34. § 143. Jesus betrayed and made prisoner. (EVENING
| CH. XXVI. 47-56. | CH. XIV. 43-52. |
| --- | --- |
| 47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now, he that betrayed him, gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast. | 43 And immediately while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders. 44 And he that betrayed him, had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. |
Luke XXII. 11, as it were great drops of blood. The strangeness of such a profusion of blood has been urged, first, against the probability, and then against the truth, of the narrative. But learned men have related instances of mental agony so great as to force the blood through the pores; and if this has ever occurred, it may well be believed to have occurred in the present case. See Bloomfield and A. Clarke, in loc. It should be observed, however, that Luke does not directly affirm that it was blood. He only compares the sweat to that of blood, using a term of similitude, (quasi grumi sanguinis). Beza, longum demissionis sanguinis. Tremellus: scut gutta sanguinis. Tulg and Matanus: which may signify no more than that the drops of sweat were as large as drops of blood, which, from its viscosity, are very large.
sec. 142, 143.]
INTRODUCING THE SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Mount of Olives.
CH. XXII. 39-46.
was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
INTRODUCING THE SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Mount of Olives.
CH. XXII. 47-53.
CH. XVIII. 2-12.
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his disciples.
3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns, and torches, and weapons.
Luke xxii. 45, sleeping for sorrow] No other Evangelist mentions the cause of their slumber, except Luke, who ascribes it to their sorrow. It is observable, that Luke was a physician, (Col. iv. 14.) and therefore well knew that deep mental distress frequently induced sleep. To this cause may perhaps be referred the fact, that persons condemned to die are often waked from sound sleep by the executioner. The internal evidence here afforded of the truth of Luke's narrative, is corroborated by his notice of the bloody sweat, ver. 44, and of the miraculous healing of the ear of Malchus, ver. 51, facts which are not related by any other Evangelist, but which would naturally attract the attention of a physician.
§ 113. Jesus betrayed and made prisoner. (EVENING
CH. XXVI. 17-56.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And behold, one of them which were with Jesus, stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword, shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels!
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be!
55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.
Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
CH. XIV. 43-52.
45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, Master; and kissed him.
46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
47 And one of them that stood by, drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
49 I was daily with you in the temple, teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
50 And they all forsook him and fled.
51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him.
52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
• Gen. ix. 6.
SEC. 143.]
INTRODUCING THE SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Mount of Olives.
| LUKE. CH. XXII. 47-53. 48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 49 When they which were about him, saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? | JOHN. CH. XVIII. 2-12. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked be them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he. If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me, have I lost none. 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? |
| --- | --- |
| 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him, 52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders which were come to him, Be ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves? 53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. | |
| | 12 Then the band, and the captain, and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him. |
John xviii. 5, I am he.] In the order of events, Jesus first voluntarily discriminates himself; after which Judas gives the agreed sign to his enemies. NEWCOME.
John xviii. 10, Simon Peter.] Lenfant and Bp. Pearce think that Peter was named by John, because he was then dead; and that he was not named by the other Evangelists because when they wrote he was living, and the action might have subjected him to public justice, or at least to reproach. NEWCOME.
§ 144. Jesus before Caiaphas. Peter thrice denies him. (NIGHT
CH. XXVI. 57, 58, 69-75.
57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus, led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 But Peter followed him afar off, unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end.
69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
CH. XIV. 53, 54, 66-72.
53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests, and the elders and the scribes.
54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest; and he sat with the servants, and warned himself at the fire.
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
Matth. XXVI. 71. into the porch. Here is a minute indication of veracity, which would have been lost upon us but for the narrative of John. Matthew only states the fact that the maid in the porch recognized Peter as one of the disciples of Jesus; but John (XXIII. 16.) informs us how she knew him to be so; namely, because he was brought in by John, who was a frequent guest at the house of her master the high priest. BLUNT, Veracity, &c., sect. i. 12, 18.
SEC. 144.]
