John 19:16-18

Then delivered he him Having now laid aside all thoughts of saving Jesus, Pilate gave him up to the will of his enemies, and commanded the soldiers to prepare for his execution. And they took Jesus, and led him away After they had insulted and abused him, as is related Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16, where see the notes. And he, bearing his cross Not the whole cross, (for that was too large and heavy,) but the transverse beam of it, to which his hands were afterward fastened. This part they used to make the person carry who was to be executed. Went forth Out of the city, to a place which it seems lay on the western side of Jerusalem, but a little without the boundaries of it; unto a place called a place of the scull The place of execution had this name given it from the criminals' bones which lay scattered there. See note on Matthew 27:33. Golgotha is a Syriac word, and signifies a scull, or head. Here some of Christ's friends offered him a stupifying potion, with a view, probably, to render him insensible of the ignominy and pain of his punishment. See note on Matthew 27:33. And two other with him, on either side one See note on Luke 23:32.