| Mark 15:16-19 | Matt. 27:27-30 |
| 16 And the soldiers led him away within the court, which is the 4Prætorium; and they call together the whole 2band. 17 And they clothe him with purple, and plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it on him; 18 and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19 And they smote his head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. |
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the 1palace, and gathered unto him the whole 2band. 28 And they 3stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And they plaited a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. |
1 Gr. Prætorium.
2 Or, cohort.
3 Some ancient authorities read clothed him.
4 Or, palace.
a The Sanhedrin likewise had mocked Jesus when they had condemned him to death (§ 155).
| Mark 15:20-23 | Matt. 27:31-34 | Luke 23:26-33 | John 19:16-17 |
| 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments. And they lead him out to crucify him. 21 And they 2compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross. 22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. 23 And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. |
31 And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him. 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they 1compelled to go with them, that he might bear his cross. 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull, 34 they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall [see Ps. 69:21]: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink. |
26 And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for your- selves, and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. 30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us [see Hos. 10:8]. 31 For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 32 And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they came unto the place which is called 3The skull, |
16 They took Jesus therefore: 17 and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha: |
1 Gr. impressed.
2 Gr. impress.
3 According to the Latin, Calvary, which has the same meaning.
a Golgotha is the Aramaic word for "skull," and Calvary is the Latin word. The place cannot have been where the so-called "Church of the Holy Sepulchre" stands, far within the walls. There is of late a rapidly growing agreement that it was the northern end of the Temple hill, whose rounded summit (without the city wall), and southern face with holes in the rock, looks at a little distance much like a skull. This place fulfils all the conditions.
From nine A.M. till noon on Friday (three sayings of Jesus; the soldiers gambling for the garment of Jesus; the inscription on the Cross; the scoffing of Jesus by the multitude, the Sanhedrin, the soldiers, and even by the two robbers on each side of Christ)a
| Mark 15:24-32 | Matt. 27:35-44 | Luke 23:33-43 | John 19:18-27 |
| 24 And they crucify him, and part his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take [see Ps. 22:18]. 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. 26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27 And with him they crucify two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left.3 29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads [see Ps. 22:7], and saying, Ha! thou that destroyest the 1temple, and buildest it in three days, 30 save thyself, and come down from the cross. 31 In like manner also the chief priests mocking him among themselves with the scribes said, He saved others; 2himself he cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reproached him. |
35 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots: 36 and they sat and watched him there. 37 And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Then are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand, and one on the left. 39 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, 40 and saying, Thou that destroyest the 1temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 In like manner also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; 2himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. 43 He trusteth on God [see Ps. 22:8]; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach. |
33 there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 4And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots. 38 And there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him vinegar, 37 and saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself. 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us. 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest 6in thy kingdom. 43 And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. |
18 where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. 23 The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the 5coat: now the 5coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore one to another, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my garments among them, And upon my vesture did they cast lots. [Ps. 22:18]. 25 These things therefore the soldiers did. 19 And Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. And there was written, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 This title therefore read many of the Jews: 7for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and in Latin, and in Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but, that he said, I am King of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. 25 But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold, thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold, thy mother! And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home. |
1 Or, sanctuary.
2 Or, can he not save himself?
3 Many ancient authorities insert ver. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was reckoned with transgressors. See Luke 22:37.
4 Some ancient authorities omit And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
5 Or, tunic.
6 Some ancient authorities read into thy kingdom.
7 Or, for the place of the city where Jesus was crucified was nigh at hand.
a It is not easy to tell the precise order of the events during this period of three hours, since the Gospels do not present them in the same detail or order. On the whole it has seemed best simply to follow Mark's arrangement as we have done uniformly in the Harmony. Thus the apparent order of the sayings is (1) The Prayer for Christ's enemies in Luke 23:34. (2) The Promise to the Repentant Robber in Luke 23:43. (3) The Charge to the Mother of Jesus and to the Beloved Disciple in John 19:26, 27. These three sayings are with reference to others.
(Four More Sayingsa at the Close of the Darkness and the Death of Christ.)
| Mark 15:33-37 | Matt. 27:45-50 | Luke 23:44-46 | John 19:28-30 |
| 33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole 1land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, 2why hast thou forsaken me? 35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah. 36 And one ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down. 37 And Jesus uttered a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. |
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the 1land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama, sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, 2why hast thou forsaken me [see Ps. 22:1]? 47 And some of them that stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth Elijah. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 And the rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to save him.3 50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. |
44 And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole 1land until the ninth hour, 45 4the sun's light failing. 46 5And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit [see Ps. 31:5]: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. |
28 After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst. 29 There was set there a vessel full of vinegar: so they put a sponge full of the vinegar upon hysop, and brought it to his mouth [see Ps. 69:21]. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. |
1 Or, earth.
2 Or, why didst thou forsake me?
3 Many ancient authorities add And another took a spear and pierced his side, and there came out water and blood. See John 19:34.