INTRODUCING THE SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem.
| LUKE. CH. XXII. 54-62. 54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. | JOHN. CH. XVIII. 13-18, 25-27. 13 And led him away to Annas first, (for he was father-in-law to Cataphas, which was the high priest that same year.) 14 Now Cataphas was he which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. 15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus, into the palace of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. 18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; (for it was cold) and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. |
| --- | --- |
| 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. 57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. | 17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples! He saith, I am not. 25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples! He denied it, and said, I am not. |
| 59 And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him; for he is a Galilean. | 26 One of the servants of the high priest (being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off) saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? |
John xviii. 13, to Annas first.] Probably by way of compliment to the past high priest, who was also the father-in-law of Cataphas. If this circumstance never happened, it is difficult to discover how the introduction of it could serve the purposes of fiction. See ROBERTS, Light shining, &c. pp. 171, 172.
§ 144. Jesus before Caiaphas. Peter thrice denies him. (SIGHT
CH. XXVI. 57, 58, 69-75.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
CH. XIV. 53, 54, 66-72.
71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
§ 145. Jesus before Caiaphas. He declares himself to be the
CH. XXVI. 59-68.
59 Now the chief priests and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
CH. XIV. 55-65.
55 And the chief priests, and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none:
56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying.
58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
59 But neither so did their witness agree together.
§ 141.] Matthew and Mark relate Peter's denials of Christ after his condemnation, and the insults consequent upon it. It is plain that they happened while the High Priest and council were sitting in judgment. But instances of recurring in this manner to what had been omitted in its proper place are common in the Gospels; and in this place the thread of the narration is preserved unbroken.
It having been expressly mentioned by each Evangelist, that Peter would thrice deny Jesus, we may conclude that each has related the three denials which Jesus foretold.
Peter's first denial. Peter was without, or beneath, in the hall of Caiaphas's house. Dr. Scott, on Matth. xxvi. 3, observes that aule signifies an house, (Luke xi. 21,) and that emphatically it signifies the king's house, or palace. But in Luke xxii. 55, it seems to signify a spacious apartment, probably the High Priest's judgment-hall. It was the place in which Jesus stood before the High Priest, (Luke xxii. 61,) and had an atrium or restibulum at its entrance. This was an unfit place for the tribunal of the High Priest at such an hour. (John xxiii. 18.) Sir John Chardin says, "In the lower Asia the day is always hot, and in the height of summer the nights are as cold as at Paris in the month of March." It remains therefore that we understand it of a spacious chamber, such as Shaw mentions, Travels, 4to p. 207, S.
Peter was not in the higher part, where Jesus stood before the High Priest; but without that division of the hall, and in the lower part, with the servants and officers. The daunsel, who kept the door, had entered into the hall when she charged Peter.
Peter's second denial. Peter, having once denied Jesus, naturally retired from the
SEC. 144, 145.]
| INTRODUCING THE SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem. | |
| --- | --- |
| LUKE. CH. XXII. 54-62. | JOHN. CH. XVIII. 13-18, 25-27. |
| 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. | 27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. |
| 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. | |
| 62 And Peter went out and wept bitterly. | |
| Christ, etc. (MORNING OF THE SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK) Jerusalem. | |
| CH. XXII. 63-71. | CH. XVIII. 19-21. |
| 66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, and the chief priests, and the scribes, came together, and led him into their council, saying, | | place where his accuser was, to the vestibule of the hall, (Matth. xxvi. 71); and it was the time of the first cock-crowing, or soon after midnight. After remaining here a short time, perhaps near an hour, another damsel sees him, and says to those who were standing by in the vestibule, that he was one of them. Peter, to avoid this charge, withdraws into the hall, and stands and warms himself. (John xviii. 25.) The damsel, and those to whom she had spoken, follow him; the communication between the places being immediate. Here a man enforces the charge of the damsel, according to Luke; and others urge it, according to John, (though by him the plural may be used for the singular,) and Peter denies Jesus vehemently.
