EVANGELICAL NARRATIVE OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST.

Having been divinely anointed as the prophet, priest, and king of his people, Christ successively assumed during his life on earth each of those sacred characters; his prophetical office having commenced at his baptism, his priesthood at the last supper, and his kingdom at his resurrection. When his public ministry in Jerusalem was concluded, he entered on his priestly functions by celebrating the passover with his apostles; whom, under the influence of the most generous affection, he continued till the last moment to instruct and console. After predicting the events which were immediately to befall him, and commending himself, his disciples, and his cause in solemn prayer to the Father, he closed the hallowed engagement, and spontaneously proceeded to the scene where his sufferings were to begin. The apostle John, by whom alone this prayer is recorded, thus connects it with the sequel.

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When Jesus had spoken these words he went forth with his disciples, and having sung a hymn, they repaired as usual to the Mount of Olives. He then said to them, — "All of you will this night be offended by me, for it is written, — I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will he scattered; — but after I am risen [from the dead,] I will go before you to Galilee." — Peter answered him, — "Though all [others] should be offended by thee, I will never be offended." — Jesus said to him, — "I tell thee truly that to-day, [even] this very night, before the cock crows the second time, thou wilt disown me thrice:" — but he spoke the more positively, — "Though I should die with thee, I will never disown thee:" — So likewise said all the disciples. Then came Jesus with them to a place beyond the brook Kidron, called Gethsemane, where was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. And Judas also who betrayed him knew the spot, for Jesus and his disciples often assembled there. On arriving at this place he said to them, — "Sit here whilst I go and pray yonder, [and] pray that ye may not fall into temptation." — Then taking apart with him Peter, and the two sons of Zebediah, James and John, he was seized with consternation and distress:¹ and said to them, — "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death: remain here, and watch with me." — And he hastily withdrew from them about a stone's cast,² and kneeling down, threw himself on his face, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him, saying — "Abba! [that is] Father! if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not my will but thine be done." — Returning to the disciples he found them asleep, and said to Peter, — "Simon! sleepest thou? Are ye thus unable to watch with me a single hour? Watch and pray that ye may not fall into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." — Again withdrawing, he prayed a second time, saying the same words; — "My Father! if this cup cannot pass from me unless I drink it, thy will be done." — On returning he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy, and they knew not what to answer him. Again withdrawing from them, he prayed a third time, saying the same words; and there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. Then, falling into an agony he prayed most earnestly, and his sweat became as it were clots of blood dropping to the ground. Rising from prayer, he returned a third time to the disciples, and found them asleep through sorrow, and said to them, — "Do ye sleep and rest till the last moment? Rise, and pray that ye may not fall into temptation. There is no longer time. The hour is come.³ Behold! the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go. Behold! he that betrayeth me is at hand."

