John 19 - Introduction
XIX. For the scourging of Jesus and the delivery to be crucified (John 19:1), comp. generally Notes on Matthew 27:24; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
XIX. For the scourging of Jesus and the delivery to be crucified (John 19:1), comp. generally Notes on Matthew 27:24; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PILATE THEREFORE TOOK JESUS. — For the connection and the force of “therefore” comp. Luke 23:21. (1) That the earlier Gospels all make the darkness last from twelve until three (the sixth hour until the ninth hour). This is apparently intended to indicate the time of the Crucifixion, and they... [ Continue Reading ]
For the crown of thorns, comp. Matthew 27:26; and for the purple robe, Matthew 27:28; Mark 15:17. (2) That St. John distinguishes between the condemnation to be scourged (John 19:1) and that to be crucified. In St. Matthew and St. Mark the flagellation is regarded as the preliminary and part of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID, HAIL, KING OF THE JEWS. — The reading of the better MSS. is, _and they kept coming to Him and saying_... It is a description of the mock reverence which they paid Him. They kept drawing near and bowing before Him. (Comp. Matthew 27:29.) THEY SMOTE HIM WITH THEIR HANDS. — Comp. Note on Joh... [ Continue Reading ]
PILATE THEREFORE WENT FORTH AGAIN. — He had returned to the palace, and had ordered the scourging in the courtyard (Mark 15:15). He now goes forth again with Jesus wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and hopes by the spectacle to move the sympathy of the people, and to prevent the desig... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME JESUS FORTH. — The verse describes the scene as the writer remembers it. The figure of the Lord whom he had himself followed and loved, and of whom he thinks as ascended to the throne of the King of kings, led in the cruel mockery of royal garments, was one which left its mark for ever in... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE CHIEF PRIESTS THEREFORE AND OFFICERS SAW HIM. — Comp. John 18:3. The spectacle, so far from moving their pity, excites their passionate hatred, and they frustrate any other cry which may arise by that of “Crucify Him!” (Comp. Matthew 27:22.) TAKE YE HIM, AND CRUCIFY HIM: FOR I FIND NO FAUL... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE A LAW, AND BY OUR LAW HE OUGHT TO DIE. — The better reading is,.... _and by the law He ought to die._ (Comp. Leviticus 24:16.) They feel the bitter sarcasm of Pilate’s taunt, and appeal to their own law, which, in accordance with the general Roman policy, was in force in all questions which... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN PILATE THEREFORE HEARD THAT SAYING, HE WAS THE MORE AFRAID. — That is, as the verses which follow show, he was the more afraid because of his wonder who Jesus really was. He must have heard of some of the current impressions as to His life and words; he had himself heard Him claim a kingdom whi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WENT AGAIN INTO THE JUDGMENT HALL, AND SAITH UNTO JESUS. — He had brought Jesus out to the people. He now led Him back to the palace in order to inquire further of Him in private. WHENCE ART THOU? — The question is based upon the claim to be Son of God, of which he had heard. He knew that Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAKEST THOU NOT UNTO ME? — The position of the pronoun in the original is strongly emphatic — “To _me_ dost Thou not speak?” Pilate is true to the vacillating character which now as man trembles before One who may be a Being from the other world, and now as Roman governor expects that Being to tre... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU COULDEST HAVE NO POWER AT ALL AGAINST ME, EXCEPT IT WERE GIVEN THEE FROM ABOVE. — Pilate had twice said, with something of the pride of his position, “I have power.” Jesus says that he had of himself neither power of life nor power of death, that he had no power against Him but that which was g... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FROM THENCEFORTH PILATE SOUGHT TO RELEASE HIM. — The words may be interpreted of time, as in the Authorised version, or of cause — “For this reason Pilate sought to release Him.” The latter is more probable, as the reference seems to be to the attempt which he made at once. (Comp. Note on John 6... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN PILATE THEREFORE HEARD THAT SAYING. — Better... _these sayings_ — _i.e.,_ the two sayings of the previous verse. HE BROUGHT JESUS FORTH.,. — Comp. John 19:9. He hesitates no longer about the course to be taken. His own position and life may be in danger, and he prepares, therefore, to pronounc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS THE PREPARATION OF THE PASSOVER. — Comp. Note on Matthew 26:17, and _Excursus F: The Day of the Crucifixion of our Lord._ AND ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR. — Comp. Notes on Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:25; Luke 23:44. St. John’s statement of time (twelve o’clock) seems opposed to that of St. Mark, who... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY CRIED OUT... — Better, _they cried out therefore._.. They feel the sting of Pilate’s irony, therefore cry the more passionately, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him.” SHALL I CRUCIFY YOUR KING? — In the order of the Greek words “your King” comes emphatically first, “Your King — shal... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN DELIVERED HE HIM THEREFORE UNTO THEM — _i.e.,_ to the chief priests. The Crucifixion was actually carried out by the Roman soldiers, acting under the direction of the chief priests, AND LED HIM AWAY. — These words should probably be omitted.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the way of the cross, comp. Matthew 27:31; Mark 15:20; Luke 23:26. For the present passage, comp. especially Note on the parallel words in Matthew 27:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Notes on Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Notes on Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38. St. John speaks of the _title_ placed over the cross. This was the common Roman name for an inscription of the kind, which was meant to give information of the crime for which the sentence of crucifixion had been given. St. Matthew calls it the “... [ Continue Reading ]
This and the following verses are peculiar to St. John, and furnish another instance of his exact knowledge of what took place at Jerusalem. MANY OF THE JEWS. — That is, of the hierarchical party, as generally in this Gospel. (Comp. Note on John 1:19.) It has been sometimes understood here of the p... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THE CHIEF PRIESTS OF THE JEWS TO PILATE. — Better, _Therefore said_..., _i.e.,_ because the inscription could be read by all comers, and the Messianic title, “King of the Jews,” would be exposed to scorn. Yet these are the men who said, in order to accomplish the death of Jesus, “We have n... [ Continue Reading ]
On John 19:23, comp. Notes on Matthew 27:35; Luke 23:34. St. John’s account is again more full than any of the others. AND MADE FOUR PARTS, TO EVERY SOLDIER A PART. — The soldiers there who carried the sentence into execution were one of the usual quarternions (Acts 12:4), under the command of a ce... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE SCRIPTURE MIGHT BE FULFILLED. — Comp. Note on Matthew 1:22. THEY PARTED MY RAIMENT AMONG THEM. — The quotation is from Psalms 22:18, closely following the Greek translation.... [ Continue Reading ]
John 19:25 relate an incident which is found in St. John only. MARY THE WIFE OF CLEOPHAS, AND MARY MAGDALENE. — Better, _Mary the_ (_wife_)_ of Clopas,_ as in margin. This Clopas is usually identified with Alphæus. (Comp. Matthew 10:3; Matthew 27:56, and _Introduction to the Gospel according to St.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISCIPLE STANDING BY, WHOM HE LOVED. — Comp. Note on John 13:23. WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON! — Comp. Note on John 2:4. There were those who were called the “brethren of the Lord” who may seem to us to have been of nearer relationship (comp. Note on Matthew 13:55), but He regards whosoever doeth the w... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD THY MOTHER! — The solemn committal is a double one. The loving heart of the disciple should find, as well as give, sympathy and support in the love of the mother. The sympathy in their common loss is to be the source of love for each other. AND FROM THAT HOUR. — The words do not necessarily... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. accounts of the darkness and death in Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44. KNOWING THAT ALL THINGS WERE NOW ACCOMPLISHED, THAT THE SCRIPTURE MIGHT BE FULFILLED. — It is difficult to give the exact meaning of the words in English. In the original the words for “accomplished” and “fulfilled” a... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THERE WAS SET A VESSEL FULL OF VINEGAR. — This vessel of the ordinary sour wine drunk by the Roman soldiers, was placed near in order to be given to those who were crucified. Thirst was always an accompaniment of death by crucifixion, and that the vessel of wine was prepared for this purpose is... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS FINISHED. — That is (comp. John 19:28, and John 17:4), the work which God had given Him to do. (Comp. Notes on Matthew 27:50, and Luke 23:46.) This word is the expression by Jesus Himself of what St. John had expressed by saying, “Jesus knowing that all things were now finished, that the Scrip... [ Continue Reading ]
The account of the piercing of the side (John 19:31) is peculiar to St. John. THE PREPARATION,.... AN HIGH DAY. — Comp. _Excursus F: The Day of the Crucifixion of our Lord,_ p. 559. The Roman custom was to allow the bodies to remain on the cross. To the Jews this was defilement (Deuteronomy 21:22),... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME THE SOLDIERS,.... — The words do not mean, as they have sometimes been understood, that other soldiers came, but refer to the quaternion before named (John 19:23), who had naturally fallen back from the crosses, and are here represented as coming forward to complete their work. The mention... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAW THAT HE WAS DEAD ALREADY,... The only explanation of their not breaking the legs of Jesus seems to be that the purpose of the _crurifragium_ was to ensure death, or, in any case, prevent the possibility of escape. Crucifixion itself would not necessarily cause death for several days, nor, in... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ONE OF THE SOLDIERS WITH A SPEAR PIERCED HIS SIDE. — They had seen that He was dead, and therefore did not break the legs. To cause death was not, then, the object in piercing the side; and yet it may have seemed to make death doubly sure. The word rendered “pierced” occurs nowhere else in the N... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE THAT SAW IT BARE RECORD, AND HIS RECORD IS TRUE. — Comp. John 1:7. It may be better to render the word here, as elsewhere, by “witness,” in order that we may get the full force of its frequent recurrence. The writer speaks of himself in the third person (comp. _Introduction,_ p. 375), laying... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THESE THINGS WERE DONE (better, _came to pass_)_,_ THAT THE SCRIPTURE SHOULD BE FULFILLED. — The emphatic witness of the previous verse is not therefore to be confined to the one fact of the flowing of the blood and the water, but to the facts in which the fulfilment of Scripture was accomplishe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED. — The words, as they occur in the Authorised version, of the prophecy are, “They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced,” but the reading which St. John has followed is that of many MSS., and is adopted by many Rabbinic (as Rashi and Kimchi) and many mode... [ Continue Reading ]
For the burial (John 19:38), comp. generally Notes on Matthew 27:57_;_ Mark 15:42; Luke 23:50. BUT SECRETLY FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS. — This is the only additional fact which St. John supplies with regard to Joseph. He places him in these verses side by side with Nicodemus, and ascribes the same trait... [ Continue Reading ]
NICODEMUS, WHICH AT THE FIRST CAME TO JESUS BY NIGHT. — He is mentioned only by St. John. (Comp. Notes on John 3:1; John 7:50.) A MIXTURE OF MYRRH AND ALOES. — For “myrrh,” comp. Note on Matthew 2:11. “Aloes” are not elsewhere mentioned in the New Testament, but they are joined with myrrh in the Me... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WOUND IT IN LINEN CLOTHES WITH THE SPICES. — Comp. Notes on Luke 24:12. The same word does not occur, but the manner of the Jews to bury has been also illustrated in the Note on John 11:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IN THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS CRUCIFIED THERE WAS A GARDEN. — Comp. John 18:1. St. John’s account makes the choice of the sepulchre depend on its nearness to the place of crucifixion; the account in the earlier Gospels makes it depend on the fact that the sepulchre belonged to Joseph. The one accoun... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS’ PREPARATION DAY. — Comp. John 19:14; John 19:31, and _Excursus F: The Day of the Crucifixion of our Lord,_ p. 559.... [ Continue Reading ]