Geneva Study Bible And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. And {1} the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
(1) Christ, who is now ready to suffer for the rebellion which we raised in this world, is first of all pronounced guiltless, so that it might appear that he suffered not for his own sins (which were none) but for ours. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow {a} perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
(a) Corrupting the people, and leading them into errors. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. {2} When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
(2) Christ is a laughing stock to princes, but to their great pain. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto {b} Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
(b) This was Herod Antipas the Tetrarch, in the time of whose period of rule (which was almost twenty-two years long) John the Baptist preached and was put to death, and Jesus Christ also died and rose again, and the apostles began to preach, and various things were done at Jerusalem almost seven years after Christ's death. This Herod was sent into banishment to Lyons, about the second year of Gaius Caesar. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And Herod with his {c} men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
(c) Accompanied with his nobles and soldiers who followed him from Galilee. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. {3} And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
(3) The hatred of godliness binds the wicked together. And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, {4} And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the {d} rulers and the people,
(4) Christ is acquitted the second time, even by him of whom he is condemned, so that it might appear in what way he who is just, redeemed us who were unjust. (d) Those whom the Jews called the sanhedrin. Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
I will therefore chastise him, and release him. {5} I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
(5) The wisdom of the flesh is to choose the lesser of two evils, but God curses such plans. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. {6} And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
(6) Christ is acquitted the third time before he is condemned, so that it might appear that it was for our sins that were condemned in him. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. {7} And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
(7) An example of the outrageousness and disorder of the soldiers. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. {8} And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
(8) The triumph of the wicked has a most horrible end. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? For if they do these things in a {e} green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
(e) As if he said, If they do this to me who is always fruitful and flourishing, and who lives forever by reason of my Godhead, what will they do to you who are unfruitful and void of all active righteousness? And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. {9} And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
(9) Christ became accursed for us upon the cross, suffering the punishment which the ones who would belong to God deserved. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. {10} Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
(10) Christ, in praying for his enemies, shows that he is both the Sacrifice and the Priest. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the {f} chosen of God.
(f) Whom God loves more than all others. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. {11} And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
(11) Pilate is unknowingly made a preacher of the kingdom of Christ. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. {g} And {12} one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
(g) Therefore we must either take Matthew's account to be using the figure of speech synecdoche, or that both of them mocked Christ. But one of them who was eventually overcome with the great patience of God breaks forth in that confession worthy all memory. (12) Christ, in the midst of the humbling of himself upon the cross, indeed shows that he has both the power of life to save the believers and the power of death to avenge the rebellious. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing {h} amiss.
(h) More than he ought. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in {i} paradise.
(i) God made the visible paradise in the eastern part of the world: but that which we behold with the eyes of our mind is the place of everlasting joy and salvation, through the goodness and mercy of God, a most pleasant rest for the souls of the godly, and a most quiet and joyful dwelling. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. {13} And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
(13) Christ, even being at the point of death, shows himself to be God almighty even to the blind. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. {14} And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
(14) Christ enters bravely and resolutely into the very darkness of death, and he does this so that he might overcome death even within its most secret places. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. {15} Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
(15) Christ, as often as it pleases him, causes his very enemies to give honourable witness that he is right. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. {16} And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
(16) Christ gathers together and defends his little flock in the midst of the tormentors. And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counseller; and he was a good man, and a just: {17} And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
(17) Christ, through his well known burial, confirms both the truth of his death as well as his resurrection, by the plain and evident witness of Pilate. (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
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. 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.
And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath {k} drew on.
(k) Literally, dawning, and now beginning, for the light of the former day drew toward the going down of the sun, and that was the day of preparation for the feast, that is, the feast which was to be kept the following day. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. {18} And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
(18) Christ, being set upon by the devil and all his instruments, and being even in death's mouth, places weak women in his service, bearing in mind to immediately triumph over these terrible enemies, and that without any great endeavour. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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