Luke 23:1-4
Luke 23:1-4. FIRST PHASE OF THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 23:1-4. FIRST PHASE OF THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE... [ Continue Reading ]
ἍΠΑΝ ΤῸ ΠΛΗ͂ΘΟΣ. ‘The whole number’ (not “multitude,” as in A. V[398]). [398] A. V. Authorised Version. ἘΠῚ ΤῸΝ ΠΙΛΆΤΟΝ. The fact that our Lord “suffered under Pontius Pilate” is also mentioned by Tacitus (_Ann._ XV. 44). Pontius Pilatus was a Roman Knight, who (A.D. 26) had been appointed, through... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕὝΡΑΜΕΝ. A word, which like the contemptuous τοῦτον (‘this fellow,’ Tyndale), was intended to excite prejudice. ΔΙΑΣΤΡΈΦΟΝΤΑ ΤῸ ἜΘΝΟΣ. Comp. Sir 11:34, ἀφίστασθαι καὶ διαστρέφειν. The technical Jewish name for an offender of this sort was _Mesith_, ‘seducer’ or ‘impostor,’ Acts 13:8-10. This was th... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣῪ ΕἾ Κ.Τ.Λ. St Luke narrates the trial very briefly. The Jewish priests had expected that on their authority Pilate would at once order Him to execution; but, on the contrary, he meant first to hear the case, and asked them what accusation they brought, refusing to accept their bare assertion that... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ΔῈΝ ΕὙΡΊΣΚΩ ΑἼΤΙΟΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. This conclusion, which sounds so abrupt in St Luke, was the result of the conversation with Pilate in which Jesus had said “My Kingdom is not of this world.” It had convinced Pilate of His innocence, and he expressed his conviction in this unhesitating acquittal. The wor... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἹ ΔῈ ἘΠΊΣΧΥΟΝ. ‘But they were more urgent,’ or, _but they kept insisting_. Vulg[399] _invalescebant_. This and similar expressions hardly convey to us the terrible violence and excitement of an Oriental mob. [399] Vulg. Vulgate. ΚΑΘ' ὍΛΗΣ ΤΗ͂Σ ἸΟΥΔΑΊΑΣ. The A.V[400] here needlessly renders Ἰουδαί... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRIAL BEFORE HEROD. FURTHER ENDEAVOURS OF PILATE TO PROCURE HIS ACQUITTAL. THE CHOICE OF BARABBAS. THE CONDEMNATION TO THE CROSS... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΈΠΕΜΨΕΝ. The word used is technical—the Lat. _remisit_—and means the remission of a question to a higher court (Acts 25:21; comp. Philemon 1:11; Jos. _B. J._ II. 20, § 5). St Luke alone preserves this interesting incident. He seems to have had special information about Herod’s court. Pilate’s obje... [ Continue Reading ]
[ΠΟΛΛᾺ] after ἀκούειν is omitted in אBDKL. 8. ἘΞ ἹΚΑΝΩ͂Ν ΧΡΌΝΩΝ. Meyer from the reading ἱκανοῦ χρόνου in some MSS. thinks that the original reading was only ἐξ ἱκανοῦ, like ἐκ πλείστου, ἐξ ὀλίγου, &c. ΤΙ ΣΗΜΕΙ͂ΟΝ ἸΔΕΙ͂Ν. Luke 9:7-9, Herod seems to have deteriorated. He had encouraged the visits of... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ΔῈΝ�. Isaiah 53:7. A murderer of the Prophets, who was living in open and flagrant incest, and who had no higher motive than mean curiosity, deserved no answer. Our Lord used of Antipas the only purely contemptuous word which He is ever recorded to have uttered (Luke 13:32). “Devant cet être, com... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓ΤΌΝΩΣ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΟΥ͂ΝΤΕΣ. Comp. Acts 18:28. They were now bent on securing their purpose, and perhaps feared that Herod’s well-known weakness and superstition might rob them of their prey;—especially as he was much less afraid of them than Pilate was, having strong influence in Rome.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΞΟΥΘΕΝΉΣΑΣ. Treating Him not as a _criminal_, but only as a person worthy of contempt. Isaiah 53:3. ΣῪΝ ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΣΤΡΑΤΕΎΜΑΣΙΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. “_With his armies_,” i.e. with his soldiers. ἘΣΘΗ͂ΤΑ ΛΑΜΠΡΆΝ. Literally, “_bright raiment_,” Acts 10:30. Probably a _white_ festal garment. Vulg[401] _veste albâ_.