"Whilst he was yet speaking, behold! Judas, one of the twelve, having taken the Roman guard,⁴ besides officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came thither with lanterns, and torches, and weapons. And he had appointed them a signal, saying, — ["The man] whom I shall kiss is he, seize him, and lead him away securely." — So he instantly went up to Jesus, and said — "Hail, Rabbi!" — and earnestly kissed him: but Jesus said to him, — "Companion! for what purpose art thou come? Judas! dost thou betray the Son of man by a kiss?" — Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to befall him, went forth and said to them, — "Whom seek ye?" — They answered him, — "Jesus of Nazareth;" — Jesus said to them, — "I am he." — And Judas also who betrayed him was standing with them. As soon then as he had said to them, — "I am he," — they drew backwards, and fell to the ground. Then he asked them again, — "Whom seek ye?" — They said, — "Jesus of Nazareth." — Jesus answered, — "I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, allow these men to depart;" — thus fulfilling the declaration which he had made, — "Of those whom thou gavest me I have not lost one." — Then they advanced, laid hands on Jesus, and seized him. On this those who were with him, perceiving what was about to happen, said to him, — "Lord, shall we smite with the sword?" — and Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear: the slave's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus to Peter, — "Put the sword into the scabbard, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. The cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Thinkest thou that I cannot even now request my Father, and he would send to my aid more than twelve legions of angels? [but] how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, [which declare] that thus it must be?" — And he said, — "Suffer [me] thus far:" — and, touching the ear of Malchus, he healed him. Then said Jesus to the chief priests, commanders of the temple [guard,] and elders, who had come forth against him, — "Are ye come forth as against a robber, with swords and staves, to seize me? I sat daily amongst you, teaching in the temple, and ye did not seize me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness, in fulfilment of the writings of the prophets."— Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. So the guard, and [their] commander, and the officers of the Jews,⁵ seized Jesus, and bound him. And there followed him a certain youth having no other clothing than a linen sheet, and the young men seized him; on which leaving the sheet he fled from them naked. They led Jesus in the first instance to Annas, for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Caiaphas was he who had counselled the Jews that it was expedient one man should die for the nation. Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas the high priest, at whose palace all the chief priests, scribes, and elders were assembled. Now Simon Peter had followed Jesus at a distance; another disciple also [followed him:] that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the palace, but Peter stood without at the gate; so the other disciple who was known to the high priest went out, and spoke to the maidservant who attended the gate, and obtained admission for Peter. Then said the maidservant to Peter, — "Art not thou also [one] of this man's disciples?" — He said, — "I am not:" — and he went in, and joined the officers, to see the end. The slaves and officers were standing round a fire of embers which they had kindled in the midst of the hall, for it was cold, and were warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. Whilst he was there, one of the maidservants of the high priest came, and seeing Peter sitting at the fire, after looking stedfastly at him, said, — *' This man also was with him, — Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth:" — but he disowned him before them all, saying, — "Woman, I know him not, neither do I understand what thou meanest." — A little after another person saw him, and said, — "Thou also art [one] of them:" — but Peter said,— "Man, I am not:" — and he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. Whilst he was there, another [maidservant] saw him, and said to those who were present, — '' This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth." — Again he denied [it] with an oath, [saying,] — "I know not the man." — Now the high priest questioned Jesus concerning his disciples, and his doctrine. Jesus answered him, — "I spoke openly to the world, I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews assemble,⁶ and I have not taught anything in secret. Why askest thou me? Ask those who heard [me] what I spoke to them. Behold! they know what I have spoken." — On his saying this, one of the officers who stood near struck him with his staff, saying, — "Answerest thou the high priest thus?" — Jesus replied to him, — "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why strikest thou