John Gill

“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

“And Jesus said, I am,.... That is, the Son of God; in proof of which he adds, and ye shall see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power; that is, of God, who is all power, the Lord God Almighty: and…”

At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?

“Then the high priest rent his clothes,.... As was usual upon hearing blasphemy; which he now supposed the case, or at least would have it so thought: and saith, what need we any further witnesses?”

You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.

“Ye have heard the blasphemy,.... The "manifest" blasphemy, as the Arabic version renders it; and "out of his own mouth", as the Syriac version adds, agreeably to Luk 22:71, what think ye? what sentence is to, be passed upon him?”

Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!”

“And some began to spit on him,.... The men that held him, Luk 22:6, fulfilling the prophecy in Isa 50:6; and to cover his face; with a veil, or linen cloth, to blindfold: him, as a person unworthy to behold the light: or rather, in…”

And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.

“And the chief priests accused him of many things,.... As that he was a magician, and a blasphemer, and gave out that he was the Son of God; and that he made himself a king, and even forbad the people to give tribute to Caesar…”

Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”

“And Pilate asked him again,.... In the presence of the chief priests, who laid so many things to his charge; for the former question was put, when Jesus and he were alone in the judgment hall, whither the Jews would not enter for fear of…”

Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.

“Now at that feast,.... The feast of the passover, which was at that instant; see Joh 18:39. The Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "at every feast"; as if the following custom was used at every feast in the year, at the feasts of…”

“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.

“But Pilate answered them; saying,.... Being satisfied of the innocence of Jesus, and being willing to dismiss him: will ye that I release unto you the king of the Jews?”

For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.

“For he knew that the chief priests,.... The Persic version reads in the singular, "the chief of the priests", or the high priest, Caiaphas, had delivered him for envy; at his popularity through his doctrine and miracles, and not from any principle of equity and…”

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.

“But the chief priests moved the people,.... Greatly solicited and persuaded them, both in person, and by their officers they employed, and dispersed among them, to make use of arguments with them to prevail upon them: that he should rather release Barabbas unto them; than…”

So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”

“And Pilate answered and said again unto them,.... Being astonished that they should ask the release of such an infamous person; and being very desirous of saving Jesus: what will ye then that I shall do unto him, whom ye call the king of the…”

And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!”

“And they cried out again, crucify him. For they had cried so once before, though Matthew and Mark relate it not, yet Luke does, Luk 23:21.”

“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”

“Then Pilate said unto them,.... The third time, Luk 23:22; why, what evil hath he done? worthy of death. They had charged him with many things, but proved nothing against him.”

They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.

“And they smote him on the head with a reed,.... Or cane, a walking stick which they had put into his hands for a sceptre: this they took out again, and struck him on the head with it, which drove the sharp pointed thorns into…”

They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull.

“And they bring him unto the place, Golgotha,.... A famous, or rather an infamous one, well known, and much noted for the many executions there: which is, being interpreted, the place of a skull; because the skulls of men that had been executed and buried…”

And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

“And the superscription of his accusation,.... Or "the cause of his death", as the Syriac and Persic versions read; the crime for which he suffered: was written; over his head, upon the cross, to which it was fastened; the sum of which was, the king…”

come down from the cross and save Yourself!”

“Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Suggesting that if he was what he had pretended to be, and could do what he gave out he could, he might easily free himself from the cross, and make his escape; See Gill on Mat 27:39…”

Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.

“Let Christ the king of Israel,.... Who sets up for the Messiah, and whose followers call him the king of Israel, whom the nation expected: and if he is so, let him descend now from the cross, that we may see; see him come down…”

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.

“And when the sixth hour was come,.... Or twelve o'clock at noon, having hung upon the cross from about the third hour, or nine in the morning: there was darkness over the, whole land until the ninth hour; or three o'clock in the afternoon.”

At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice,.... See Gill on Mat 27:46; saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”

And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

“And the vail of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom. At which time also there was an earthquake, and the rocks were rent, and graves were opened, as Matthew relates; see Gill on Mat 27:51, Mat 27:52.”

When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

“And when the centurion, which stood over against him,.... To watch him, that nobody released him, and that he did not come down from the cross himself; saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost; that he cried with so loud and…”

And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

“There were also women looking on afar off,.... At some distance from the cross, observing what was said and done; among whom was Mary Magdalene; who had received great favours from Christ: and Mary the mother of James the less; or "little", so called to…”

These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.

“Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him,.... Wherever he went in Galilee, and from thence to Jerusalem: and ministered unto him; of their worldly substance, Luk 8:3, and many other women which came up with him into Jerusalem; from the same parts; see…”

Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),

“And now when the even was come,.... "Of the preparation", as the Syriac version reads; or "the night of the sixth day":, as the Persic version renders it, "Friday" night: because it was the preparation; of the passover, and of the sabbath, when they prepared…”