Peter's third denial. Peter was now in the hall. Observe Matth. xxvi. 75, and Luke xxii. 62. He was also within sight of Jesus, though at such a distance from him that Jesus could know what passed only in a supernatural way. About an hour after his second denial, those who stood by founded a charge against him on his being a Galilean, which, Luke says, one in particular strongly affirmed, (though here Matthew and Mark may use the plural for the singular,) and which, according to John, was supported by one of Malchus's relations. This occasioned a more vehement denial than before; and immediately the cock crew the second time. The first denial may have been between our twelve and one; and the second between our two and three. We must further observe, that Matth. xxvi. 57, lays the scene of Peter's denials in the house of Canaphas; whereas the transactions of John xviii 15 23 seem to have passed in the house of Annas. But John xviii. 24 is here transposed to its regular place, with Le Clerc. NEWCOMB.
Luke xxii. 60, Man, I know not.] The seeming contradiction between Luke, who relates that it was a man who charged Peter with being a follower of Jesus, and Matthew and Mark who state that he was accused by a maid, is reconciled by attending to the narrative of John, (xviii. 25,) who writes, "They said." Whence it appears that there were several who spake on this occasion, and that each Evangelist refers to the accusation which made the deepest impression on his own mind. See MICHAELIS and Bp. MIDDLETON, cited in 4 HORNE'S Introd. p. 258, note 1.
§ 145. Jesus before Caiaphas. He declares himself to be the
CH. XXVI. 59-68.
62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adquire thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless, I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
68 Saving, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
CH. XIV. 55-65.
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
§ 146. The Sanhedrim lead Jesus away to Pilate.
CH. XXVII. 1, 2, 11-14.
WHEN the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
CH. XV. 1-5.
AND straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
Matth. XXVI. 68 Prophesy unto us. Matthew alone states this fact: and he states nothing in explanation of it. The other Evangelists add another fact, which shows that the Jews were quite consistent in asking him to designate who struck him, namely, that they had previously "blindfolded him." Now these omissions of partic-
SEC. 145, 146.]
Christ. (MORNING OF THE SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem.
CH. XXII. 63-71.
67 Art thou the Christ' tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe.
68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God! And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
63 And the men that held Jesus, mocked him, and smote him.
64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
CH. XVIII. 19-24.
19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by, struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so!
23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
24 (Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.)
(SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem.
CH. XXIII. 1-5.
AND the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying, That he himself is Christ, a King.
CH. XVIII. 28-38.
28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment-hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man!
30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
ulars are characteristic of one to whom it never occurs that they are wanted to make his statement credible, but who, conscious of his own integrity, states his facts and leaves them to their fate; and they cannot fairly be accounted for, upon any other supposition than the truth of the narrative. BLUNT, Veracity, &c., sect. i. 10.
§ 146. The Sanhedrin lead Jesus away to Pilate.
| MATTHEW. CH. XXVII. 1, 2, 11-14. | MARK. CH. XV. 1-5. |
| --- | --- |
| 11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews! And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee! 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. | 2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews! And he answering, said unto him, Thou sayest it. 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. 4 And Pilate asked him again saying, Answerest thou nothing! behold how many things they witness against thee. 5 But Jesus yet answered nothing: so that Pilate marvelled. |
John xviii. 36, then would my servants fight.] Jesus seems here almost to have challenged inquiry into the assault so lately committed by Peter upon the servant of the high priest. St. Luke, however, states a fact which accounts for their not making such inquiry, ch. xxii. 51. He touched his car and healed him. An inquiry into the
SEC. 146, 147.]
(SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem.
| LUKE. CH. XXIII. 1-5. | JOHN. CH. XVIII. 24-38. |
| --- | --- |
| 3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. | 32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signify- ing what death he should die. 33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews! 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation, and the chief priests, have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then! Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice. |
| 4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests, and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, begin- ning from Galilee to this place. | 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth! And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. |
(SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem.
| CH. XXIII. 6-12. |
| --- |
| 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. |
| 7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was also at Jerusalem at that time. |
| 8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, | truth would have frustrated the malicious purpose of the enemies of Jesus, by proving his own compassionate nature, his submission to the laws, and his miraculous powers. BLUNT, Veracity, &c., sect. 1. 19.
§ 147. Jesus before Herod.
| --- | --- |
§ 148. Pilate seeks to release Jesus. The Jews demand
| CH. XXVII. 15-26. 15 Now at that feast, the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus, which is called Christ? 18 (For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.) 19 When he was set down on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream, because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. | CH. XV. 6-15. 6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 And the multitude crying aloud, began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 10 (For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.) 11 But the chief priests moved the people that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. 12 And Pilate answered, and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. |
| --- | --- |
SEC. 147, 148.]
(SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem.
| LUKE. CH. XXIII. 6-12. because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together; for before they were at enmity between themselves. | JOHN. |
| --- | --- |
| Barabbas. (SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem. | |
| CH. XXIII. 13-25. 13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people. 14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man, touching those things whereof ye accuse him; 15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him: 16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) | CH. XVIII. 39, 40. 39 But ye have a custom that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews? |
| 18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 19 (Who, for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. | 40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. |
§ 148. Pilate seeks to release Jesus. The Jews demand
CH. XXVII. 15-26.
23 And the governor said, Why! what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26 Then released he Barabbas unto them:
CH. XV. 6-15.
14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them,
§ 149. Pilate delivers up Jesus to death. He is scourged
CH. XXVII. 26-30.
26 And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
CH. XV. 15-19.
15 And delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Pretorium; and they call together the whole band;
17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees, worshipped him.
§ 150. Pilate again seeks to release Jesus.
Luke xxiii. 21, gave sentence | The accuracy of Luke, as a man of education, is observable in this statement of the formal judgment pronounced by Pilate, which is
SEC. 148, 149, 150.]
Barabbas. (SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem.
| LUKE. CH. XXIII. 13-25. 22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him; I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified: and the voices of them, and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. | JOHN. |
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| and mocked. Jerusalem. | |
| | CH. XIX. 1-3. THEN Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, 3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. |
| (SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem. | |
| | CH. XIX. 4-16. 4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. 5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! 6 When the chief priests therefore | only implied in the narratives of the other Evangelists. For an account of the two trials of Jesus, see Appendix, No. IV.
§ 150. Pilate again seeks to release Jesus.
| --- | --- |
John xix 14, sixth hour.] The apparent contradiction between John and Mark, (ch. xv. 25,) who mentions the third hour, is reconciled by Dr. Campbell, in a critical
SEC. 150.]
(SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem.
| LUKE. | JOHN. CH. XIX. 4-16. and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. 7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid: 9 And went again into the judgment- hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou! But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me! knowest thou not, that I have power to cru- cify thee, and have power to release thee! 11 Jesus answered, Thou conldest have no power at all against me, ex- cept it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cesar's friend. Whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cesar. 13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! 15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I cru- cify your King! The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cesar. 16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. |
| --- | --- | note upon the force of the expressions in the original, which he interprets as equivalent to saying, in the one case, that it was past three, and in the other, that it was towards six. See CAMPBELL, in loc.
§ 151. Judas repents, and hangs himself.
| MATTHEW. CH. XXVII. 3-10. 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, it is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. | MARK. |
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§ 152. Jesus is led away to be crucified.
CH. XXVII. 31-34.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
CH. XV. 20-23.
20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
a Zech. xi. 12, seq. Jer. xxii. 6, seq.