me?" — Then the chief priests, and the elders, and the whole Sanhedrim sought for evidence against Jesus that they might sentence him to death, but were unable to obtain it; for although many witnessed falsely against him, their charges did not agree. At length two false witnesses came forward, and declared, — "This man said, — I am able to destroy the temple of God, and in three days to build it again. — We heard him say, — I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another not made with hands:" — yet even thus their evidence did not agree. Then the high priest standing up in the midst questioned Jesus, saying, — "Dost not thou make any answer? What is it that these men witness against thee?" — but he continued silent, and returned no answer; on which the high priest said to him, — "I adjure thee by the living God to tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God." — Jesus said to him, — [" It is as] thou hast said; [and] I further tell you. Hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the Almighty,⁷ and coming on the clouds of heaven." — Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, — "He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? Behold! ye have now heard his blasphemy. What think ye?" — They all answered, — "He is deserving of death." — [Meanwhile] Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, — "Art not thou also [one] of his disciples?" — He denied [it,] and said, — "I am not." — One of the high priest's slaves, a relative [of him] whose ear Peter cut off, said, — "Did not I see thee in the garden with him?" — Again Peter denied [it.] — A little after another man confidently affirmed, saying, — "Certainly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean." — So the bystanders came up, and said again to Peter, — "Certainly thou also art [one] of them, for thy [manner of] speaking is similar, [and] discovereth thee:" — but he began to utter oaths and curses [saying,] — "Man, I know not what thou meanest: I know not this man of whom ye speak:" — and instantly, whilst he was yet speaking, the cock crew the second time. And the Lord turned and looked on Peter; and Peter remembered what the Lord had said to him, — "Before the cock crows the second time thou wilt disown me thrice:"⁸ — and he went out, and wept bitterly. The men who guarded Jesus mocked him, and beat him: some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him, and to buffet him, and the officers struck him [with their staves,] saying, — "Divine to us, Christ: Who is it that smote thee?" — and many other blasphemies uttered they against him. As soon as it was morning, all the chief priests, with the elders of the people, and the scribes, held a consultation against Jesus, to put him to death; and having brought him again into their Sanhedrim, they said, — "Tell us whether thou art the Christ." — He said to them, — ''If I tell you ye will not believe, and if I question [you] ye will neither answer me, nor release [me.] Henceforth the Son of man will sit at the right hand of the Almighty." — On this they all said,— "Art thou then the Son of God?"— He replied to them, — "Ye say what I am." — They said, — "What further need have we of evidence, since we ourselves have heard [enough] from his own mouth?" — And the whole assembly of them rose up, and having bound Jesus, led [him] away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. When Judas who had betrayed him found that he was condemned, he regretted [what he had done,]⁹ and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, — "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." — They replied, — "What [is that] to us? See thou [to that:]" — on which he threw down the silver pieces in the temple, and went away, and hanged himself. The chief priests took the money, and said, — "It is not lawful to put it into the treasury, because it is the price of blood:" — and after consulting, they purchased with it the potter's field, as a burial-ground for strangers; on which account that field is to this day called a field of blood. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: — And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him who was appraised, whom some of the sons of Israel appraised,¹⁰ and I gave them for the potter s field, as the Lord commanded me. — So they led Jesus from [the palace] of Caiaphas to that of the Roman governor,¹¹ and it was early. They did not themselves enter the governor's palace, lest they should be defiled, and prevented from keeping the passover.