1A když nastalo ráno, uspořádali všichni velekněží a starší lidu proti Ježíšovi poradu, tak aby způsobili jeho smrt. 2I svázali ho a odvedli, a vydali ho Pontiu Pilátovi, vladaři. 3Tu když Júdas, jenž ho byl vydal, uviděl, že byl odsouzen, byl naplněn výčitkami svědomí a vrátil těch třicet stříbrňáků velekněžím a starším, 4pravě: Zhřešil jsem, že jsem vydal nevinnou krev. Oni však řekli: Co je nám do toho? Přihlédni k tomu ty. 5I mrštil těmi stříbrňáky do chrámu a odstoupil, i odešel a oběsil se. 6A velekněží ty stříbrňáky vzali a řekli: Není dovoleno je hodit do korbanu, jelikož je to cena krve. 7A uspořádavše poradu, zakoupili za ně hrnčířovo pole za pohřebiště cizincům. 8Proto bylo ono pole až podnes nazváno Pole krve. 9Tehdy bylo splněno to, co bylo řečeno skrze Jeremiáše, proroka, jenž praví: A vzal jsem těch třicet stříbrňáků, cenu toho, na něhož byla cena vypsána, na něhož cenu vypsali ti, kteří byli z Israélových synů, 10a dali je za hrnčířovo pole, podle toho, jak mi nařídil PÁN. 11Ježíš však stanul před vladařem a vladař se ho jal dotazovat, pravě: Ty jsi ten Král Židů? A Ježíš mu děl: Ty pravíš. 12A když byl od velekněží a starších obžalováván, neodpověděl nic. 13Tu mu Pilát praví: Neslyšíš, kolik věcí proti tobě dosvědčují? 14A neodpověděl mu ani jediným slovem, takže se vladař náramně divil. 15I měl vladař obyčej ve svátek davu propouštět jednoho vězně, kterého si přáli, 16a tehdy měli vězně význačného, jemuž se říkalo Barabbas. 17Když se tedy sešli, řekl jim Pilát: Kterého si přejete, bych vám propustil - Barabbu či Ježíše, jemuž se říká Kristus? 18Věděl totiž, že mu ho vydali ze závisti. 19Když však seděl na soudcovském stolci, odeslala k němu jeho žena vzkaz: S oním spravedlivým nic neměj, neboť jsem pro něho dnes ve snu mnoho vytrpěla. 20Velekněží a starší však přemluvili davy, aby si vyprosili Barabbu a Ježíše aby vydali v záhubu. 21A vladař jim v odpověď řekl: Kterého z těch dvou si přejete, bych vám propustil? A oni řekli: Barabbu! 22Pilát jim praví: Co tedy mám učinit s Ježíšem, jemuž se říká Kristus? Všichni praví: Nechť je ukřižován! 23A vladař děl: Copak učinil zlého? Oni však ještě více křičeli, říkajíce: Nechť je ukřižován! 24A Pilát, vida, že to není nic platné, nýbrž že spíše nastává vzbouření, nabral vody a opláchl si před davem ruce, pravě: Stran krve tohoto spravedlivého jsem nevinen - přihlédněte k tomu vy. 25A všechen lid v odpověď řekl: Jeho krev na nás a na naše děti! 26Tu jim propustil Barabbu, Ježíše však zmrskal a odevzdal, aby byl ukřižován. 27Tu vzali vladařovi vojáci Ježíše s sebou do prétoria a svolali na něho celý oddíl, 28i svlékli ho a vložili na něho šarlatovou pláštěnku, 29a z trní spletli věnec a nasadili na jeho hlavu, a do jeho pravice třtinu, i jali se před ním padat na kolena a posmívat se mu, říkajíce: Buď zdráv, Králi Židů! 30A naplivavše na něho, vzali tu třtinu a tloukli do jeho hlavy. 31A když se mu naposmívali, svlékli ho z té pláštěnky a oděli ho jeho šatstvem, a odváděli ho k ukřižování. 32A když vycházeli, přišli na jednoho člověka, Kyréňana jménem Šimon; toho donutili jít s nimi, aby se chopil jeho kříže. 33A přišedše na místo řečené Golgotha, jemuž se říká Místo lebky, 34dali mu napít se octa promíšeného se žlučí; a okusiv, nechtěl se napít. 35A ukřižovavše ho, rozdělili si jeho šatstvo, vrhajíce los; 36a střežili ho tam sedíce. 37A nad jeho hlavu nasadili jeho písemné obvinění: Toto je Ježíš, Král Židů. 38Tu jsou s ním křižováni dva lupiči, jeden zprava a jeden zleva. 39A ti, kdo se ubírali mimo, mu spílali, potřásajíce svými hlavami 40a říkajíce: Ty, jenž boříš a ve třech dnech buduješ chrám, zachraň sám sebe! Jsi-li Boží Syn, sestup z kříže! 