John 19
DOYLYJohn 19:13
- — in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.] In the mixture of Syrisack and Childee, which was then the common language of the Jews.
John 19:14
- — the preparation] That is, the day before the sabbath in the passover week, as is explained at Mark xv. 42. — and about the sixth hour.] St. Mark, at chap. xv. 25, says, “It was the third hour, and they crucified Him.” To explain this seeming difference in the time of the day at which our Lord was crucified, it must be observed, that, amongst the Jews, as the night was divided into four watches, so the day from sunrise to sunset was marked by four principal portions, that of the third, (hour,) the sixth, the ninth, and the twelfth; so that, whatever happened between the third and the sixth hours, however near the conclusion of that division, was reckoned to belong to the third hour. Thus in the case of the crucifixion, St. John mentions that it took place “about the sixth hour,” or noon; that is, probably, a short time before it: and this St. Mark calls the third hour, because it was in that portion of the day which was named from the third hour. Bp. Mann, Dr. Hammond.
John 19:17
- — bearing his cross] See note at Matt. xxvii. 32.
John 19:20
- — it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.] That it was usual about this time to set up publick notices in different languages, is gathered from the account which Josephus gives of an expostulatory message from Titus to the Jews, when the city was almost in his hands, in which he says, Did he not erect pillars with inscriptions on them, in the Greek and in our language? Archdeacon Paley.
John 19:21
- — Write not, The King of the Jews;] They probably deemed this title an affront to their nation, as it implied that they had such a King. Perhaps Pilate intended it by way of contempt of them, as they had urged him to crucify Jesus, so much against his own inclination. Grotius.
John 19:22
- — What I have written I have written.] A common mode of expression among the Jews; implying that the thing is done, and cannot be recalled. Dr. Lightfoot.
John 19:23
- — the soldiers, — took his garments,] The Roman soldiers, being the executioners, had a right to His garments. Grotius.
John 19:24
- — that the scripture might be &c.] Thus Ps. xxii. 18. was literally fulfilled.
John 19:25
- — there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother,] She stood in speechless sorrow, paying the last sad duty of natural tenderness to Her Divine Son; and now experiencing herself the full accomplishment of Simeon’s prediction, delivered in the fulness of joy at His nativity, “Yes, a sword shall pierce through Thy own soul,” as it must have done with the keenest edge, when she saw Him set up as a sign or spectacle of publick ignominy, and heard Him spoken against and blasphemed as a false Christ, or false prophet. Dr. Hales. — Mary, the wife of Cleophas,] The mother of James the Less, Mark xv. 40, whose father was Alpheus or Cleophas, Matt. x. 3. Dr. Whitby.
John 19:26
- — the disciple — whom he loved,] St. John, the writer of this Gospel. — Woman, behold thy son!] As if He had said, This man, now that thou art deprived of thy Son, shall be to thee instead of a son, and shall cherish and provide for thee. Dr. Lightfoot. — behold thy son!] Behold one who will take care of thee as if he were thy son. Dr. Whitby. X Christ dieth. His side is pierced. Anno DOMINI 33. Ps. 69. 21.
John 19:36
36, 37. For these things were done, &c.] These cir- Mary cometh to the sepulchre: so do Peter and John. 
saith, “They shall look on him whom they pierced.
John 19:39
- — about an hundred pound weight.] According to Josephus, it was the custom of the Jews to employ large quantities of spices for embalming a dead body, when they wished to shew particular respect to the person deceased. Bp. Pearce. Our Lord alludes to this ceremony of His burial at Matt. xxvi. 12. Bp. Mann.
Chap. XX. ver. 1.—cometh Mary Magdalene] With whom were Salome, and Joanna, and Mary the wife of Cleophas. See Matt. xxviii. 1; Mark xvi. 1; Luke xxiv. 10. Bp. Pearce. For this chapter, see further notes at Matt. xxviii.: Mark xvi.
— the stone taken away] The circumstance of the placing the stone at the door of the sepulchre is not mentioned by St. John, but only by the other Evange-
to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.