¹² Pilate therefore went forth to them, and said, — "What accusation do ye bring against this man?" — They answered him, — "If he were not a malefactor we should not have delivered him to thee." — Pilate said to them, — "Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law." — The Jews said to him, — "We have no authority to put any one to death;" — thereby fulfilling what Jesus had said, when intimating what kind of death he was to die. Then they began to accuse him, saying,— "We found this man perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay tribute to Caesar, declaring himself to be Christ [the] king." — And Jesus stood before the governor: so the governor asked him, — "Art thou the king of the Jews?" — He answered him, — ["It is as] thou sayest:" — and on being accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no reply. Then Pilate asked him again,— "Dost not thou make any reply? See how many charges they bring against thee:" — but Jesus still made no reply, whereat the governor wondered exceedingly. Then Pilate returned into the palace, and having called Jesus, said to him, — "Art thou the king of the Jews?" — Jesus answered, — '' Sayest thou this of thyself, or have others told it thee concerning me?" — Pilate replied, — "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation, and the chief priests have delivered thee to me. What hast thou done?" — Jesus answered, — "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my followers would have striven that I should not have been delivered to the Jews; but now [it is evident that] my kingdom is not of this world."¹³ — Pilate said to him, — "Art thou a king then?" — Jesus answered, — ["As] thou sayest, I am a king. For this purpose was I born, and for this purpose came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Whosoever is of the truth obeyeth my voice." — Pilate said to him, — "What is truth?" — Having thus spoken, he again went forth to the Jews, and said to the chief priests, and to the multitude, — "I find no fault in this man:" — but they became more urgent, saying, — "He stirreth up the people, and hath spread his doctrine throughout all Judea to this place, beginning from Galilee." — On hearing of Galilee, Pilate asked, — "Is the man a Galilean?"¹⁴ — and having learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who also was at Jerusalem during that season. When Herod saw Jesus he was very glad, for he had long wished to see him on account of the numerous reports which he had heard of him, and he hoped to see some miracle performed by him: he therefore asked him many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. Meanwhile the chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him; but Herod, with his guards, made light of him, and mocked [him,] and after dressing him in a splendid robe, sent him back to Pilate. The same day Pilate and Herod were reconciled to each other, for they had previously been at enmity. Then Pilate, having called together the chief priests, with the rulers, and the people, said to them, — "Ye have brought me this man as a perverter of the people, and behold! after examining [him] before you, I have not found him guilty of any of the crimes whereof ye accuse him; neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and behold! nothing deserving of death has been done by the man.¹⁵ I will therefore chastise him, and release [him."] — Now at each return of the festival the governor had been accustomed to release to the multitude any prisoner whom they chose. And they had at the time a prisoner of note, named Barabbas, a robber, who on account of a sedition attended with murder which had taken place in the city, was in prison with his accomplices. The multitude then began with loud cries to request [Pilate to do for them] what he had always done: so, as they were assembled, he said to them, — "Ye have a custom that at the passover I should release a [prisoner] to you. Which, therefore, do ye wish me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? Do ye choose that I should release to you the king of the Jews?" — for he knew that through envy the chief priests had delivered him [into his hands.] Whilst he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying, — "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much in a dream to-day because of him:" — but the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude to demand Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. Then the governor said again to them, — '' Which of the two do ye wish me to release to you?" — They all cried aloud in a body, — "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas."— Desirous to release Jesus, Pilate once more addressed [them,] — "What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ, whom ye term king of the Jews?" — They cried out in reply, — "Crucify [him,] crucify him." — He spoke to them the third time, — "Why? what evil hath he done? I have not found him guilty of any crime deserving of death, I will therefore chastise him, and release [him:]" — but they were urgent with loud cries, demanding that he should be crucified. Then Pilate took Jesus, and caused him to be scourged:¹⁶ and the soldiers, after stripping him, threw around him a purple military robe, and having platted a crown of thorns, they put [it] on his head, and a cane¹⁷ in his right hand, and kneeling before him they mocked him, saying — "Hail, king of the Jews!" — and after spitting on him, they took the cane and struck him on the head. Pilate then went out again, and said to the Jews, —

