Bible Commentaries
John 19

Verses 1-3

Scourged him ; apparently hoping by this punishment to satisfy the Jews. Compare Luke 23:22 .

Christ scourged and mocked . Matthew 27:26-31 ; Mark 15:15-20 .

Verse 6

Take ye him , and crucify him ; said in irony by Pilate, and so understood by the Jews. Compare chap John 18:31 .

Verse 7

We have a law ; Leviticus 24:16 . Pilate having pronounced him not guilty of sedition, of which they had accused him, they went back to the charge of blasphemy, on which he had been condemned by the council. Matthew 26:63-66 .

Verse 8

He was the more afraid ; this was to Pilate a new charge. He saw that the Jews were resolved to kill him, though innocent; and as he claimed to be the Son of God, he was therefore more anxious to release him. His wife also had sent to him to have nothing to do with that just man, for she had suffered many things in a dream because of him. Matthew 27:19 . Men who do, or consent to others’ doing what they know to be wrong, are always liable to great and distressing fears. Conscience condemns them; and though it sometimes sleeps, it may at any moment awake and fill them with terror.

Verse 9

Whence art thou? what is thine origin, human or divine? No answer ; Jesus had given all needful information about himself, and he did not think proper to add to it.

Verse 11

Given thee from above ; the power of the civil magistrate is from God, and to God he is accountable for the use of it.

He that delivered me ; Caiaphas, as high-priest, representing the Jewish council.

The greater sin ; guilty as Pilate was, the Jewish council was still more guilty. They had not only abused the power which God gave them, but were urging Pilate to abuse his; and they were doing it under greater light than he had. Judicial authority and power are gifts of God, for the use of which men are accountable to him; and injustice committed by magistrates under the cover of law, is among the most wicked of all transgressions.

Verse 12

Not Caesar’s friend ; Tiberius Caesar, then emperor of Rome. Finding that Pilate would not condemn Jesus for blasphemy, they returned to the former charge, of rebellion against the Roman government, and contended that if he released Jesus he was an enemy to Caesar. He might therefore be complained of to the emperor, who was a very jealous and cruel man; and he might thus lose his office, perhaps his life. This induced him to proceed with the trial.

Verse 13

Sat down in the judgment - seat ; the place for passing sentence on criminals. He did this for the purpose of condemning Jesus. He loved his office more than his duty; and feared the loss of it more than the commission of judicial murder.

Pavement-Gabbatha ; an elevated place, paved with costly stones.

Verse 14

The preparation ; the preparation for the next day, which was the Sabbath, and the great day of the Jewish Passover. Mark 15:42 .

About the sixth hour ; not far from noon. Mark says the third hour, or nine o’clock in the morning. Mark 15:25 . The whole proceedings took several hours, and the different evangelists refer to different periods of the transactions.

Verses 16-22

Christ crucified. Matthew 27:32-35 .

Verse 22

I have written ; the meaning of this was, that what he had written he would not alter.

Verses 23-24

The actions of wicked men, as well as of good men, are a fulfilment of the Scriptures. Though they mean not so, neither do their hearts think so, yet they are evidences to the truth of God’s declarations, and that in due time they will all be accomplished. Isaiah 10:7 .

Christ’s garments divided. Matthew 27:35 ; Psalms 22:18 .

Verse 26

The disciple ; John, chap John 13:23 .

The son ; one who will henceforth treat thee as his mother, and supply thy wants.

Verse 27

The duty of filial affection, and of the most ready and conscientious discharge of relative duties, was taught by Jesus Christ amidst the agonies of the cross; and no one can imitate him who is not kind to his mother, and who does not, as he has ability and she has need, provide for the supply of her wants.

Verse 28

The scripture ; Psalms 69:21 .

Verse 30

It is finished ; his work of suffering for human salvation.

Gave up the ghost ; dismissed the soul from its connection with the body. Matthew 27:50 .

Verse 31

A high day ; a great day-one of peculiar solemnity.

Their legs might be broken ; to hasten their death, so that they might be taken from the cross before the Sabbath.

Verse 35

He that saw it ; John.

Bare record ; to a fact that established beyond doubt the real death of Jesus.

Verse 36

The scripture ; Exodus 12:46 ; Numbers 9:12 .

A bone of him shall not be broken ; these words, originally spoken of the paschal lamb, which was the type of Christ, were now fulfilled in the great antitype. The providences of God are so ordered as to be a fulfilment of his word; and both unite in proclaiming that his counsel shall stand, and that he will do all his pleasure. Isaiah 46:10 .

Verse 37

Another scripture ; Zechariah 12:10 .

Verses 38-42

Christ’s burial. Matthew 27:57-61 .

Verse 39

Nicodemus ; chap John 3:1-2 .

Verse 42

Nigh at hand ; near the place where he was crucified.