John 19:17

17. After Ἰησοῦν omit καὶ� (perhaps from Matthew 27:31). Αὐτῷ τὸν σταυρόν (BLX) for τ. στ. αὐτοῦ (E): there are other variations.

17. παρέλαβον οὖν. They took Jesus therefore, or they received, as in John 1:11; John 14:3. The verb means ‘to accept what is offered, receive from the hands of another.’ A comparison of the three texts is instructive. The eternal Son is given by the Father, comes to His own inheritance, and His own people received Him not (John 1:11). The Incarnate Son is given up by Pilate to His own people, and they received Him to crucify Him (John 19:16). The glorified Son comes again to His own people, to receive them unto Himself (John 14:3).

βαστ. αὐτῷ τ. στ. ἐξῆλθεν. Bearing the cross for Himself went forth. S. John omits the help which Simon the Cyrenian was soon compelled to render, as also (what seems to be implied by Mark 15:22) that at last they were obliged to carry Jesus Himself. Comp. the Lesson for Good Friday morning, Genesis 22, especially John 19:6. “The place of public execution appears to have been situated north of the city. It was outside the gate (Hebrews 13:12) and yet ‘nigh unto the city’ (John 19:20). In the Mishna it is placed outside the city by a reference to Leviticus 24:14. It is said to have been ‘two men high’ (Sanh. vi. 1). The Jews still point out the site at the cliff, north of the Damascus gate, where is a cave now called ‘Jeremiah’s Grotto.’ This site has therefore some claim to be considered as that of the Crucifixion. It was within 200 yards of the wall of Agrippa, but was certainly outside the ancient city. It was also close to the gardens and the tombs of the old city, which stretch northwards from the cliff; and it was close to the main north road, in a conspicuous position, such as might naturally be selected for a place of public execution.” Conder, Handbook to the Bible, pp. 356, 7. Κρανίου τόπον refers to the shape of the ground. To leave skulls unburied would violate Jewish law; and this would require κρανίων τόπον. For Ἑβραϊστί see on John 5:2.