"Behold! I bring him forth to you, to let you know that I find no fault in him." — So Jesus came forth, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, — "Behold the man!" — but when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, — "Crucify [him,] crucify him." — Pilate said to them, — "Take him yourselves and crucify [him,] for I find no fault in him." — The Jews answered him, — "We have a law, and according to our law he ought to die, because he hath claimed to be the Son of God."¹⁸ — On hearing this, Pilate became more alarmed, and returning into the palace, said to Jesus, — "Whence art thou?" — but Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate said to him, — "Dost thou refuse to speak to me? Knowest thou not that I have authority to crucify thee, and authority to release thee?" — Jesus replied, — "Thou wouldest not have had any authority at all against me, had it not been given thee from above; therefore he that delivered me to thee hath the greater sin." — Thereupon Pilate endeavoured to release him, but the Jews cried out, — "If thou release this man, thou art no friend of Caesar. Whosoever claimeth to be a king denieth the claims of Caesar."¹⁹ — On hearing these words Pilate brought Jesus forth, and sat down on the judgment-seat in a place called the Pavement, — in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was the preparation-day of the passover, and about the sixth hour.²⁰ And he said to the Jews, — "Behold your king:" — but they cried out, — "Away with him, away with him, crucify him." — Pilate said to them, — "Shall I crucify your king?" — The chief priests replied, — "We have no king but Caesar." — When Pilate perceived that his efforts were of no avail, but that, on the contrary, a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, — "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man: See ye to it." — All the people replied, — "His blood be on us, and on our children." — And their clamours, and those of the chief priests prevailed; for Pilate, desirous to satisfy the multitude, gave sentence that their demand should be executed. So he released to them Barabbas, imprisoned on account of sedition and murder, whom they had desired, and delivered Jesus to them to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the palace, and gathered around him the whole guard; and when they had [again] mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe, put on him his own clothes, and led him away to crucify [him.] As they went forth, they met coming from the country a Cyrenian named Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus: him they compelled [to assist, and] laid on him the cross to carry behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people, as likewise many women, who smote their breasts and lamented him; but Jesus turned towards them and said, — "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children: for behold! days are coming wherein they will say, Happy [are] barren women, wombs which never bare, and breasts which never suckled. Then M^ill they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us; for if they do these things to the green tree, what will be done to the dry [tree?"] — And two malefactors were also led forth to suffer death with him. So bearing his cross, Jesus went forth to the place named after a skull,²¹ and in Hebrew called Golgotha. On arriving at this place, they offered him a draught of wine and myrrh,²² [as it were] vinegar mingled with gall; but after tasting he refused to drink [it.] Then they crucified him there, as likewise the malefactors, one on the right hand, the other on the left, and Jesus in the midst; in fulfilment of the Scripture which saith, — He was ranked amongst transgressors; — but Jesus said, — "Father! forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." — Pilate also caused a title denoting the charge against Jesus to be written, and fixed to the cross over his head, — This is Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. — Many of the Jews therefore read this title; for the quarter of the city where Jesus was crucified was near,²³ and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, [and] Latin. Then said the Jewish chief priests to Pilate, — "Write not, The king of the Jews; but that he said, I am king of the Jews." — Pilate answered, — "What I have written I have written." — When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his outer garments, and divided them into four parts, for each soldier a part, as likewise his vest. Now the vest was without seam, woven from the top throughout: so they said one to another, — "Let us not rend it, hut cast lots for it, [to settle] whose it shall be;" — in fulfilment of the Scripture which saith, — They parted my garments amongst them, and for my vesture they cast lots, — Thus accordingly the soldiers did; for after parting his outer garments, they cast lots for them, [to settle] what each man should take. It was the third hour when they crucified him, and they sat down and guarded him there, whilst the people stood looking on. And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads, and saying, — "Aha! thou that destroyest the temple, and rebuildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross." — In like manner the chief priests also, jesting amongst themselves, with the scribes and elders said, — "He saved others, [but] cannot save himself. If he is the Christ, the chosen of God, the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. He trusted in God; let [God] now deliver him if he will have him, for he said, I am the Son of God." — The soldiers likewise mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, — "If thou art the king of the Jews, save thyself." — One even of the crucified malefactors reviled him, saying, — "If thou art the Christ, save thyself and us:" — but the other replied, and rebuked him, saying, — "Dost not thou fear God, since thou art suffering the same punishment.²⁴ We indeed [suffer] justly, for we receive the due recompense of our actions, but this man never did anything amiss." — And he said to Jesus, — "Lord! remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom." — Jesus said to him, — "I tell thee truly, this day thou shalt be with me in Paradise." — Now there stood near the cross of Jesus his mother, and Mary the [wife] of Cleopas, her sister, and Mary of Magdala. Then Jesus seeing his mother, and the disciple also whom he loved standing near, said to his mother, — "Woman! behold thy son:" — then he said to the disciple,— "Behold thy mother:" — and from that hour the disciple received her to his home. When the sixth hour was come a darkness overspread the whole land till the ninth hour, and the sun was obscured. At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, — "Eloi! Eloi! lamma sabachthani? "— which when translated is, — "My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me?" — On hearing [this,] some of the bystanders said, — "Behold! he calleth on Elijah." — Then Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said — "I thirst." — And there stood near a vessel full of vinegar: so one of them immediately ran, and took a sponge, and having filled [it] with vinegar, and fastened [it] to a rod of hyssop,²⁵ gave him drink; but the rest said, — "Hold! let us see whether Elijah will come and deliver him." — When Jesus had received the vinegar he again cried with a loud voice, saying, — ["All] is accomplished: Father! into thy hands I commit my spirit." — Having thus spoken, he bowed his head and resigned his spirit. And behold! the veil of the temple split asunder in the midst from the top to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent, and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of holy persons deceased arose, who coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many. When the centurion who stood opposite, and those who were with him guarding Jesus, observed the earthquake and the [other] events, [and] that he expired with such a cry, they feared greatly, [and] gave glory to God, saying, — "Certainly this man was a son of God."²⁶ — And the whole multitude who had come together to this spectacle, on observing these events, returned smiting their breasts. And all the friends and acquaintance of Jesus stood afar off beholding these things, with many women, amongst whom was Mary of Magdala, and Mary the mother of James the less, and of Joses, and Salome the mother of the sons of Zebadiah; who had also followed him and ministered to him when he was in Galilee, as likewise many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

