§ 155. Darkness prevails. Christ expires on the cross. § 156. The vail of the Temple rent. The graves opened. CH. XXVII. 51-56. CH. XV. 38-41. 51 And behold, the vail of the tem- ¦ 38 And the vail of the temple was ple was rent in twain from the top to rent in twain, from the top to the the bottom and the earth did quake, bottom. and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept, arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now, when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 55 And many women were there (beholding afar off) which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. 39 And when the centurion which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. 40 There were also women looking on afar off, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Mother of James the less, and of Joses, and Salome; 41 Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him; and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. Matth. xxvii. 48, vinegar.] Hil or Hila was the old Syriac for vinegar. Hence one of the bystanders, hearing our Saviour's exclamation on the cross, thought he wanted vinegar to alleviate his thirst, and straightway filled a spunge. See BUCHANAN's Researches, p. 153. Matth. xxvii. 49, Elias.] The Jews gave a literal interpretation to Mal. iv. 5, expecting Elijah to appear in person, as the forerunner of the Messiah; and hence they, on this occasion, sneeringly adverted to the want of this testimony to the mission of Christ. JONES, Lect. 147. This incidental allusion to the popular opinion, by Matthew and Mark, may be noticed as additional evidence of their veracity. Matt. xxvii. 55, afar off] This and the parellel verses are reconciled with John xix. 25, by the following observation in Wall's critical notes, p. 116. "Mary stood as yet, (John xix. 25,) so nigh the cross as to hear what Christ said. But at the time of his departure, Matthew, Mark and Luke say, the women stood afar off." See also Watson's Reply to Gibbon, Let. 5, (Evangelical Family Library, Vol. xiv. pp. 276, 277.) It is natural to suppose that our Lord's relations and friends, mentioned in John xix. 25, were too much struck with commiseration and grief to remain long near the cross; and that they would retire from the horror of the concluding scene. NEWCOME. Matt. xxvii. 58, begged the body.] Here is another of those incidental allusions to Those who existing customs, which show the naturalness and veracity of the narrative. were crucified by the Romans are said to have been usually exposed to the birds of prey; and a guard was set to prevent their friends from burying the bodies. The body of Jesus LUKE. The burial. Jerusalem. CH. XXIII. 50-56. 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 Arimathea, 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. *Ex. xxii. 46. Ps. xxiv. 20. JOHN. CH. XIX. 31-42. 31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath-day, (for that sabbath-day was an high day) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then came the soldiers, 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 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water. 35 And he that saw it, bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.* 37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.t 38 And after this Joseph of Arimathea (being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus (which at the first came to Jesus by night) and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pounds weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner 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 sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. Zech xii. 10. therefore could not be obtained for burial, without leave from Pilate; which the Evangelists relate was applied for, but without explaining the cause. § 157. The taking down from the cross. MATTHEW. CH. XXVII. 57-61. MARK. CH. XV. 42-47. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary and the other Mary, sitting over the mother of Joses beheld where he against the sepulchre. was laid. § 158. The watch at the sepulchre. (SEVENTH CH. XXVII. 62-66. 62 Now, the next day that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. Matt. xxvii. 66, setting a watch.] The mention of this circumstance by Matthew, and not by the other Evangelists, is in perfect keeping with his previous occupation; which led him to watch for fraud, in all places where it might be perpetrated. |