John 19
Dort1 Pilate causeth Christ to be scourged,and the soldiers mock and abuse him. 4 is thus shewed to the Jews. 6 The Chief priests cry crucifie him,yet Pilate declares him innocent.7 The Jews appeal to their Law. 8 Whereupon Pilate examines Christ more strictly, 12 and seeketh again to release him,but is by the Jews threatened by Cesars displeasure, 16 wherefore he delivers Christ over to be crucified. 17 Christ beareth his cross. 18 Is crucified between two murderers. 19 The Superscription of the cross. 23 The Soldiers part his garment. 25 He commendeth his mother to the Disciple whom he loved. 28Thirsteth,and is given vinegar to drink. 30 Gives up the Ghost. 31 The murderers bones are broken, 34 and Christs side pierced thorow, 38 is buried by Joseph of Arimathea and by Nicodemus,with Pilates permission.
1. Then [Namely,when he saw that by the former means used by them,he could not preserve Jesus life] Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged (him.) [that is,caused him to be scourged. See the annot. on Mat.27. v.26.]
2. And the souldiers having platted a crown of thorns,set that on his head,and cast a purple garment about him.[Or cloak,to scoffe at his Kingly office. See Mat.27.28.]
3. And said,hail,thou King of the Jews. And they gave him blows on the cheeks.[Or blows with sticks or rods,as Matthew expresseth what was also done,Mat.27.30.]
4. Then Pilate came out again [Gr. forth without,like as also in the following] and said unto them,behold I bring him forth unto you [namely,out of the judgement house] that ye may know that I find no fault in him. [or cause,namely of death.]
5. Then Jesus came forth,bearing the thorny crown and purple garment [See hereof the annot. on Mat.27.28.] and (Pilate ) said unto them,behold the man. [namely ,how miserable he is abused : and be ye satisfied therewith, without desiring further punishment upon him.]
6. When therefore the chief Priests and the Officers saw him, they cryed saying,crucifie (him,) crucifie (him,) Pilate said unto them,take ye him, and crucifie (him) for I find no fault in him.
7. The Jews answered him,we have a Law [They have respect to the Law,Levit.24.16. which they ill applied to Christ] and according to our Law he must dy, for he hath made himself the Son of God. [that is he hath said,that he is the Messias and Gods own Son,Mat,26.63,64. Mark 14:61,62. and John 5:18.]
8. When Pilate therefore heard this word,he was more afraid.[Namely,because he had to do not only with an innocent man, but also with one that he heard was of devine descent.]
9. And went again into the judgement house ,and said unto Jesus , whence art thou? [Namely,descended,because thon makest thy self the Son of God] but Jesus gave him no answer. [of this and the like holding his peace Christ gives a reason, Luke 22:67,68.]
10. Then said Pilate unto him,speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucifie thee,and have power to release thee?
11. Jesus answered,thou shouldst have no power against me,[Namely,to crucifie me who am the Son of God] if it were not given thee from above : [that is were ordained and permitted unto thee by God,Acts 2:23.and chap.4.v.27,28.] therefore he that delivered me over unto thee [namely, the Jewish people,or the Rulers of the Jews] hath the greater Sin. [forasmuch as they having more knowledge of Gods word,and of my miracles,out of a malicious hatred press thee contrary to thine office and mind,to consent unto my death.
12. From thenceforth Pilate sought to release him?[Namely,more and more] but the Jews cryed, saying,if thou release this (man) thou art not Cesars friend ; [that is, thou wilt thereby shew that thou art not Cesars friend,and thou shalt not continue Cesars friend,whose Governour notwithstanding thou art] everyone that maketh himself King,speaketh against Cesar.[that is, riseth up against the highness and Majestie of Cesar]
13. When Pilate therefore heard this word,he brought Jesus forth,[Gr. without] and sate down on the judgement seat,in the place called Luthostrotos, [That is,a place paved with stones] and in the Hebrew [that is,Syriack,with tongue the Hebrews most used at that time] Gabbatha,[that is, an high and eminent place in which the Roman Governours did justice,and from whence they spake to the people.]