4 Gr. the sun failing.
5 Or, And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said.
a The probable order of these four sayings coming just before the death of Jesus is (1) The Cry of Desolation, Mark 15:34 = Matt. 27:46. (2) The Cry of Physical Anguish, John 19:28. (3) The Cry of Victory, John 19:30. (4) The Cry of Resignation, Luke 23:46. These four sayings of Jesus are with reference to himself.
| Mark 15:38-41 | Matt. 27:51-56 | Luke 23:45, 47-49 |
| 38 And the veil of the 2temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 39 And when the centurion, which stood by over against him, saw that he 1so gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was 3the Son of God. 40 And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the 4less and of Joses, and Salome; 41 who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him; and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. |
51 And behold, the veil of the 2temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent; 52 and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many. 54 Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was 3the Son of God. 55 And many women were there beholding from afar, which had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. |
45 And the veil of the 2temple was rent in the midst. 47 And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things. |
1 Many ancient authorities read so cried out, and gave up the ghost.
2 Or, sanctuary.
3 Or, a son of God.
4 Gr. little.
| John 19:31-42 | |||
| 31 The
Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross upon the sabbath (for the day of that sabbath was a high day), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 The soldiers therefore came, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him: 33 but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34 howbeit one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and water. 35 And he that hath seen hath borne witness, and his witness is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled [see Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Ps. 34:20], A bone of him shall not be 3broken. 37 And again another scripture saith [see Zech. 12:10. Deut. 21:22-23; Ex. 34:24], They shall look on him whom they pierced. | |||
| Mark 15:42-46 | Matt. 27:57-60 | Luke 23:50-54 | John 19:31-42 |
| 42 And when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 there came Joseph of Arimathæa, a councillor of honourable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God; and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he 1had been any while dead. 45 And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And he bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. |
57 And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 58 this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up. 59 And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. |
50 And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good man and a righteous 51 (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of God: 52 this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain. 54 And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath 2drew on. |
38 And after these things Joseph of Arimathæa, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took away his body. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a 4mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid [see Deut. 21:22-23]. 42 There then because of the Jews' Preparation (for the tomb was nigh at hand) they laid Jesus. |
1 Many ancient authorities read were already dead.
2 Gr. began to dawn.
3 Or, crushed.
4 Some ancient authorities read roll.
The women maintain their watch and rest on the Sabbath (beginning 6 P.M.) while the Pharisees have a guard of Roman soldiers to keep watch over the Roman seal on the tomb.
| Mark 15:47 | Matt. 27:61-66 | Luke 23:55-56 |
| 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. |
61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62 Now on the morrow, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate, 63 saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, 1Ye have a guard: go your way, 2make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them. |
55 And the women, which had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbatha they rested according to the commandment [see Ex. 12:16; 20:8-11; Deut. 5:12-15]. |
1 Or, Take a guard.
2 Gr. make it sure, as ye know.
a Luke (23:54) notes that "the Sabbath drew on" after the burial on Friday afternoon. The Sabbath began at 6 P.M. Then Luke notes that the women rested during the Sabbath (our Friday night and Saturday).
During forty days beginning with Sunday after the death of Christ. Spring of A.D. 30 (or 29). Judea and Galilee.a §§ 169-184.
a Of this period we see that he remained at or near Jerusalem for a week. Then he probably left at once for Galilee (Matt. 28:7; Mark 16:7). In the month that followed we cannot fix the exact time of the events that occurred in Galilee, but just at the end of the forty days we find him again in Jerusalem.
They watch the tomb late on the Sabbath (our Saturday afternoon); and the purchase of spices by them after the Sabbath (after 6 P.M. Saturday) on the first day of the week.
| Mark 16:1 | Matt. 28:1 |
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. |
1 Now late on the sabbath day,a as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. |
a This phrase once gave much trouble, but the usage of the vernacular Koiné Greek amply justifies the translation. The visit of the women to inspect the tomb was thus made before the sabbath was over (before 6 P.M. on Saturday). But the same Greek idiom was occasionally used in the sense of "after." See Robertson, Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research, p. 645. The distance from Bethany to Golgotha was not more than a sabbath day's journey. The spices could be purchased after sundown either in Bethany or Jerusalem. It must be borne in mind that the Jewish First Day of the Week began at 6 P.M. on our Saturday.