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΓΈΝΟΝΤΟ … ΦΊΛΟΙ … ΜΕΤ' ἈΛΛΉΛΩΝ. ‘Became friends with one another. Psalms 2:1-3. ΑΥ̓ΤΗ͂Ι ΤΗ͂Ι ἩΜΈΡΑΙ. Not ‘the _same_ day’ (as in A.V[402]), which would be τῇ αὐτῇ, but ‘_on that very day_.’ See Luke 23:7; Luke 13:31; Luke 23:7. [402] A.V. Authorised Version. ἘΝ ἜΧΘΡΑΙ ὌΝΤΕΣ. Perhaps in consequen... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΥΝΚΑΛΕΣΆΜΕΝΟΣ ΤΟῪΣ�. This was a formal speech from a _bema_—perhaps the throne of Archelaus—set on the tessellated pavement called by the Jews _Gabbatha_ (John 19:13). Now was the golden opportunity which Pilate should have seized in order to do what he knew to be _right_; and he was really anxious... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ΘῈΝ ΕὟΡΟΝ … ΑἼΤΙΟΝ. ‘_I find nothing punishable of the things which_, &c.’ Thus Pilate’s word is a direct contradiction of that of the High Priest’s (εὕραμεν, Luke 23:2). The _I_ is emphatic; you bring a charge, _I_ after a public examination find it to be baseless. οὐδὲν ὧν = οὐδὲν τούτων ἅ. ΚΑ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΈΠΕΜΨΕΝ ΓᾺΡ ΑΥ̓ΤῸΝ ΠΡῸΣ ἩΜΑ͂Σ. This is considered by Meyer an alteration which has arisen from Luke 23:11. The reading of אBKL is ἀνέπεμψα γὰρ ὑμᾶς πρὸς αὐτόν, where ἀνέπεμψα is not used in the legal sense of _remisi_ as in Luke 23:7. 15. ἈΝΈΠΕΜΨΕΝ ΓᾺΡ ΑΥ̓ΤῸΝ ΠΡῸΣ ἩΜΑ͂Σ. See the critical note. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΙΔΕΎΣΑΣ ΟΥ̓͂Ν ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ. This was the point at which Pilate began to yield to the fatal vacillation which soon passed into guilt and made it afterwards impossible for him to escape. He had just declared the prisoner _absolutely innocent_. To subject Him, therefore, to the horrible punishment of scour... [ Continue Reading ]
17. [ἈΝΆΓΚΗΝ ΔῈ ΕἾΧΕΝ�]. This verse is wanting in ABKL, and the Coptic, Sahidic versions &c. In D, the Aethiopic and the Curetonian Syriac it is placed after Luke 23:19. 17. For the verse in our A.V[405] see the critical note. Godet conjectures that the custom of claiming the release of a prisoner... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΝΠΛΗΘΕΊ. If we read πλήθει for πανπληθεί, the meaning will be that ‘they (the priests) called aloud _to the_ multitude,’ as in Matthew 27:20. The choice of Barabbas by the mob was not spontaneous; it was instigated by these priestly murderers. The guilt of the Crucifixion rests _mainly_ with the P... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΣΤΙΣ. The word implies ‘a man of such a kind, that, &c.’ ΚΑῚ ΦΌΝΟΝ. “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired _a murderer_ to be granted unto you,” Acts 3:14. Nothing is known of Bar-Abbas, but it has been conjectured from his name that he or his father belonged to the order of the Sanhedr... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΆΛΙΝ … ΠΡΟΣΕΦΏΝΗΣΕΝ. ‘Called unto them again.’ He did not make them a second speech, but repeated his question.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΕΦΏΝΟΥΝ. The word implies a continuous cry of increasing vehemence. The _vox populi_ was in this instance _vox Diaboli_. ΣΤΑΎΡΟΥ ΣΤΑΎΡΟΥ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ. The reading σταύρωσον may have risen from not observing that σταύρου is the imper. active, not middle (which would be σταυροῦ). This wild and terrible o... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΡΊΤΟΝ. We can only obtain from all the four Evangelists, and especially from St John, a full conception of the earnestness with which Pilate strove to escape from the necessity of what he felt to be a needless crime. If he was not, as Tertullian says, “_jam pro conscientia sua Christianus_,” he was... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΊΣΧΥΟΝ ΑἹ ΦΩΝΑῚ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ν. Comp. ἐπίσχυον, Luke 23:5. St Luke here omits the flagellation (Matthew 27:26); the derision and mock homage of the soldiery—the scarlet _sagum_ and crown of thorns; the sad scene of the Ecce Homo; the fresh terror of Pilate on hearing that He called Himself “the Son of G... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΈΚΡΙΝΕΝ. (Only found in 2Ma 4:47.) Not ‘followed their praejudicium,’ but _gave final sentence_. The two technical formulae for the sentence of death would be—to the Prisoner, ‘Ibis ad crucem’ (‘Thou shalt go to the Cross’); to the attendant soldier, ‘I miles, expedi crucem’ (‘Go soldier, get read... [ Continue Reading ]