14. And it was the preparation of the passover,[Namely,according to the custome of the Jews ; for otherwise according to Gods institution it was the same day on which the Paschal Lamb was to be killed and eaten,like as Christ and his Apostles also did. See the annot. on Mat.26.20.]and about the sixt hour :[Mark chap.15.v.25. faith that it was the third hour when Christ was crucified,and John saith here,that it was about the sixt hour,when he was brought forth before the Jews,before he was yet by Pilate condemned to death. To accord this seeming difference,some are of opinion that the Jews did not only devide the day into twelve hours from the sun-rising to the sun-setting,John 11:9.but also like as they divided the night into four watches,so also they made four parts in the day,Mat.20.1,3.5. Mark 15:1,25,33,34.naming each part from the hour wherewith it began,the first part,the first hour,the second the third hour,the third the sixt hour,and the fourth part the ninth hour,and that consequently John contradicteth not that which Mark saith,that Christ was crucified in the second part of the day,which was called the third hour,but that he further explains the same,namely,that it went toward the third part of the day called the sixt hour,and that therefore he addes as the word alout. Others think that Mark reckons the hours after the manner of the Jews,but that John reckons them after the manner of the Romans as he also do,beginning from midnight. So that that which John here relates should have come to pass betwixt six and seven a clock in the morning,not very long after the rising of the Sun. For Christ was brought to Pilate very early in the morning,Mat.27.1,2. Mark 15:1. John 18:28. he sought yet to deliver him,brought him again into the judgement house,there he was again reproachfully misused by the Souldiers,Mat.27.27. Mark 15:16. and after that led out of the City and brought to the place of execution. So that herewith two hours more might easily pass away. For howsoever John when he relates the words of Christ or of other Jews,followes the Jews account in the hours,yet notwithstanding when he speaks himself he seemeth also elsewhere to follow the account of the Romans,as may be seen,John 20:19. forasmuch as then as when he wrote his Gospel,the City Jerusalem was laid waste,and the Jews were nomore a people]and he said unto the Jews,behold your King.
15. But they cryed take away,take away,crucifie him. Pilate said unto them,shall I crucifie your King? The chief Priests answered we have no King but Cesar :
16. Then he gave him therefore over unto them,that he should be crucified. And they took Jesus [Namely,the Jews by the Roman Souldiers,after that the same had mocked him the second time] and led (him) away,
17. And he bearing his cross [the reason hereof see in the annot.on Mat.27.32.] went forth [namely,without the City]unto the (place) called Scull place,which in the Hebrew [that is,in the Syriack,which tongue the Jews then used,being indeed somewhat altered from the Hebrew tongue,but notwithstanding in the ground of it reckoned for one tongue with the same] is called Golgotha.
18. Where they crucified him,and with him two other,[Namely,murderers and malefactors,Mat.27.38. Mark 15:27. Luke 23:33.] on each side one [Gr. hence and hence,i.e. from the one and the other side] and Jesus in the midst. [Gr. the middlemost,namely,as if he had been the greatest malefactor.]
19. And Pilate wrote also a superscription [The Greek word Titlos,signifies also a little Table or Board,on which men write imports,and appears from the other Evangelists,Mat.27.37.Mark 15:26.Luke 23:38.] and put (that) on the cross,and there was written JESUS THE NAZARITE,THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20. This superscription therefore read many of the Jews:for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the City:and it was written in Hebrew,in Greek,(and) in Latine.[Gr. in Romane. The superscription was put in these three tongues,because3 they were most known and common in the Roman Empire,so that then there was no man at Jerusalem but he understood one of them.]
21. Then the chief Priests of the Jews said unto Pilate,write not the King of the Jews:but that he said,I am the King of the Jews
22. Pilate answered what I have written,(that) I have written.[That is,that remaineth written,I will not alter it .]
23. Then the Souldiers when they had crucified Jesus,took his garments (and made four parts for each Souldier a part ) and the coat. Now the coat was without seam:[Namely,woven or knit] wholly woven from the top:[Gr. through the whole,i.e. all thorow.]
24. They said therefore one to another,let us not rend it,but let us cast lots for it,whose (it) shall be : that the Scripture might be fulfilled, [That is,so that thereby the Scripture was fulfilled] which saith,they parted my garments among them ; and for my clothing they did cast lots. This therefore the Soldiers did?
25. And by the cross of Jesus there stood his mother and his mothers sister,Mary (the wife) [Or daughter. For that Alpheus was her husband appears, Mat.10.3. compared with Mat.27.56.,except that Clopas or Cleophas were her second husband as some think] of Clopas [who is also otherwise called Cleophas,Luke 24:18.] and Mary Magdalen.
26. Now Jesus seeing (his) Mother,and the Disciple whom he loved [That is,John,who used to describe himself,as appears John 13:23. compared with John 21:20,24.]standing by there,said unto his Mother,woman,behold thy Son. [that is,this man shall be as thy Son,to take care of thee and to assist thee.]
