34 right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. And they parted 35 his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering 37 him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the King of the Jews, save 38 thyself. And a superscription also was written over him, in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING 39 OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors, which were hanged, railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself the judgment of the learned Robinson, be precisely determined, notwithstanding the current traditions. He further remarks, that the expression Mount Calvary, so generally adopted in Christian literature, has no authority, except the questionable one of pilgrims and writers of not the earliest antiquity; for nothing in the Gospels authorizes us to call Calvary a hill, or even a hillock.-Malefactors. Called, elsewhere, thieves or robbers. They were probably of that large class, described by Josephus, who, from patriotic impulses, at first set at nought the authority of Rome, but finally degenerated into mere banditti, preying promiscuously upon travellers. 34. For they know not what they do. Or, what they are doing. This prayer of prayers was probably breathed forth, at the time the executioners were driving their rough nails into the tender nerves and tendons of the feet, and palms of the hands; or, having already done it, were lifting up the cross and placing it in a perpendicular position, so that the poor sufferer hung with his whole weight drawing upon those mangled and keenly-susceptible limbs. - It is in vain to make nice calculations how far he designed this petition to extend, and whom to include, for the efficacy of fervent prayer is not to be limited; but the more immediate occasion seems to have been that mentioned above. He thus, in the language of ls. liii. 12, made intercession for the transgressors, and offered the only possible palliation for their cruelty, viz. their ignorance. Acts iii. 17, xvii. 30; 1 Cor. ii. 8; 1 Tim. i. 13. He thus left a moving comment on his own precepts: "Love your enemies, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is merciful." Wondrous Spirit of mercy and of heaven, that camest to wrestle with the revengeful heart of man, and win it to pity and forgiveness! Here, here is the witness that cannot lie, the seal and signature of God, that thou wert true, though all else were false. "At last the word of death is given; The form is bound, the nails are driven; 39. The advantage of comparing the several histories of Jesus, is seen here, since we should, were it not for Luke's account, conclude that both robbers, as Matthew and Mark say, and us. But the other answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost 40 not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our 41 deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto 42 Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, To-day shalt 43 thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth 44 hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the vail of the temple 45 was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud 46 joined in taunting Jesus. The motive of the reviler might have been to please the people and Pharisees, and obtain his own release. 40-42. Doddridge has summed up the virtues of the penitent malefactor, "in his confessing his own guilt, in his admonishing his companion for a crime which he feared would prove fatal to him, in his vindicating the character of Christ, and reposing his confidence in him as the Lord of a kingdom beyond the grave, when his enemies were triumphing over him, and he himself, abandoned by most of his friends, was expiring on a cross. The modesty, as well as the faith, of his petition may deserve our attentive remark." What ideas he had of Christ's kingdom cannot be known, but, in all likelihood, they were those of the rest of his countrymen. 42. To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. It has been suggested, that there was no beatitude in the paradise here promised by our Saviour, but, on the contrary, that his words were intended as a check to .those temporal hopes of his followers, which, the supernatural portents, attending his crucifixion, might induce them to believe, were on the eve of fulfilment. According to this theory, Jesus is made to say, "Instead of that earthly kingdom, which you are expecting, you shall be with me this very day among the dead." But the common view is preferable. Paradise is a word of Persian or Armenian derivation, meaning a garden; hence applied to Eden in the Septuagint, and to the celestial abode of the blessed hereafter. The word is, however, here employed to designate that part of Hades, which, according to Jewish notions, received the good immediately after death. The sense accordingly is, "To-day thou shalt be with me in the state of the virtuous dead." The past life and character of this malefactor are unknown, except as they appear in the fact, that he was suffering, whether more or less justly, a capital punishment, which, however, in his humility, he confessed was deserved. The date of his penitential change is also wrapped in darkness. Hence, little or no argument can properly be deduced from this incident, in support of the efficacy of what is termed death-bed repentance. It has been observed, that one instance of forgiveness, at the hour of death, is recorded, that we should not despair; but only one, that we should not presume. At all events, the heart of the malefactor seems to have been already touched with that holy and heavenly influence, that repentance, faith, and submission, which are the earnest of a better state, within the threshold of heaven. 