Now in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross during the sabbath-day, as it was then the preparation-day, for that sabbath-day was a high day, the Jews requested Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Jesus; but on coming to him, as they perceived that he was already dead, they did not break his legs: one of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came forth blood and water. He that bears [this] testimony saw [the fact,²⁷] and his testimony is true, and he is sure that he relates what is true, that ye also may believe: for these things happened in fulfilment of the scripture, — Not one of his hones shall he broken; — and again, another scripture saith, — They shall look on him whom they pierced. — After this, when it was now late, there came a rich man of Arimathea a city of the Jews, named Joseph, a good and upright man, and a member of the Sanhedrim, but who had not consented to their plot nor to its execution,²⁸ being himself one who expected the kingdom of God, and a disciple of Jesus, although secretly through fear of the Jews: this man went boldly to Pilate, and requested that he might take the body of Jesus. Pilate wondered if Jesus were already dead, so calling the centurion, he asked him if he had been any time dead, and having been assured [of this] by the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph came, and took the body [from the cross:] Nicodemus, who at first went to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes- wood, about a hundred pounds [in weight:] so they took the body of Jesus, and having purchased new linen, bound the body in bandages with the spices according to the Jewish manner of embalming. Now in the place where Jesus had been crucified was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb which [Joseph] had caused to be hewn for himself out of the rock, [but] wherein no one had ever been laid. There then, on account of the Jews' preparation- day, as the sabbath was approaching and the tomb near, they laid Jesus, and after rolling a large stone against the entrance of the tomb they departed. Meanwhile Mary of Magdala, and Mary [the mother] of Joses were sitting opposite, and with the other women observed the tomb, and how the body was laid; after which, returning [into the city,] they provided spices and ointments, but rested on the sabbath-day according to the commandment. On the following day, that is [the day] after the preparation-day,²⁹ the chief priests and Pharisees went in a body to Pilate, and said, — "Sir, we remember that when this impostor was alive he said, Within three days I shall rise [from the dead.] Command therefore that the tomb be secured till the third day, lest his disciples should go and steal him [away,] and tell the people, He is risen from the dead; for this last imposture would be worse than the first." — Pilate said to them, — "Take a guard, go [and] make [everything] secure in your own way."³⁰ — So they went, and after sealing the stone, secured the tomb by the guard.

