1Když nastalo ráno, uradili se všichni velekněží a starší lidu proti Ježíšovi, že ho usmrtí. 2Spoutali ho, odvedli a vydali vladaři Pontiu Pilátovi. 3Když jeho zrádce Juda uviděl, že byl Ježíš odsouzen, pocítil lítost a vrátil třicet stříbrných velekněžím a starším, 4říkaje: „Zhřešil jsem, zradil jsem nevinnou krev!“ Oni však řekli: „Co je nám po tom? To je tvoje věc! “ 5Tu pohodil ty stříbrné do svatyně a vzdálil se; pak odešel a oběsil se. 6Velekněží vzali ty stříbrné a řekli: „Není dovoleno vhodit je do chrámové pokladny, protože je to cena za krev.“ 7Uradili se a koupili za ně hrnčířovo pole k pohřbívání cizinců. 8Proto je ono pole až dodnes nazýváno Polem krve. 9Tehdy se naplnilo, co bylo řečeno skrze proroka Jeremjáše: ‚I vzali třicet stříbrných, cenu Oceněného, který byl oceněn od synů Izraele; 10a dali je za hrnčířovo pole, jak mi nařídil Pán.‘ 11Ježíš byl postaven před vladaře. Vladař se ho otázal: „Ty jsi král Židů?“ Ježíš mu řekl: „Ty to říkáš.“ 12A když ho velekněží a starší obviňovali, nic neodpověděl. 13Tu mu Pilát řekl: „Neslyšíš, co všechno proti tobě vypovídají? “ 14Ale on mu neodpověděl ani na jedno obvinění, takže se vladař velmi divil. 15O svátcích měl vladař ve zvyku propouštět zástupu jednoho vězně, kterého chtěli. 16Tehdy tam měli významného vězně, který se jmenoval Barabáš. 17Když se tedy lidé shromáždili, řekl jim Pilát: „Koho chcete, abych vám propustil, Barabáše, nebo Ježíše, zvaného Kristus?“ 18Věděl totiž, že ho vydali ze závisti. 19Když seděl na soudní stolici, vzkázala mu jeho žena: „Neměj nic s tím spravedlivým, neboť jsem dnes kvůli němu ve snu mnoho vytrpěla.“ 20Velekněží a starší přesvědčili zástupy, aby si vyžádaly Barabáše, ale Ježíše aby daly zahubit. 21Vladař jim tedy řekl: „Kterého z těch dvou chcete, abych vám propustil?“ Oni řekli: „Barabáše!“ 22Pilát jim řekl: „Co tedy mám udělat s Ježíšem, zvaným Kristus?“ Všichni mu řekli: „Ať je ukřižován!“ 23A vládce řekl: „Co tedy udělal zlého?“ Oni však ještě víc křičeli: „Ať je ukřižován!“ 24Když Pilát uviděl, že to ničemu neprospívá, ale že pozdvižení je čím dál větší, vzal vodu, umyl si před zástupem ruce a řekl: „Jsem nevinen touto krví. Je to vaše věc. “ 25A všechen lid na to řekl: „Jeho krev na nás a na naše děti!“ 26Pak jim propustil Barabáše. Ježíše dal zbičovat a vydal ho, aby byl ukřižován. 27Tehdy vladařovi vojáci vzali Ježíše do vládního paláce a shromáždili k němu celý oddíl vojska. 28Svlékli ho a oblékli mu šarlatový plášť, 29upletli věnec z trní a vložili jej na jeho hlavu a do pravé ruky mu dali rákosovou hůl. Padali před ním na kolena a posmívali se mu: „Buď zdráv, králi Židů!“ 30A když ho poplivali, vzali tu hůl a začali ho bít po hlavě. 31Když se mu naposmívali, svlékli mu plášť a oblékli mu jeho šaty. A odvedli ho, aby ho ukřižovali. 