44. Sixth hour. Or, noonday.Ninth hour. Or, three o'clock. voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit and 47 having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now, when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly 48 this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their 49 breasts and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. 50 And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor : and 51 he was a good man, and a just: (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 54 was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was 46. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. The last words of Christ's mortal life, beautifully crowning its tragical close, as the rainbow the dark cloud of the departing tempest. It was fit, that he should die praying, who had passed his life in praying without ceasing. 48, 49. Smote their breasts, &c. Brief but graphic description of the mingled grief, remorse, and terror, which agitated the spectators of this most awful drama of the world's history. Stood afar off, &c. The natural position of terrified, but mourning, friends, who could not forbear to attend the scene, though it harrowed up their feelings in the most painful imprecation remarkably fulfilled in the destruction of their city and temple by Titus; and there seems to be some correspondence between their crime and their punishment. They put Jesus to death, when the nation was assembled to celebrate the passover; and when the nation was also assembled to celebrate the same festival, Titus shut them up within the walls of Jerusalem. The rejection of the true Messiah was their crime; and the following of false Messiahs to their destruction, was their punishment. They sold, and bought, Jesus, as a slave; and they themselves were afterwards sold, and bought, at the lowest prices. They preferred a robber and murderer to Jesus, whom they crucified between two thieves; and they themselves were afterwards infested with bands of thieves and robbers. They put Jesus to death, lest the Romans should come and take away their laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; 56 and rested the Sabbath day, according to the commandment. CHAPTER XXIV. The Resurrection, subsequent Appearances, and Ascension of Christ. And they 3 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they 2 found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it 4 came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. And as they were afraid, 5 and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but 6 is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands 7 of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, and returned from the sepulchre, 9 and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It 10 was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, 11 and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto 12 the sepulchre, and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 8 And behold, two of them went that same day to a village 13 called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which 14 had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed 15 together, and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with place and nation; and the Romans did come, and take away both. They crucified Jesus before the walls of Jerusalem; and before the walls of this city they themselves were crucified in such numbers, that, it is said, room was wanting for the crosses, and crosses for the bodies." CHAPTER XXIV. Examine the notes on Mat. xxviii., Mark xvi., and John xx. 1. They came. Referring to the women, chap. xxiii. 55. 13. Emmaus. A village, seven or eight miles from Jerusalem, whose location is now lost. 16 them. But their eyes were holden, that they should not know 17 him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in 20 deed and word before God, and all the people: and how the chief-priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to 21 death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel and besides all this, to22 day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which 23 were early at the sepulchre. And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, 24 which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us, went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the 25 women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets 26 have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, 27 and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures 16, 17. Their eyes were holden. Mark, xvi. 12, gives a reason why they should not know him, by saying that "he appeared in another form. He was, perhaps, changed in dress; he certainly was in his countenance, if any thing of the effects of his crucifixion remained, not to speak of that more glorified and celestial air, which may have invested him after his victory over death and the tomb.Walk, and are sad. Their hopes had been prostrated, their dearest friend killed, ignominiously and cruelly. 18. Cleopas. Or, Alpheus. The uncle of Jesus, and the father of James and John. Mark iii. 18. His companion is unknown.-Art thou only a stranger? &c. Or, Art thou so much a stranger in Jerusalem, as not to know? &c. 21. Redeemed Israel. Temporal deliverance is here signified.-Today is the third day. This, perhaps, referred to their lurking hope of that resurrection, which he had so often predicted during his ministry. This whole passage betrays an agitated mind, vibrating between sorrow and hope. 25. O fools. () thoughtless men. Slow of heart. Or, understanding. They are reproved, as backward in not believing the prophetical evidences of his Messiahship. 26, 27. It is plain from these verses, that there were prophecies in the Old Testament relative to the |