Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved, standing by her, he saith unto his mother, "Woman! behold thy son!” Then he saith to the disciple, "Behold thy mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi! Eloi ! 2 lama sabacthani!" which is, being interpreted, My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me! And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, "Behold, he calleth Elijah."

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had now been finished, that the scripture might be fulfilled,3 saith, “I thirst." A vessel therefore was set full of vinegar. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled 4 it with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop,5 and put it to his mouth, and gave him to drink. But the rest said, “Let him alone: let us see if Elijah is coming to save him.”7 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." And when Jesus had again cried with a loud voice, he said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: " and having said these words, he bowed his head, and expired.8

And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; 9 and the earth was shaken, and the

1 Mk.: about, M. 2 Mk.: "Eli! Eli! M.: v. Ps. xxii. 1. 3 This clause may relate to the preceding, rather than to "saith." 4 M., 80 Mk.: they filled, J. 5 J.: a reed, M., Mk. 6 M. gave him to drink, saying, Mk. 7 M.: take him 8 v. H. n. [Comp. the accounts of our Lord's last moments, in M.

de

k.

T

and J.]

9 [L. records the rending of the veil, in v. 45, as if prerd's death.]

rocks were rent; and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and they came forth out of the tombs after his resurrection, and entered into the holy city, and were seen openly by many.

Now when the centurion, who stood over against him, and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and the things which had come to pass, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this man was the Son of God." And when the centurion saw that he so cried out, and expired, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man." 2

And all the multitudes that had come together to that sight, beholding the things which had come to pass, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance stood afar off. And there were there also many women beholding from afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome the mother of the sons of Zebedee, and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

SECT. XV.

The Side of Jesus pierced with a Spear.

JOHN xix. 31-37.

THE Jews therefore, because it was the preparation-day, in order that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath, (for the day of that sabbath was a great day,) entreated Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers came therefore,

and brake the legs of the first, and of the other that was

1 Or, and came forth out of the tombs, and after his resurrection entered into the holy city: v. H. n. 2 More closely, "Certainly this man was righteous."

crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they brake not his legs: but one of the soldiers with his spear pierced his side, and straightway there came forth blood and water. And he that saw it hath borne testimony, (and his testimony is true, and he knoweth that he saith true,) that ye also might believe. For these things were done that the scripture should be fulfilled,1 'A bone of it shall not be broken.' And again, another scripture saith,2 They shall look on him whom they pierced.'

SECT. XVI.

The Burial of Jesus.

MATT. xxvii. 57-61. MARK Xv. 42-47. LUKE Xxiii, 50–56. JOHN xix. 38-42.

Now after these things, when it was evening, behold, there came a rich man, whose name was Joseph, from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, an honourable councillor,3 (this man had not consented to their counsel and their deed,) a good and righteous man, who also himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, a disciple of Jesus, but secretly through fear of the Jews. This man went in boldly unto Pilate, and entreated that he might take away the body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that he was already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew the fact from the centurion, he gave him leave; and commanded the body to be given to Joseph. And having bought fine linen, and taken him down, he wrapped him in the linen.

And there came also Nicodemus, (he that at the first came to Jesus by night,) bringing a mixture of myrrh and

1 Ex. xii. 46. 2 Zech. xii. 10. 3 Or, a man of great estimation, a member of the Sanhedrim. + J. alone mentions Nicodemus, and the situation of the

sepulchre.

aloes, in weight about a hundred pounds. They took therefore the body of Jesus, and bound it in clean fine linen bands with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to prepare for burial. And that day was the preparation-day (that is, the day before the sabbath), and the sabbath drew on.1

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden and in the garden a new sepulchre,-his (Joseph's) own new sepulchre which he had hewn out in the rock, wherein no one had ever yet been laid. There laid they Jesus therefore, on account of the preparation-day of the Jews; because the sepulchre was near: and he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the sepulchre, and departed.

And the women also, who had come with him from Galilee, followed after, and observed the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. Now Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, the mother of Joses, sitting over against the sepulchre. And they returned and prepared spices and balsams; and they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.

PART X.

FROM THE BURIAL OF OUR LORD IN THE TOMB OF JOSEPH TO HIS ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN.

SECT. I.

On the Day after the Crucifixion, the Chief Priests and Pharisees seal the Sepulchre and set a Guard of Roman Soldiers over it, by the Authority of the Governor.

MATT. xxvii. 62-66.

Now on the morrow, (that is, the day after the preparation-day,) the Chief Priests and the Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember that that impostor said, while he was yet alive, 'After three days1 I rise again.' Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, 'He hath been raised from the dead:' and the last imposture will be worse than the first." Pilate said unto them, "Ye have a guard: 2 go your way, make it secure as ye know how." So they went, and made the sepulchre secure with the guard, having sealed the stone.

1 Or, within three days. 2 Or, take a guard: v. H. n.