The portions of the four Gospels here harmonized are, — Matt. chap. 26, v. 30-75; chap. 27;— Mark, chap. 14, v. 26-72; chap. 15;— Luke, chap. 22, v. 39 -71; chap. 23; — and John, chaps. 18, and 19.

1) ῆρξατο ἐκθαμὲεῖσθαι καὶ ἀδημονεῖν. Mark, chap. 14. v. 33.

2) Καὶ αὐτὸς ἁπεσπάσθη ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ. λὶθου βολὴν. Luke, chap. 22, v. 41.

3) Ἀπέχει, ἦλθεν ἡ ὥρα. Mark, chap. 14, v. 41.

4) λαθὼν τὴν σπεῖραν. John, chap. 18, v. 3.

5) Ἡ οὖν σπεῖρα, καὶ ὀ χιλίαρχος, καὶ οἱ ὑπηρέται τῶν Ἰουδαίων, &c. John, chap. 18, v. 12.

6) ὅπου πάντες οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι συνέρχονται. John, chap. 18, v. 20.

7) καθήμενον ἐκ δεξιῶν τῆς δυνάμεως. Matt. chap. 26, v. 64.

8) Before the second cock-crowing Peter denied Christ seven times. Four times he declared that he was not one of his disciples, and three times that he did not know him. It was the latter mode of denial which Christ had specially predicted. Luke, chap. 22, v. 34.

9) μεταμεληθεὶς. Matt. chap. 27, v. 3.

10) τήν τιμὴν τοῦ τετιμημένου, ὃν ἐτιμήσαντο ἀπὸ υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ. Matt. chap. 27, v. 9; — Zech. chap. 11, v. 12, 13.

11) ἀπὸ τοῦ Καῖάφα εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον. John, chap. 18, v. 28.

12) ἀλλ’ ἳνα φάγωσι τὸ πάσχα. John, chap. 18, v. 28; — not the paschal supper, which had been celebrated the evening before, but the paschal festival regarded as a whole.

13) νῦν δὲ ἠ βασιλεία ἠ ἐμὴ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐντεῦθεν. John, chap. 18, v. 36.

14) ἐπηρώτησεν,—Εί ὁ ἄνθρωπος Γαλιλαῖός ἐστι, Luke, chap. 23, v. 6.

15) οὐδὲν ἄξιον θανάτου ἐστὶ πεπραγμένον αὐτῷ. Luke, chap. 23, v. 15 — "has been done by him."

16) ἐμαστίγωσε. John, chap. 19, v. 1.

17) κάλαμον. Matt. chap. 27, v. 29. For the convenience of the narrative, the accounts given by Matthew and Mark of the second mockery of Christ by the Roman soldiers are transferred to this place.

18) ὅτι ἑαυτὸν υἱὸν θεοῦ ἐποίησεν. John, chap. 19, v. 7.

19) Πᾶς ὁ βασιλέα ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν ἀντιλέγει τῷ Καίσαρι. John, chap. 19, v. 12.

20) So termed by John, chap. 19, v. 14; probably in reference to some ecclesiastical computation of the day, equivalent to the third civil hour so distinctly mentioned by Mark, chap. 15, v. 25.

21) ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὸν λεγόμενοι] Κρανίου τόπον. John, chap. 19, v. 17. Golgotha is never in Scripture termed a mount.

22) ἐσμ υρνισμένον οἷνον; Mark, chap. 15, v. 23; here supposed to be equivalent to the vinegar mingled with gall, mentioned by Matt. chap. 27, v. 34.

23) ; ὅτι ἐγγὺς ἦν ὁ τόπος τῆς πόλεως ὅπου ἑσταυρώὲη ὁ Ἰησοῦς. John, chap. 19, v. 20; so termed in a general sense, although without the walls of Jerusalem. Heb. chap. 13, v. 11, 12.

24) ὅτι ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ κρίματι εἶ. Luke, chap. 23, v. 40.

25) καὶ περιθεὶς καλάμῳ. Matt. chap. 27, v. 48; — Mark, chap. 15, V. 36; καί ὑσσώπῳ περιὲέντες. John, chap. 19, v. 29; supposed to be the stem of a large species of hyssop, probably growing on the spot.

26) θεοῦ υἱὸς, Matt. chap. 27, v. 54: — υἱὸς θεοῦ, Mark, chap. 15, V. 39: — δίκαιος, Luke, chap. 23, v. 47.

27) Καὶ ὀ ἑωρακὼς μεμαρτύρηκε. John, chap. 19, v. 35.

28) Οὗτος οὑκ ἦν συγκατατεθειμένος τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῇ πράξει αὺτῶν. Luke, chap. 23, v. 51.

29) Namely the sabbath; described in this circumlocutory manner by Matthew, chap. 27, v. 62, apparently to avoid the indecorum of directly charging the chief priests, &c., with sabbath-breaking.

30) ”Εχετε κουστωδίαν, ὑπάγετε, ἀσφαλίσασθε ὼς οἴδατε. Matt, chap. 27, v. 65.