Syriac version reads; or "the night of the sixth day":, as the Persic version renders it, "Friday" night: BECAUSE IT WAS THE PREPARATION; of the passover, and of the sabbath, when they prepared their food, and got it ready for the ens... [ Continue Reading ]
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA, AN HONOURABLE COUNSELLOR,.... A man of a good aspect, well dressed, and that behaved well and honourably in his office, as a counsellor: he seems to have been a priest, and one of the bench of priests that sat in the high priest's chamber, which is called, לשכת בלווטי, "the cham... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PILATE MARVELLED IF HE WERE ALREADY DEAD,.... For death, by crucifixion, was a slow lingering death; persons that were in their full strength hung a great while before they expired; and the two thieves, which were crucified with Christ, were not dead when he was: AND CALLING UNTO HIM THE CENTUR... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE KNEW IT OF THE CENTURION,.... Who might inform him of his giving up the ghost after he had cried with a loud voice, which so much affected him; and how he was found to be really dead when they came to break the legs of the malefactors; and how that one of the soldiers pierced his side wi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE BOUGHT FINE LINEN,.... That is, Joseph, as is expressed in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions; which, when he had done, as is highly probable, in the city of Jerusalem, he went to Mount Calvary, AND TOOK HIM DOWN; took the body of Christ down from the cross; though, no doubt, wit... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MARY MAGDALENE, AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JOSES,.... Or Joseph, as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read: BEHELD WHERE HE WAS LAID: very likely they saw Joseph, and his men, take him down from the cross, and they followed him, and observed where he laid him; or, as the Ethiopic version read... [ Continue Reading ]