_And the whole multitude of them_ Namely, of the chief priests, scribes, and elders, _arose and led him unto Pilate_ See on Matthew 27:42; and Mark 15:1. _And they began to accuse him_, Charging him with three capital crimes; _perverting the nation, forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, and saying, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Pilate_ After having heard his defence. See on Matthew 27:11; and Mark 15:2. _I find no fault in this man_ I do not find that he either attempts or asserts any thing injurious to Cesar. _And they were the more fierce_ The priests were not disconcerted or abashed by the public declaration,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the chief priests and scribes_ Whose malice had brought them to attend him thither; _stood_ In the presence of the king; _and vehemently accursed him_ Doubtless as an enemy to Cesar, and guilty of seditious practices, crimes which they had laid to his charge before Pilate. Observe, reader, it i... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Pilate_ Having received an account of what had passed before Herod; _called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people_ Namely, such of them as had appeared against Jesus as his accusers; _and said, Ye have brought this man unto me as one that perverteth the people_ As having taught... [ Continue Reading ]
_They cried out all at once_ Thus, by giving ground a little, and proposing to chastise Jesus, to satisfy these wretches, Pilate only encouraged them to press on the more, and become more violent in their clamours for his crucifixion; _saying, Away with this man_ Αιρε τουτον, _tolle istum in crucem,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as they led him away_ After he had been barbarously scourged and mocked, as is recorded, Matthew 27:26, and Mark 15:15, where see the notes; _they laid hold on one Simon, coming out of the country_ Who was probably a friend of Christ's, and known to be so; _and on him they laid the cross_ Which... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Jesus turning, said_, &c. Jesus, who ever felt the woes of others more than he did his own, forgetting his distress at the very time that it lay heaviest upon him, turned about, and with a benevolence and tenderness truly divine, said to them, _Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me_, &c. Not... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us,_ &c. Proverbial expressions, to signify their desire of any shelter or refuge; and so very desirous were they of hiding themselves, that some thousands of them crept even into the common sewers, and there miserably perished, or were dragged... [ Continue Reading ]
_There were also two other malefactors_ This should rather be rendered, _Two others, who were malefactors, were also led with him to be put to death._ The distinction between Jesus and the malefactors is remarkably preserved in the next verse. _And when they were come to the place called Calvary_ Se... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the people stood beholding_ Him hanging on the cross, being, it seems, not at all concerned, but rather pleasing themselves with the spectacle. _And the rulers_ Whom, from their office, one would have supposed to be men of sense and men of honour, stood among the rabble; and _derided him, sayin... [ Continue Reading ]
_A superscription also was written over him_, &c. THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS No transposition is necessary here: for Luke does not tell us when the superscription was written, so far is he from saying that it was written after Jesus was mocked. He only observes in general that there was a title pl... [ Continue Reading ]
_And one of the malefactors railed on him_ The word κακουργος, here rendered _malefactor_, does not always denote a _thief_, or _robber_, but was a term likewise applied to the Jewish soldiers, who were hurried by their zeal to commit some crime, in opposition to the Roman authority. As Matthew and... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he said, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom_ Such was the prayer of a dying sinner to a dying Saviour. And as in his confession he discovered deep repentance toward God, so in this petition he discovered strong faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He owns him to be the Lord, and to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus said_ In answer to his prayer; _Verily I say unto thee_ I, the Amen, the faithful Witness, give thee assurance, _This day thou shalt be with me in paradise_ As if he had said, I will not only remember thee when I come into my kingdom, but this very day; and will confer upon thee more than tho... [ Continue Reading ]
_About the sixth hour_ Answering to twelve o'clock with us; _there was darkness_, &c. See on Matthew 27:45. The noon-tide darkness, covering the sun, obscured all the upper hemisphere. And the lower was equally darkened, the moon being in opposition to the sun, and so receiving no light from it. _Un... [ Continue Reading ]
_Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit_ The Father receives the spirit of Jesus; Jesus himself the spirits of the faithful. See on Matthew 27:50. _When the centurion_ The Roman officer, who stood over against him and guarded the execution; _saw what was done_ In so miraculous a manner, in those... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a man named Joseph, a good man, and a just_ One who united in his character the two great principles of morality justice and benevolence. _The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them_ Though he was a member of the council which condemned Jesus, he did not join them in their... [ Continue Reading ]