The Jews accuse him to Pilate the Gentile: (4) who seeking earnestly to deliver him, specially after that Herod sent him back, (17) they not only prefer the murderer Barabbas, but also cry, Crucifige: (26) In the way to Calvary he foretelleth the women that lamented upon him, the horrible destruction of their Jerusalem. (32) Upon the cross he is between two thieves, (35) scorned of the Jews, (36) of the soldiers, (39) and of one of the thieves, (40) but even there confessed of the other thief, (44) and after his death (because of the great miracles concurring) also of the Centurion, (48) yea and of the whole multitude. 50. And finally he is buried honourably.
AND all the multitude of them rising up, led him to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying: We have found this man subverting our Nation, and prohibiting to give tributes to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ the King. 3And Pilate asked him, saying: Art thou the King of the Jews? But he answering said: Thou sayest. 4And Pilate said to the chief Priests and multitudes: I find no cause in this man. 5But they were more earnest, saying: He stirreth the people teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee even hither. 6But Pilate hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of Galilee. 7And when he understood that he was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him back to Herod, who was also himself at Jerusalem in those days.
8And Herod seeing Jesus, was very glad, for he was desirous of a long time to see him, for because he heard many things of him: and he hoped to see some sign wrought by him. 9And he asked him in many words. But he answered him nothing. 10And there stood the chief Priests and the Scribes constantly accusing him. 11And Herod with his army set him at nought: and he mocked him, putting on him a white garment, and sent him back to Pilate. 12And Herod and Pilate were made friends that day. For before they were enemies one to another.
13And Pilate calling together the chief Priests and Magistrates, and the people, 14said to them: You have presented unto me this man, as averting the People, and behold I examining him before you, have found no cause in this man of those things, wherein you accuse him. 15No, nor Herod neither. For I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to him. 16I will chasten him therefore and dismiss him.
17And he of necessity had to release unto them upon the feast day, one. 18But the whole multitude together cried out, saying: Dispatch him, and release us Barabbas. 19Who was for a certain sedition made in the city and murder, cast into prison. 20And Pilate again spoke to them, desirous to release Jesus. 21But they cried again, saying: Crucify, crucify him. 22And he the third time said to them: Why, what evil hath this man done? I find no cause of death in him. I will correct him therefore and let him go. 23But they were instant with loud voices requiring that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24And Pilate adjudged their petition to be done. 25And he released unto them him that for murder and sedition had been cast into prison, whom they demanded; but Jesus he delivered to their pleasure.
26And when they led him, they took one Simon of Cyrene coming from the country; and they laid the Cross upon him to carry after Jesus. 27And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women which bewailed and lamented him. 28But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not upon me, but weep upon yourselves, and upon your children. 29For behold the days shall come, wherein they will say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not born, and the paps that have not given suck. 30Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall upon us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31For if in the green wood they do these things, in the dry what shall be done?
32And there were led also other two malefactors with him, to be executed. 33And after they came to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him; and the thieves, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34And Jesus said: Father, • forgive them, for they know not what they do. But they dividing his garments, did cast lots.
35And the people stood `beholding, and the Princes with them derided him, saying: Others he hath saved, let him save himself, if this be Christ, the elect of God. 36And the soldiers also mocked him coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37saying: If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself. 38And there was also a superscription written over him in Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew letters: This is the king of the Jews. 39And one of those thieves that were hanged, blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself, and us. 40But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither doest thou fear God, where as thou art in the same damnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we receive worthy of our doings: but this man hath done no evil. 42And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy Kingdom. 43And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee; this day thou shalt be with me • in Paradise.
44And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was made darkness upon the whole earth until the ninth hour. 45And the [a] sun was darkened; and the veil of the Temple was rent in the midst. 46And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost.
47And the Centurion seeing that which was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this man was just. 48And all the multitude of them that were present together at that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned knocking their breasts. 49And all his acquaintance stood afar off, and the women that had followed him from Galilee, seeing these things.
50 * And behold a man named Joseph, which was a Senator, a good man and a just. 51He had not consented to their council and doings, of Arimathaea a city of Jewry, who also himself expected the Kingdom of God. 52This man came to Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus. 53And taking it down, wrapped it in sindon, and laid him in a monument hewed of stone, • wherein never yet any man had been laid. 54And it was the day of Parasceve, and the Sabboth drew near. 55And the women that were come with him from Galilee, following after • saw the monument, and how his body was laid. 59And returning they prepared spices and ointments: and on the Sabboth they rested according to the commandment.
Footnotes
- ↑ This eclipse was seen and wondered at as a thing above nature, of Dionysius Areopagita at Thebes, when he was yet a Pagan. Dionys. ep. ad Policarp and ep. ad Appollophanem.
ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. XXIII.
↑ 34. Forgive them.) A perfect example of charity in our Saviour praying for his crucifiers, which the first martyr St. Steven did follow, Act. 7: and the prayers of both were heard: Christ’s prayer taking effect in the Centurion and others, Steven’s in Paul.
↑ 43. In Paradise.) Thou maist not hereupon defer thy conversion or amendment, presuming of grace at the last hour of thy life, not look to have salvation by faith and confession of Christ without good works, nor to go straight to Heaven without satisfaction, penance, or punishment for thy former sins and life ill spent; nor challenge security and certain knowledge of thy salvation. For this good thief’s case is not common but a rare example of mercy and prerogative. But for the first point, learn only not to despair, though thou hast been ill to the last moment of thy life. For the second, that faith, hope, and charity, repentance, and good will be sufficient, and good works not required, where for want of time and opportunity they cannot be had. For the third, that Christ gave to this happy man for his zealous confession of him and reprehending his fellow not only remission of his sins, but also by extraordinary grace, a pardon of all penance and satisfaction due either in this life or the next for the same: even as the holy Church by his example and commission giveth pardons also to some of her zealous children of all punishment due for their offences, and such go straight to Heaven. Lastly, that every one hath not a revelation of his salvation as this man had, and therefore can not be so sure as he was.
↑ 53. Wherein never.) As in the womb of Mary none was conceived before nor after him, so in this monument none was laid before nor after him: which prerogative (no doubt) was of God’s providence; this Joseph no less abstaining afterward to be buried in it, than the other Joseph from copulation with the mother of our Lord. St. Augustine.
↑ 55. Saw the monument.) These good women of great devotion observed the sepulchre for the honour of the holy body. Whereupon the devotion of faithful folk watching and visiting on Good-Friday and easter eve the sepulchre made in every Church for memory of our Lord’s burial, is exceeding good and godly, specially the Bl. Sacrament for more signification sake being present in the same Sepulchre.
Margin Notes
- HOLY week.
- 1. GOOD friday
- annot. 43. The good thief.
- annot. 43. Pardon of due penance and satisfaction.
- annot. 55. Visiting the Sepulchre, or Sepulchres.
Margin References
- 1. Mat. 27, 1. 11. Mar. 15, 1. Joh. 18, 17.
- 30. Ose. 10, 8.
- 35. `expecting
- 46. Psa. 30, 6.
- 50. Mat. 27, 57. Mar. 15, 43. Joh. 19, 38.