41[A] podobně i velekněží, posmívajíce se s písmaři a staršími, říkali: 42Druhé zachraňoval, sám sebe zachránit nemůže! Je Israélův Král - nechť nyní sestoupí s kříže a uvěříme na něho! 43Spolehl na Boha - nechť ho nyní vysvobodí, chce-li ho; řekl přece: Jsem Boží Syn! 44A taktéž ho hanobili i ti lupiči, kteří byli ukřižováni s ním. 45Od šesté hodiny pak nastala po vší zemi tma až do hodiny deváté; 46okolo deváté hodiny však Ježíš silným hlasem zvolal, pravě: ÉLÍ, ÉLÍ, LAMA SABACHTHANÍ? To jest: Můj Bože, můj Bože, nač jsi mě opustil? 47A někteří z těch, kdo tam stáli, říkali, uslyševše to: Tento volá Eliáše. 48A jeden z nich hned přiběhl, vzal houbu a nasytil octem a nasadil na třtinu a napájel ho. 49Ostatní však říkali: Nechej, podívejme se, zdali ho Eliáš přichází zachránit. 50A Ježíš, opět silným hlasem vykřiknuv, se vzdal ducha. 51A hle, opona chrámu se roztrhla na dvé, od shora až dolů, a země se roztřásla a skály se trhaly 52a hrobky se otevřely a mnoho těl zesnulých svatých bylo vzkříšeno, 53a vyšedše z hrobek po jeho vzkříšení, vstoupili do svatého města a mnohým se zjevili. 54Setník však a ti, kteří s ním Ježíše střežili, se nesmírně ulekli, vidouce zemětřesení a ty věci, jež se děly, a říkali: Tento byl opravdu Boží Syn. 55A bylo tam mnoho žen, jež se dívaly zdaleka - ty, jež za Ježíšem přišly od Galileje, posluhujíce mu; 56a mezi nimi byla Marie z Magdaly a Marie, matka Jakubova a Jóséova, a matka synů Zebedeových. 57Když pak nastal večer, přišel jeden bohatý člověk z Arimatheje, jeho jméno Josef, jenž se sám také byl stal Ježíšovým učedníkem; 58ten, přistoupiv k Pilátovi, se jal vyprošovat si Ježíšovo tělo. Tu Pilát poručil, by tělo bylo vydáno, 59a Josef, dostav tělo, je zavinul v čisté plátno 60a uložil je v své nové hrobce, již byl vytesal ve skále. I přivalil ke dveřím té hrobky veliký kámen a odešel; 61byla tam však Marie z Magdaly a ta druhá Marie, jež seděly naproti hrobu. 62Nazítří pak - to je den po Přichystávání - se velekněží a farizeové sešli k Pilátovi 63a pravili: Pane, vzpomněli jsme si, že onen podvodník ještě za živa řekl: Za tři dni dochází k mému vzkříšení. 64Poruč tedy, by hrob až do třetího dne byl zajištěn, aby se nějak nestalo, že by jeho učedníci přišli a ukradli ho a lidu řekli: Byl od mrtvých vzkříšen, a bude poslední podvod horší než první. 65A Pilát jim děl: Máte strážní oddíl; jděte, zajistěte si, jak umíte. 66A oni se odebrali a zajistili si hrob zapečetěním kamene a k tomu strážním oddílem.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 Wicked men see little of the consequences of their crimes when they commit them, but they must answer for them all. In the fullest manner Judas acknowledged to the chief priests that he had sinned, and betrayed an innocent person. This was full testimony to the character of Christ; but the rulers were hardened. Casting down the money, Judas departed, and went and hanged himself, not being able to bear the terror of Divine wrath, and the anguish of despair. There is little doubt but that the death of Judas was before that of our blessed Lord. But was it nothing to them that they had thirsted after this blood, and hired Judas to betray it, and had condemned it to be shed unjustly? Thus do fools make a mock at sin. Thus many make light of Christ crucified. And it is a common instance of the deceitfulness of our hearts, to make light of our own sin by dwelling upon other people's sins. But the judgment of God is according to truth. Many apply this passage of the buying the piece of ground, with the money Judas brought back, to signify the favour intended by the blood of Christ to strangers, and sinners of the Gentiles. It fulfilled a prophecy,
Zech 11:12. Judas went far toward repentance, yet it was not to salvation. He confessed, but not to God; he did not go to him, and say, I have sinned, Father, against heaven. Let none be satisfied with such partial convictions as a man may have, and yet remain full of pride, enmity, and rebellion.