ὋΝ ἨΙΤΟΥ͂ΝΤΟ. ‘Whom they were demanding.’ Comp. Acts 13:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΥΡΗΝΑΙ͂ΟΝ. There was a large colony of Jews in the powerful African city of Cyrene, and the Cyrenians had a synagogue at Jerusalem (Acts 2:10; Acts 6:9; Acts 11:20). Simon may have come to keep the feast. St Mark calls him “the father of Alexander and Rufus,” _possibly_ the Christians mentioned in... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON THE CYRENIAN. THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΥΝΑΙΚΩ͂Ν. Some of them may have come to offer the anodynes which were supposed to be demanded by the Rabbinic interpretation of Proverbs 31:6. This is the only other recorded incident of the procession to Calvary, and it is mentioned by St Luke alone. It is a sad fact that no man—even of His Apostl... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἾΠΕΝ. The only recorded words between His condemnation and crucifixion. Pity wrung from Him the utterance which anguish and violence had failed to extort. ΘΥΓΑΤΈΡΕΣ ἸΕΡΟΥΣΑΛΉΜ. The wailing women were _not_ therefore His former Galilaean followers, Luke 8:2-3. ἘΦ' ἙΑΥΤΆΣ. Some of them at least wou... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΘΡΕΨΑΝ. אBL, La[389] Ti[390] ἐξέθρεψαν D, ἐθήλασαν Rec[391] [389] La. Lachmann. [390] Ti. Tischendorf. [391] Rec. The Textus Receptus. 29. ΜΑΚΆΡΙΑΙ ΑἹ ΣΤΕΙ͂ΡΑΙ. Comp. Luke 11:27; Hosea 9:12-16. The words received their most painful illustration in the incident of the Siege, which had long been for... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΙ͂Σ ὌΡΕΣΙΝ. Comp. Hosea 10:8. Hundreds of the Jews at the end of the Siege hid themselves in subterranean recesses, and no less than 2000 were killed by being buried under the ruins of these hiding-places (Jos. _B. J._ VI. 9, § 4). We cannot fail to see in these events something of what St John ca... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΞΗΡΩ͂Ι ΤΊ ΓΈΝΗΤΑΙ; ‘What must happen in the dry?’ The subjunctive is _deliberative_ as in Matthew 26:54; Matthew 23:33. The meaning of this proverb is not clear, and hence it early received the most absurd explanations. It can however only mean either (1) ‘If they act thus cruelly and shamef... [ Continue Reading ]
ἝΤΕΡΟΙ ΔΎΟ. Perhaps followers of the released Barabbas. They were not ‘thieves,’ but ‘robbers’ or ‘brigands,’ and this name was not undeservedly given to some of the wild bands which refused Roman authority. See Isaiah 53:9. ΚΑΚΟΥ͂ΡΓΟΙ. This is in apposition to ἕτεροι δύο, not in agreement—_two oth... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸΝ ΤΌΠΟΝ. It is nowhere in Scripture called ‘a hill,’ and it was certainly not in any sense a steep or lofty hill. The only grounds for speaking of it as a hill are (1) tradition; and (2) the name. ΚΡΑΝΊΟΝ. The word Calvary came into our A. V[406] from the Vulg[407] _locum qui vocatur Calvariae. Ca... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CRUCIFIXION AND MOCKERY. THE TITLE... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΆΤΕΡ, ἌΦΕΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ. Isaiah 53:12, “He bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” These words were probably uttered at the terrible moment when the Sufferer was outstretched upon the Cross and the nails were being driven through the palms of the hands. They are certainly g... [ Continue Reading ]