27. Afterward said he to the Disciple,Behold thy mother.[That is,take care for her as for thy mother] And from that hour forward,the Disciple took her into his (house) [Gr.into his own,or unto his.]
28. After this Jesus knowing that now all was fulfilled,[Namely, thus far and hitherto,was foretold of him] that the Scripture might be fulfilled,said,I thirst.
29. There stood [Gr.lay] now a vessel full of vinegar,and they filled a spunge with vinegar,and laid it about with hysope,[or laid it,namely,the spunge,about an hysope-stalk,which some think was a rosemary-stalk,and also in Hebrew called Ezob,1 Kings 4:33.and in those Countries grew up high : so that this stalk should be the same which Matthew calls a reed,Mat.27.48.Others take it for right hysop,which grew there wilde,with the branches whereof they bound the spounge to the stalk.] and brought it to his mouth.
30. When Jesus therefore had taken the vinegar,he said,it is accomplished ;[Namely,all that I was to suffer to reconcile men unto God,and that was foretold thereof by the Prophets] and bowing the head,gave up the Ghost.[Gr.gave over the Ghost,namely,into the hands of his Father,Luke 23:46. John 10:18.]
31. The Jews therefore,that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath,Seeing it was preparation (for that Sabbath day was great) [others read,for the day of that sabbath was a great day,namely,forasmuch as it was Sabbath, and the first day of the Passeover together,according to the custome of the Jews,the reason whereof see in the annot. on Mat.26.20.] besought Pilate that their bones might be broken [namely,of the three that were crucified,which seemeth to have been a use to hasten the death of evill doers] and they might be taken away.[namely,before the Evening according to the Law,Deu.21.22.]
32. Then the Souldiers came and brake the legs of the first,and of the other which was crucified with him.
33. But coming unto Jesus when they saw that he was now dead,they brake not his legs.
34. But one of the Souldiers thrust through his side with a spear,[Namely,either out of malapertness,or to see whether he were truly dead] and straightway there came forth blood and water.[this is a sign that he pierced the heart,which lyeth in a skin wherein waterish moisture isincluded for cooling of the heart.]
35. And he that saw it [Namely,John himself,see v.27.] he testified it, [namely,that blood and water flowed out of his side] and his testimony is true : and he knoweth that he saith that which is true, [Gr.true, namely,sayings] that ye also might beleive [that in Christ is fulfilled that which was typisied in the old Testament by cleansing with water,and by the shedding of the blood and of the sacrifices ;to wit,that he by his death hath obtained for us not only remission of sins,but also cleansing from sin by his holy spirit. See further the annot. on 1 John 5:6.]
36. For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled,no bone of him shall be broken. [This is spoken indeed of the Paschal Lamb,Exod.12.46. but here fulfilled in Christ,because the Paschal Lamb was a Type of Christ,1 Cor.5.7.]
37. And again another Scripture saith [That is another place of the holy Scripture,to wit,Zach.12.10.] they shall see into whom they have thrust.[or look upon him,whom they have pierced,which was fulfilled in part in some of the Jews who put Christ to death,and afterward were converted unto him,Acts 2:37 and partly shall be fulfilled at the last day,when all impenitent persons shall also see him as their judge,Rev.1.7.]
38. And after that Joseph [See concerning him, Mat.27.57. Mark 15:43. Luke 23:50,51.] of Arimathea [this City seems otherwise to be called Ramath,the Prophet Samuels country,1 Sam.1.1.] (who was a Disciple of Jesus but secretly for fear of the Jews :) [namely,lest they should cast him out of their Synagogue,according to their decree,John 9:22.] besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus : and Pilate permitted it : [namely,after that he had understood by the Captain that Christ was already dead,Maek 15.44.] he went therefore and took away the body of Jesus?
39. And Nicodemus came also (he that first came to Jesus by night) [That is,the first time or before,John 3:1.]bringing a moxture of Myrrhe and Aloes,about an hundred pound (wight.)
40. Then took they the body of Jesus,and bound it in linnen cloathes with the spices,[Namely,thus bound together,seeing they had no time to annoint the same therewith,because the Sabbath was immediately to begin] after the manner of the Jews burying. [namely,great and worthy persons. See Gen.50.2.]
41. And there was in the place where he was crucified [That is,about that place] a garden,and in the garden a new grave,in which,never yet any man had been laid.
42. There then they laid Jesus,because of the preparation of the Jews,for asmuch as the grave was nigh.