11 Having no malice against Jesus, Pilate urged him to clear himself, and laboured to get him discharged. The message from his wife was a warning. God has many ways of giving checks to sinners, in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great mercy to have such checks from Providence, from faithful friends, and from our own consciences. O do not this abominable thing which the Lord hates! is what we may hear said to us, when we are entering into temptation, if we will but regard it. Being overruled by the priests, the people made choice of Barabbas. Multitudes who choose the world, rather than God, for their ruler and portion, thus choose their own delusions. The Jews were so bent upon the death of Christ, that Pilate thought it would be dangerous to refuse. And this struggle shows the power of conscience even on the worst men. Yet all was so ordered to make it evident that Christ suffered for no fault of his own, but for the sins of his people. How vain for Pilate to expect to free himself from the guilt of the innocent blood of a righteous person, whom he was by his office bound to protect! The Jews' curse upon themselves has been awfully answered in the sufferings of their nation. None could bear the sin of others, except Him that had no sin of his own to answer for. And are we not all concerned? Is not Barabbas preferred to Jesus, when sinners reject salvation that they may retain their darling sins, which rob God of his glory, and murder their souls? The blood of Christ is now upon us for good, through mercy, by the Jews' rejection of it. O let us flee to it for refuge!
26 Crucifixion was a death used only among the Romans; it was very terrible and miserable. A cross was laid on the ground, to which the hands and feet were nailed, it was then lifted up and fixed upright, so that the weight of the body hung on the nails, till the sufferer died in agony. Christ thus answered the type of the brazen serpent raised on a pole. Christ underwent all the misery and shame here related, that he might purchase for us everlasting life, and joy, and glory.
31 Christ was led as a Lamb to the slaughter, as a Sacrifice to the altar. Even the mercies of the wicked are really cruel. Taking the cross from him, they compelled one Simon to bear it. Make us ready, O Lord, to bear the cross thou hast appointed us, and daily to take it up with cheerfulness, following thee. Was ever sorrow like unto his sorrow? And when we behold what manner of death he died, let us in that behold with what manner of love he loved us. As if death, so painful a death, were not enough, they added to its bitterness and terror in several ways.
35 It was usual to put shame upon malefactors, by a writing to notify the crime for which they suffered. So they set up one over Christ's head. This they designed for his reproach, but God so overruled it, that even his accusation was to his honour. There were crucified with him at the same time, two robbers. He was, at his death, numbered among the transgressors, that we, at our death, might be numbered among the saints. The taunts and jeers he received are here recorded. The enemies of Christ labour to make others believe that of religion and of the people of God, which they themselves know to be false. The chief priests and scribes, and the elders, upbraid Jesus with being the King of Israel. Many people could like the King of Israel well enough, if he would but come down from the cross; if they could but have his kingdom without the tribulation through which they must enter into it. But if no cross, then no Christ, no crown. Those that would reign with him, must be willing to suffer with him. Thus our Lord Jesus, having undertaken to satisfy the justice of God, did it, by submitting to the punishment of the worst of men. And in every minute particular recorded about the sufferings of Christ, we find some prediction in the Prophets or the Psalms fulfilled.
