25. The People all replied; We will be answerable for it: If there be any Guilt in this Matter, let it lie upon us and our Posterity. 26. Pilate then released unto them Barabbas. And when he had scourged Jesus, and found that neither would + That fatisfy the People, he delivered + See John him to them to be crucified. 27. Then * the Soldiers came about Jefus, and took him into the Governor's Hall, and gathered together their whole Company, to abufe and make sport with him. 28. And because they had heard that he had been stiled King of the Jews, they stript him of his own Cloaths, and in derision put upon him a Scarlet Robe. xix. 29. Then setting upon his Head a Wreath of Thorns for a Crown, and putting in his Hand a Reed or Cane for a Scepter, they kneeled down before him, and in mockery saluted him as King. 30. And they scornfully spit upon his Face, and took the Cane out of his Hand, and beat him upon the Head with it. BIBLIOTE * It appears from the History, John xix, that fome of these things were done before Pilate condemned Jesus: But St. Matthew for method's fake, relates all these Circumstances together. 31. And when they were weary with mocking and abusing him, they disrobed him of his Royal Attire, and put his own Cloaths on again, and led him away with the * Cross upon his Shoulders to be crucified. 32. And as they were going out of the City, they met with one Simon a Cyrenian; and because Jesus was weary and not able to carry the Cross any farther, or because they suspected Simon to be a Favourer of Jefus, they compelled him to carry the Cross after them. 33 & 34. And when they came to the place, which, from Malefactors being used to be executed therein, was called Golgotha, that is, the Place of a Skull, they gave Jefus + a Portion of Vinegar, mixed with Gall; but when he tafted it, he refused to drink. 35. Then nailing him to the Cross, they stripped him; and fome of his Cloaths they divided among them, and for the reft they caft Lots; fulfilling that Prophecy, (Pfal. xxii, 18.) They parted my Garments among them, and cast Lots upon my Vesture. 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. 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgo- place of a Skull, 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, cafting lots: that it which was spoken by the prophet, they parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. be fulfilled * Some Learned Men think it was only that Piece of Wood which was to be fastened across the Stake. 1 Instead of a stupefying Potion usually given in compassion to Malefactors. 36. And 36 And fitting down, they watched him there: 37 And set up over his head, his accufation written, THIS ISJESUSTHE 36. And they appointed a Watch, to tarry by him, and to take care that his Disciples might not come and take him away. 37. And that all who passed by, might know who he was, and the Crime for which he was crucified; they put up over his Head this Inscription, JESUS KING OF THE JEW S. 38 Then were 38. They crucified also with him two there two thieves Robbers, one on each fide; that feeing crucified with him: him executed in the midst of such noone on the right torious Malefactors, the People might hand, and another be the more strongly prejudiced to believe him an Impostor. on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thy self: if thou be the Son of Ged, come down from the cross. 41 Likewife also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, faid; 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he will 39 & 40. Moreover they which pafsed by, shaking their Heads at him in a jeering and insulting manner, faid; * Well could you indeed pull down the * See ch. Temple and build it again in three xxvi, 16. Days time, who are not now able to save your self from Death. If you be, as you pretended, the Son of God; make proof now of your Power, and come down from the Cross. 41 & 42. In like manner the ChiefPriests, and Scribes, and Elders mocking and deriding him, faid; He pretended to do great Miracles for the delivering of other Men from Diseases and Death, but you see he cannot now deliver Himself; If he be indeed the Meffiah, let him but give us this one Demonstration of it, and we shall have fome Reason to believe him. 43. He made a show of trust and have him: for he relying upon God, calling him his Fa faid, I am the Son of God. 03 ther : + See the ther, and pretending to be sent by him: 44. † One of the Robbers also, Marginal which were crucified with him, rech.xxvi.8. proached him after the same manner. Note on 45. Now from Mid-day till Three a Clock in the Afternoon, there was miraculous Darkness over all the Land. 46. And about Three a Clock, Jefus bachthani ? That is, My God, 44 The thieves also which were crucified with him, cast the fame in his teeth. 45 Now from the fixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, My faying, Eli, Eli, lama Pfal. 47. Which words, some of them that stood by, hearing, and not understanding, but being ignorantly deceived by the like found of different words, faid: He calls upon Elias to come and help him, 48. Then one ran, and filled a Sponge with Vinegar, and with a Reed lifted it up to him to drink. 49. But others said; Nay, let him alone; tarry, and fee whether Elias will come to help him. sabachthani, that is to fay, My God, my God, why haft thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, faid, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. 49 The reft faid, Let be, let us fee whether Elias will come to save him. * ביחפץ בן Pfal. xxii, 8. Which the Septuagint renders τ θέλει αυτόν, 504 Jefus 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. 52 And the graves were opened, and many bodies of faints which slept, arose. 53 And came out of the graves after his refurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, faw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, faying, Truly this was the Son of God. 55 And many women were there (beholding afar off) which followed Jefus from Galilee, ministring unto him. 56 Among which was Mary Magda lene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. 50. Presently after, Jesus cried out again with a loud Voice, saying; All that God has appointed and the Prophets foretold I should fuffer, is now finished; And recommending his Soul into the Hands of God, he died. 51. And immediately the Veil which parted the Holy of Holies from the Sanctuary, was rent in pieces; fignifying the dissolution of the Jewish Oeconomy or Dispensation, and the opening to all Believers * an entrance into the * Heb. Holiest, that is, into Heaven, by the 19, 20. Blood of Jesus. The Earth also trembled, and the Rocks were cleaved; fignifying that some great alterations were working by the mighty and immediate Power of God, 52 & 53. The Sepulchres also of the Dead were opened, and many Bodies of Holy Men arose, and appeared after Christ's Refurrection to many that dwelt in Jerufalem; Signifying that Chrift by his Death and Resurrection, had destroyed him that had the Power of Death, and given earnest of a General Resurrection from the Dead. 54. Moreover the Roman Captain himself, with his Soldiers that were fet to watch Jesus, astonished at the greatness of these Prodigies, said; Certainly this was at least an Innocent Person, if not more than a Man. 55 & 56. Many Women also, who had travelled along with Jefus from Galilee, and supplied him with Neceffaries in his Journey, stood at a distance from the Cross, and were Eye-witnefses of these things; as Mary-Magdalen and Mary the Mother of James and Jofes, and Salome the Mother of John and the other James; with others. 04 57 & 58. |