35. The ΣῪΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ of Rec[392] is omitted by אBCDL. [392] Rec. The Textus Receptus. 35. ΘΕΩΡΩ͂Ν. The word implies that they gazed as at a solemn spectacle, Psalms 22:17; Zechariah 12:10. They seem as a body to have been far less active in insult than the others. [ΣῪΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ.] These words are... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝΈΠΑΙΞΑΝ ΔῈ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ι ΚΑῚ ΟἹ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩ͂ΤΑΙ. A quaternion of soldiers (John 19:23) with a centurion. Similarly Tacitus says of the Christian martyrs who perished in the Neronian persecution, “_pereuntibus addita ludibria_” (_Ann._ XV. 44). ὌΞΟΣ ΠΡΟΣΦΈΡΟΝΤΕΣ. It was their duty to watch Him (Matthew 27:36... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸ ΣῪ ΕἾ Ὁ ΒΑΣΙΛΕῪΣ ΤΩ͂Ν ἸΟΥΔΑΊΩΝ. As the title over Thy Cross asserts. The soldiers would delight in these taunts, because, like the ancients generally, they detested all Jews. Tumults of the most violent kind often arose from the brutal insolence of hatred which they shewed to the conquered nation... [ Continue Reading ]
[ΓΡΆΜΜΑΣΙΝ … ἙΒΡΑΪΚΟΙ͂Σ.] Perhaps added from John 19:20. It is wanting in BL, Copt. Sah[393] Curetonian Syriac &c. [393] Sah. Sahidic Version. ΟὟΤΟΣ. אBL. There are several slight variations. 38. ἘΠΙΓΡΑΦΉ. A _titulus_ written in black letters on a board smeared with white _gypsum_, and therefore... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἾΣ ΔῈ ΤΩ͂Ν … ΚΑΚΟΎΡΓΩΝ. In St Matthew and St Mark we are told that _both_ the robbers “reviled” Him. Here then we might suppose that there was an irreconcilable discrepancy. But though the Evangelists sometimes seem to be on the very verge of mutual contradiction, no instance of a contradiction can... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PENITENT ROBBER... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ἝΤΕΡΟΣ. The ‘_bonus latro_,’ or ‘Penitent Robber,’ is called Titus in the Arabic ‘Gospel of the Infancy’; and Dysmas in _Ev. Nicodem._ X., and a story is told that he had saved the Virgin and her Child from his comrades during their flight into Egypt. There are robber caves in the Valley of Doves... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΞΙΑ ΓᾺΡ ὯΝ ἘΠΡΆΞΑΜΕΝ�. Literally, “_we receive back things worthy of the crimes we did_.” ΟΥ̓ΔῈΝ ἌΤΟΠΟΝ ἜΠΡΑΞΕΝ. Literally, “_did nothing out of place_” (like our “out of the way,” i.e. nothing unusual or wrong). The word πράσσω in both clauses implies grave actions (see Luke 23:51), and this test... [ Continue Reading ]
ἸΗΣΟΥ͂. ‘Oh, Jesus;’ the “Lord” is omitted in אBCL. He may well have been encouraged by having heard the prayer of Jesus for His murderers, Luke 23:34. “_Oravit misericordia ut oraret miseria_.” Aug. ΜΝΉΣΘΗΤΊ ΜΟΥ. A truly humble prayer for a far-off remembrance. He calls _Him_ Lord whom the very Ap... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΉΜΕΡΟΝ. An unexpected boon,—for the crucified often lingered in agony for more than two days. ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΠΑΡΑΔΕΊΣΩΙ. παράδεισος is derived from the Persian word _Pardes_, meaning a king’s garden or pleasaunce. Here it is ‘a garden’ in which are more blessed trees than those in the garden of Golgotha.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὩΣΕῚ ὭΡΑ ἝΚΤΗ. I.e. mid-day. This seems at first sight to contradict John 19:14, but there is fair ground to conjecture that ‘sixth’ (which would be written ϛ') was an early misreading for ‘third’ (written Γ'). For other proposed solutions of the discrepancy see _Life of Christ_, II. 385. The soluti... [ Continue Reading ]
