him : 156. The vail of the Temple rent. The graves opened. MATTHEW. CH. XXVII. 51-56. MARK. Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less, and of Joses, and Salome; 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. 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. § 157. The taking down from the cross. CH. XXVII. 57-61. CH. XV. 42-47. 57 When the even was come, there 42 And now, when the even was came a rich man of Arimathea, named come, (because it was the preparaJoseph, who also himself was Jesus' tion, that is, the day before the sabdisciple: bath,) 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 43 Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead and calling unto him Matth. xxvii. 58, begged the body.] Here is another of those incidental allusions to existing customs, which show the naturalness and veracity of the narrative. Those who 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 50 And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor: and he was a good man, and a just: 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. 38 And after this, Joseph of Arimathea (being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) besought 51 (The same had not consented Pilate that he might take away the to the counsel and deed of them :) body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him he was of Arimathea, a city of the leave. He came therefore and took Jews; who also himself waited for the body of Jesus. the kingdom of God. 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. a Ex. xii. 46. Ps. xxxiv. 20. 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. b Zech. xii. 10. body of Jesus therefore could not be obtained for burial, without leave from Pilate; which the Evangelists relate was applied for, but without explaining the cause. § 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. Matth. 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. See Preliminary Observations, ante, § 24. |