32Když vycházeli, potkali jednoho člověka z Kyrény, jménem Šimon; toho přinutili, aby vzal jeho kříž. 33Když přišli na místo zvané Golgota, což znamená ‚Místo lebky‘, 34dali Ježíšovi pít víno smíchané se žlučí. Okusil, ale nechtěl pít. 35Ukřižovali ho a rozdělili si jeho šaty házejíce o ně los; 36pak seděli a střežili ho tam. 37Nad hlavu mu dali nápis o jeho provinění: „Toto je Ježíš, král Židů.“ 38Zároveň s ním byli ukřižováni dva lupiči, jeden po pravici a druhý po levici. 39Kolemjdoucí ho uráželi, potřásali hlavou 40a říkali: „Ty, který boříš svatyni a ve třech dnech ji stavíš, zachraň se, jsi-li Syn Boží, a sestup s kříže!“ 41Podobně se posmívali i velekněží s učiteli Zákona a staršími. Říkali: 42„Jiné zachránil, sám sebe zachránit nemůže. Je králem Izraele, ať nyní sestoupí s kříže, a my v něho uvěříme. 43Složil naději v Bohu, ať ho nyní vysvobodí, stojí-li o něho. Vždyť řekl: ‚Jsem Boží Syn!‘“ 44Stejně ho tupili i lupiči, kteří byli ukřižováni spolu s ním. 45Od šesté hodiny nastala tma po celé zemi až do hodiny deváté. 46Kolem deváté hodiny zvolal Ježíš silným hlasem: „Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?“ To jest: ‚Můj Bože, můj Bože, proč jsi mne opustil?‘ 47A když to uslyšeli někteří z těch, kdo tam stáli, říkali: „Ten člověk volá Eliáše.“ 48Jeden z nich ihned vyběhl, vzal houbu, naplnil ji octem, připevnil na rákosovou hůl a dával mu pít. 49Ostatní však říkali: „Nech ho, ať uvidíme, jestli přijde Eliáš a zachrání ho!“ 50Ale Ježíš znovu vykřikl silným hlasem a vypustil ducha. 51A hle, opona svatyně se roztrhla ve dví odshora až dolů a země se zatřásla a skály se roztrhly 52a hroby se otevřely a mnohá těla zesnulých svatých byla vzkříšena; 53když vyšli z hrobů po jeho vzkříšení, vstoupili do svatého města a ukázali se mnohým. 54Když setník a ti, kdo s ním střežili Ježíše, uviděli zemětřesení a to, co se stalo, velmi se ulekli a řekli: „Opravdu to byl Boží Syn!“ 55Bylo tam mnoho žen dívajících se zdaleka, které se vydaly za Ježíšem z Galileje a sloužily mu. 56Mezi nimi byla Marie Magdalská, Marie, matka Jakubova a Josefova, a matka synů Zebedeových. 57Když nastal večer, přišel bohatý člověk z Arimatie, jménem Josef, který se také sám stal Ježíšovým učedníkem. 58Ten přišel k Pilátovi a požádal o Ježíšovo tělo. Tehdy Pilát rozkázal, aby mu to tělo vydali. 59Josef tělo vzal, zavinul je do čistého plátna 60a položil je do své nové hrobky, kterou vytesal ve skále. Pak ke vchodu do hrobky přivalil veliký kámen a odešel. 61Byla tam Marie Magdalská a ta druhá Marie a seděly naproti hrobu. 62Nazítří, to je po přípravě na svátek, se u Piláta shromáždili velekněží a farizeové 63a řekli: „Pane, vzpomněli jsme si, že onen svůdce ještě za svého života řekl: ‚Po třech dnech vstanu. ‘ 64Rozkaž tedy, ať je do třetího dne hrob zajištěn, aby nepřišli jeho učedníci, neukradli ho a neřekli lidu: ‚Vstal z mrtvých.‘ A bude poslední blud horší než ten první.“ 65Pilát jim řekl: „Máte stráž. Jděte a zabezpečte to, jak umíte.“ 66Oni pak šli a zabezpečili hrob tak, že zapečetili kámen a postavili k němu stráž.
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.
