Pilate, an agent of Caesar Tiberius, was a Roman procurator in Judea (Palestine) from A.D. 26-35. Not long after he unjustly delivered up the Lord Jesus to be crucified, his rule ended abruptly. He was banished and committed suicide.

In the evil conspiracy the Jewish religionists convinced the heathen politician to collaborate with them to kill the Lord Jesus.

Or, repented.

They would not take blood money. Actually, what they did to the Lord Jesus was more evil than Judas's deed (v. 1).

A chest or place in the temple where the gifts offered to God were kept.

The word quoted in vv. 9-10 was spoken by Jeremiah but recorded in Zechariah (Zech. 11:12-13). There was an idea among the Jews that Zechariah had the spirit of Jeremiah.

The Lord would not vindicate Himself.

See note 12¹.

It was unjust of Pilate to ask this question, for he knew that the Lord was innocent (v. 18) and that Barabbas was guilty.

This was sovereign of God.

This was to appease his conscience.

A timid and irresponsible withdrawal.

Some MSS add, righteous.

This utterly exposed the darkness and injustice of politics! This injustice fulfilled Isa. 53:5, 8.

The Jewish death penalty was carried out by stoning (Lev. 20:2, 27; 24:14; Deut. 13:10; 17:5). Crucifixion was a heathen practice (Ezra 6:11) adopted by the Romans for the execution of slaves and heinous criminals only. The Lord Jesus' being crucified was a fulfillment not only of the Old Testament prophecies (Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13; Num. 21:8-9) but also of the Lord's word concerning how He would die (John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32). These could not have been fulfilled by stoning. See note John 18:32¹.

I.e., the governor's official residence.

Thorns are a symbol of the curse (Gen. 3:17-18). On the cross the Lord Jesus became a curse for us (Gal. 3:13).

A mocking salutation or congratulation. The same Greek word as in Matt. 26:49.

The Lord, as the Passover lamb to be sacrificed for our sins, was brought like a lamb to the slaughter, fulfilling Isa. 53:7-8.

Cyrene was a Greek colonial city, the capital of Cyrenaica in North Africa. It seems that Simon was a Cyrenian Jew.

Golgotha is a Hebrew word (John 19:17) that means skull (Mark 15:22). Its equivalent in Latin is Calvaria, anglicized as Calvary (Luke 23:33, KJV). It does not mean a place of dead men's skulls, but simply skull.

Wine mingled with gall (and also with myrrh — Mark 15:23) was used as a stupefying drink.

The Lord would not be stupefied; He would drink the bitter cup to the dregs.

The Lord was robbed to the uttermost by sinners, fulfilling Psa. 22:18. This too exposed the darkness of Roman politics.

This was for the fulfillment of Isa. 53:9a.

This was a repetition of the devil's temptation in the wilderness (Matt. 4:6).

If He had saved Himself, He could not save us.

The sixth hour was 12:00 noon, and the ninth was 3:00 p.m. The Lord was crucified from the third hour, 9:00 a.m. (Mark 15:25), until the ninth hour, 3:00 p.m. He suffered on the cross for six hours. In the first three hours He was persecuted by men for doing God's will; in the last three hours He was judged by God to accomplish our redemption. It was during this time that God counted Him as our Substitute who suffered for our sin (Isa. 53:10). Darkness fell over all the land (v. 45) because our sin and sins and all negative things were being dealt with there; and because of our sin God forsook Him (v. 46).

See note Matt. 27:45¹.

God forsook Christ on the cross because He took the place of sinners (1 Pet. 3:18) — He bore our sins (1 Pet. 2:24; Isa. 53:6) and was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).

Offered to the Lord in a mocking way (Luke 23:36) for quenching His thirst (John 19:28-30 and note 30¹).

This was His giving up of His spirit (John 19:30); it indicates that the Lord voluntarily yielded up His life (Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46).

This signifies that the separation between God and man had been abolished because the flesh of sin (the flesh being signified by the veil) taken by Christ (Rom. 8:3) had been crucified (Heb. 10:20 and note 2).

From top to bottom indicates that the rending of the veil was God's doing from above.

This signifies that the base of Satan's rebellion was shaken.

This signifies that the strongholds of Satan's earthly kingdom were broken.

This signifies that the power of death and Hades was conquered and subdued.

This signifies the releasing power of the death of Christ.

In the type, the firstfruits of the harvest (Lev. 23:10-11) were not a single stalk of wheat but a sheaf of wheat, typifying not only the resurrected Christ but also the saints who were raised from the dead after His resurrection, as seen here.

All the things listed in vv. 51-53 are different aspects of the excellent effect of the Lord's death.

Where they went after this we have no way to trace.

The mother of the Lord Jesus (Matt. 13:55).

See note John 19:38^1a.

This was for the fulfillment of Isa. 53:9b.

This was the day of preparation, Friday, when the passover was prepared (Matt. 26:19; John 19:14).

Probably by a cord stretched across the stone and sealed at both ends (see Dan. 6:17). On the negative side, this sealing was intended by the opposing Jewish leaders to be a precaution, but on the positive side, it turned out to be a strong testimony of the Lord's resurrection.