45 During the three hours which the darkness continued, Jesus was in agony, wrestling with the powers of darkness, and suffering his Father's displeasure against the sin of man, for which he was now making his soul an offering. Never were there three such hours since the day God created man upon the earth, never such a dark and awful scene; it was the turning point of that great affair, man's redemption and salvation. Jesus uttered a complaint from
Pss 22:1. Hereby he teaches of what use the word of God is to direct us in prayer, and recommends the use of Scripture expressions in prayer. The believer may have tasted some drops of bitterness, but he can only form a very feeble idea of the greatness of Christ's sufferings. Yet, hence he learns something of the Saviour's love to sinners; hence he gets deeper conviction of the vileness and evil of sin, and of what he owes to Christ, who delivers him from the wrath to come. His enemies wickedly ridiculed his complaint. Many of the reproaches cast upon the word of God and the people of God, arise, as here, from gross mistakes. Christ, just before he expired, spake in his full strength, to show that his life was not forced from him, but was freely delivered into his Father's hands. He had strength to bid defiance to the powers of death: and to show that by the eternal Spirit he offered himself, being the Priest as well as the Sacrifice, he cried with a loud voice. Then he yielded up the ghost. The Son of God upon the cross, did die by the violence of the pain he was put to. His soul was separated from his body, and so his body was left really and truly dead. It was certain that Christ did die, for it was needful that he should die. He had undertaken to make himself an offering for sin, and he did it when he willingly gave up his life.
51 The rending of the veil signified that Christ, by his death, opened a way to God. We have an open way through Christ to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat now, and to the throne of glory hereafter. When we duly consider Christ's death, our hard and rocky hearts should be rent; the heart, and not the garments. That heart is harder than a rock that will not yield, that will not melt, where Jesus Christ is plainly set forth crucified. The graves were opened, and many bodies of saints which slept, arose. To whom they appeared, in what manner, and how they disappeared, we are not told; and we must not desire to be wise above what is written. The dreadful appearances of God in his providence, sometimes work strangely for the conviction and awakening of sinners. This was expressed in the terror that fell upon the centurion and the Roman soldiers. We may reflect with comfort on the abundant testimonies given to the character of Jesus; and, seeking to give no just cause of offence, we may leave it to the Lord to clear our characters, if we live to Him. Let us, with an eye of faith, behold Christ and him crucified, and be affected with that great love wherewith he loved us. But his friends could give no more than a look; they beheld him, but could not help him. Never were the horrid nature and effects of sin so tremendously displayed, as on that day when the beloved Son of the Father hung upon the cross, suffering for sin, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Let us yield ourselves willingly to his service.
57 In the burial of Christ was nothing of pomp or solemnity. As Christ had not a house of his own, wherein to lay his head, while he lived, so he had not a grave of his own, wherein to lay his body, when he was dead. Our Lord Jesus, who had no sin of his own, had no grave of his own. The Jews designed that he should have made his grave with the wicked, should have been buried with the thieves with whom he was crucified, but God overruled it, so that he should make it with the rich in his death,
Isa 53:9. And although to the eye of man the beholding a funeral may cause terror, yet if we remember how Christ by his burial has changed the nature of the grave to believers, it should make us rejoice. And we are ever to imitate Christ's burial in being continually occupied in the spiritual burial of our sins.
62 On the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees, when they should have been at their devotions, were dealing with Pilate about securing the sepulchre. This was permitted that there might be certain proof of our Lord's resurrection. Pilate told them that they might secure the sepulchre as carefully as they could. They sealed the stone, and set a guard, and were satisfied that all needful care was taken. But to guard the sepulchre against the poor weak disciples was folly, because needless; while to think to guard it against the power of God, was folly, because fruitless, and to no purpose; yet they thought they dealt wisely. But the Lord took the wise in their own craftiness. Thus shall all the rage and the plans of Christ's enemies be made to promote his glory.