Matthew 27:35

Here the textus receptus has: ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ προφήτου· Διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον. The omission is made on quite decisive evidence, the authorities being headed by אABDL.

35. σταυρώσαντες. From the fact of the titulus or inscription being placed over the Saviour’s head, it is inferred that the cross on which He suffered was such as is usually shewn in pictures, the crux immissa (†) or Latin cross as distinguished from the crux commissa (T) or the crux decussata (X), the form of cross on which St Andrew is said to have suffered. The height was from 9 to 12 feet; at a short distance from the ground a projecting rest supported the sufferer’s feet, which, as well as the hands, were nailed to the cross.

According to St Mark (Mark 15:25) the Crucifixion took place at the third hour—nine o’clock. St. John (John 19:14) says it was about the sixth hour when Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified.

This discrepancy has received no entirely satisfactory solution. It has however been suggested that St John, writing at a later period and in a different part of the world, may have followed a different mode of reckoning time. How easily such difficulties may arise can be seen by the curious fact that noon, which means the ninth hour (nona hora) or three o’clock, is now used for twelve o’clock. The explanation would be difficult to those who did not know the historical facts.

διεμερίσαντο κ.τ.λ. St John describes the division more accurately; they divided His ἱμάτια, or outer garments, but cast lots for the seamless χιτών, or tunic. The latter is said to have been a dress peculiar to Galilæan peasants.

The Greek of the quotation from Psalms 22:18 (see below) does not convey the same distinction.