Matth. xxvii. 9. Jeremy.] The passage here quoted is found in the prophecy of Zechariah, and not in Jeremiah. Dr. Lightfoot says, that anciently among the Jews the Old Testament was divided into three parts. The first, beginning with the law, was called The Law. The second, beginning with Psalms, was called The Psalms. The third, beginning with the prophecy of Jeremiah, which anciently stood first, was called Jeremiah, under which name all quotations from the prophets were made. See A. CLARKE, in loc. JENNINGS, Jewish Antiq. pp. 591, 595. Others account for the apparent error in Matthew's quotation, by supposing that he omitted the name of the prophet, as he frequently did in his citations of scripture, and that the name of Jeremiah was inserted by a subsequent copyist. 1 HORNE'S Introd. p. 582.
SEC. 151, 152.]
| (SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem. | |
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| (SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem. | |
| CH. XXIII. 26-33. | CH. XIX. 16-17. |
| 26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, | 16 And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he bearing his cross |
Mark xv. 21, and Rufus.] Clement of Alexandria and Jerome both relate that Mark wrote this Gospel at Rome, and we find in Romans xiv. 13, that a disciple named Rufus, of considerable note, resided in that city. Admitting that both Mark and Paul speak of the same person, which is highly probable, as they refer to the same period of time and to a disciple of distinction, there is an evident consciousness of veracity in the Evangelist, in making this reference to Rufus, then living among them, since he could not but have known the particulars of the crucifixion, in which his own father was so intimately concerned. BLUNT'S Veracity, &c., sect. i. 14. See also EORZSIUS, lib. 2, ch. 15.
§ 152. Jesus is led away to be crucified.
| MATTHEW. CH. XXVII. 31-34. | MARK. CH. XV. 20-23. |
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| 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, A place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. | 22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. 23 And they gave him to drink, wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. |
§ 153. The Crucifixion.
| CH. XXVII. 35-38. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet; They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down, they watched him there: 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. | CH. XV. 24-28. 24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. 26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. |
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• Ps. xxii. 19.
Matth xxvii. 37, his accusation.] As to the title itself, the precise wording may have differed in the different languages; and MSS. represent it differently.
But the same verbal exactness is not necessary in historians, whose aim is religious instruction, as in recorders of public inscriptions. It is enough that the Evangelists agree as to the main article, "the King of the Jews," referred to, John xix. 21. That their manner is to regard the sense, rather than the words, appears from many places. Compare Matth. iii. 17, and ix. 11, and xv. 27, and xvi. 6, 9, and xix. 18, and xx. 33, and xxi. 9, and xxvi. 39, 61, 70, and xxviii. 5, 6, with the parallel verses in this Harmony. Compare also John xi. 40, with ver. 23, 25. One of the most solemn and aw-
SEC. 152, 153.]
(SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK.) Jerusalem.
| LUKE. CH. XXIII. 26-33. which also bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. 30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 32 And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, | JOHN. CH. XIX. 16-17. went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha. |
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(SIXTH DAY OF THE WEEK. Jerusalem.
| CH. XXIII. 33, 34, 38. 33 There they crucified him, and the malefactors; one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 38 And a superscription also was written over him, in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. | CH. XIX. 18-24. 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. 19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. |
| --- | --- | a Isa. liv. 1.
b Hos. x. 8.
ful of our Lord's discourses is, in some parts, variously expressed. See Matth. xxvi. 25, Mark xiv. 24, Luke xxii. 20, 1 Cor. xi. 25. Now as each of these writers has, beyond all doubt, faithfully represented the meaning of Christ, we see that it might be truly done in different words, or in a different form of the same words. His sentences also, sometimes admitted a difference of arrangement; for the order in which two sentences, or the several members of the same sentence, are disposed by St. Matthew, is, in several places, inverted by St. Mark. And with regard to his actions, though the most material parts of whatever they were going to relate must command their attention, yet there was no such superior attraction in one specific number and order of
[PART VH1.
§ 153. The Crucifixion.
| MATTHEW. CH. XXVII. 35-38. | MARK. CH. XV. 21-28. |
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| 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him: one on the right hand, and another on the left. | 27 And with him they crucify two thieves, the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.^{b} |