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Click a verse to see commentary23. Trial and Crucifixion
1And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king. 3And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest. 4And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man. 5But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place. 6But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. 7And when he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days. 8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 11And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. 12And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves. 13And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I having examined him before you, found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 15no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him. 16I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 17Now he must needs release unto them at the feast one prisoner. 18But they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: -- 19one who for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison. 20And Pilate spake unto them again, desiring to release Jesus; 21but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him. 22And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him. 23But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24And Pilate gave sentence that what they asked for should be done. 25And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will. 26And 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. 27And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. 28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29For 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. 30Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 32And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots. 35And 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. 36And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him vinegar, 37and saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself. 38And there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us. 40But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom. 43And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. 44And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45the sun's light failing: and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. 47And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts. 49And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things. 50And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good and righteous man 51(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of God: 52this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 53And 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. 54And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid. 56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
The Burial of Christ.
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
We have here an account of Christ's burial; for he must be brought not only to death, but to the dust of death (Ps. xxii. 15), according to the sentence (Gen. iii. 19), To the dust thou shalt return. Observe,
I. Who buried him. His acquaintance stood afar off; they had neither money to bear the charge nor courage to bear the odium of burying him decently; but God raised up one that had both, a man named Joseph, v. 50. His character is that he was a good man and a just, a man of unspotted reputation for virtue and piety, not only just to all, but good to all that needed him (and care to bury the dead, as becomes the hope of the resurrection of the dead, is one instance of goodness and beneficence); he was a person of quality, a counsellor, a senator, a member of the sanhedrim, one of the elders of the Jewish church. Having said this of him, it was necessary to add that, though he was of that body of men who had put Christ to death, yet he had not consented to their counsel and deed (v. 51), though it was carried by the majority, yet he entered his protest against it, and followed not the multitude to do evil. Note, That evil counsel or deed to which we have not consented shall not be reckoned our act. Nay, he not only dissented openly from those that were enemies to Christ, but be consented secretly with those that were his friends: He himself waited for the kingdom of God; he believed the Old-Testament prophecies of the Messiah and his kingdom, and expected the accomplishment of them. This was the man that appears upon this occasion to have had a true respect for the Lord Jesus. Note, There are many who are hearty in Christ's interests, how, though they do not make any show in their outward profession of it, yet will be more ready to do him a piece of real service, when there is occasion, than others who make a greater figure and noise.
II. What he did towards the burying of him. 1. He went to Pilate, the judge that condemned him, and begged the body of Jesus, for it was at his disposal; and, though he might have raised a party sufficient to have carried off the body by violence, yet he would take the regular course, and do it peaceably. 2. He took it down, it should seem, with his own hands, and wrapped it in linen. They tell us that it was the manner of the Jews to roll the bodies of the dead, as we do little children in their swaddling-clothes, and that the word here used signifies as much; so that the piece of fine linen, which he bought whole, he cut into many pieces for this purpose. It is said of Lazarus, He was bound hand and foot, John xi. 44. Grave-clothes are to the saints as swaddling-clothes, which they shall out-grow and put off, when they come to the perfect man.
III. Where he was buried. In a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, that the prison of the grave might be made strong, as the church, when she was brought into darkness, had her way enclosed with hewn stone, Lam. iii. 2, 9. But it was a sepulchre in which never man before was laid, for he was buried on such an account as never any one before him was buried, only in order to his rising again the third day by his own power; and he was to triumph over the grave as never any man did.
IV. When he was buried. On the day of the preparation, when the sabbath drew on, v. 54. This is given as a reason why they made such haste with the funeral, because the sabbath drew on, which required their attendance to other work, preparing for the sabbath, and going forth to welcome it. Note, Weeping must not hinder sowing. Though they were in tears for the death of Christ, yet they must apply themselves to the sanctifying of the sabbath; and, when the sabbath draws on, there must be preparation. Our worldly affairs must be so ordered that they may not hinder us from our sabbath work, and our holy affections must be so excited that they may carry us on in it.
V. Who attended the funeral; not any of the disciples, but only the women that came with him from Galilee (v. 55), who, as they staid by him while he hung on the cross, so they followed him, all in tears no doubt, and beheld the sepulchre where it was, which was the way to it, and how his body was laid in it. They were led to this, not by their curiosity, but by their affection to the Lord Jesus, which was strong as death and which many waters could not quench. Here was a silent funeral, and not a solemn one, and yet his rest was glorious.
VI. What preparation was made for the embalming of his body after he was buried (v. 56): They returned, and prepared spices and ointments, which was more an evidence of their love than of their faith; for had they remembered and believed what he had so often told them, that he should rise again the third day, they would have spared their cost and pains herein, as knowing that in a short time there would be a greater honour put upon his body, by the glory of his resurrection, than they could put upon it with their most precious ointments; but, busy as they were in this preparation, they rested on the sabbath day, and did none of this servile work thereon, not only according to the custom of their nation, but according to the commandments of their God, which, though the day be altered, is still in full force: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.