DARKNESS. THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE RENT. THE END. REMORSE OF THE SPECTATORS... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ἘΣΚΟΤΊΣΘΗ Ὁ ἭΛΙΟΣ. omitted in C2. τοῦ ἡλίου ἐκλείποντος B, ἐκλιπόντος אC1L. 45. ἘΣΚΟΤΊΣΘΗ Ὁ ἭΛΙΟΣ. Instead of these words some MSS. (אBC, &c.) read “_the sun eclipsing_,” or “_failing_.” The reading seems only to be an attempt, and that a very unsuccessful one, to account for the darkness. That... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΦΩΝΉΣΑΣ ΦΩΝΗ͂Ι ΜΕΓΆΛΗΙ. ‘And, crying with a loud voice’ (not “when he had cried,” A. V[411]). St Luke here omits the _Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani_, and the effect of that cry on the multitude (Matthew 27:46-50); the “I thirst,” which was the sole word of physical suffering wrung from Him in all H... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ἙΚΑΤΟΝΤΆΡΧΗΣ. Who commanded the quaternion of soldiers. It is remarkable that St Luke gives us several instances of ‘good centurions,’ Luke 7:2; Luke 23:47; Acts 10:1; Acts 22:26; Acts 27:43. ΤῸ ΓΕΝΌΜΕΝΟΝ. See Mark 15:39; Matthew 27:54. ἘΔΌΞΑΖΕΝ ΤῸΝ ΘΕΌΝ. A notice characteristic of St Luke (Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΆΝΤΕΣ ΟἹ … ὌΧΛΟΙ. ‘All the crowds.’ ΤΎΠΤΟΝΤΕΣ ΤᾺ ΣΤΉΘΗ ὙΠΈΣΤΡΕΦΟΝ. ‘Returned, smiting their breasts.’ It must be remembered that the People had not acted spontaneously in this matter, but had been goaded on by the Priests.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἹΣΤΉΚΕΙΣΑΝ ΔΈ. The multitudes began to return (ὑπέστρεφον), but the few who loved Him stayed on the spot, though they dared not to approach very near. ΠΆΝΤΕΣ ΟἹ ΓΝΩΣΤΟῚ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ι. Peculiar to St Luke. Comp. Luke 2:44. ἈΠῸ ΜΑΚΡΌΘΕΝ. See on Luke 16:23. ὉΡΩ͂ΣΑΙ. The word used is not θεωροῦντες, as in... [ Continue Reading ]
ΒΟΥΛΕΥΤΉΣ. i.e. a member of the Sanhedrin, and therefore (as one of the 70 most distinguished members of the ruling classes) a person of great distinction. St Mark (Mark 15:43) calls him ‘an honourable councillor.’ Godet somewhat fancifully sees in St Mark’s description of him the Roman ideal; as in... [ Continue Reading ]
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA. THE TAKING DOWN FROM THE CROSS. THE ENTOMBMENT... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓Κ ἯΝ ΣΥΝΚΑΤΑΤΙΘΈΜΕΝΟΣ, Κ.Τ.Λ. It is remarkable that Joseph is the only Sanhedrist of whom this exception is recorded. We cannot, however, doubt that it was true of Nicodemus also, since he was “_the_ teacher of Israel” (John 3:10), which may possibly mean the third officer of the Synagogue, who w... [ Continue Reading ]
ἨΙΤΉΣΑΤΟ ΤῸ ΣΩ͂ΜΑ. This was a bold, and might even have proved to be a perilous request. Hence the ‘boldly’ (τολμήσας) of Mark 15:43. Pilate seems to have granted the boon without a bribe because the Jewish care for burial was well known (Matthew 14:12; Acts 8:2; Jos. _B. J._ IV. 5, § 2), and was in... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΙΝΔΌΝΙ. A piece of fine white linen. Comp. Mark 14:51. Two other words, ὀθονία (John 19:40) and σουδάριον (John 20:7), are used of the various cerements of Jesus. That Joseph bought this σινδών, apparently on this day (Mark 15:46), is one of the many incidental signs furnished even by the Synoptist... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ͂Σ, אBL, Vulg[394] Copt. Sah[395] La[396] Ti[397] [394] Vulg. Vulgate. [395] Sah. Sahidic Version. [396] La. Lachmann. [397] Ti. Tischendorf. 54. ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ͂Σ. This word παρασκευὴ became the ordinary Greek word for Friday, because on Friday the Jews diligently prepared for the Sabbath, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΉΣΑΣΑΙ. Literally, “_following closely_.” ΓΥΝΑΙ͂ΚΕΣ. The two other Synoptists mention specially Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of James and Joses. ΑἽΤΙΝΕΣ. Needlessly precise for αἵ as often in later Greek.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὙΠΟΣΤΡΈΨΑΣΑΙ. As the sunset was now rapidly approaching, they must have hurried home to complete their preparations before the Sabbath began. ἈΡΏΜΑΤΑ ΚΑῚ ΜΎΡΑ. The spices are dry, the ‘perfumes’ liquid. They wished to complete the imperfect embalming of the body which Joseph and Nicodemus had hasti... [ Continue Reading ]