Matt. 27 Matt. 27:1–2 Christ is delivered bound to Pilate. Matt. 27:3–10 Judas hangeth himself. Matt. 27:11–14 Christ’s silence before Pilate. Matt. 27:15–18 Pilate’s custom at the feast, and proposal to the people, Matt. 27:19 his wife’s message. Matt.

Mark saith, Mark 15:1, And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. Luke saith, Luke 23:1, And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him to Pilate.

Matthew (who alone reports this piece of history) interrupts his relation of our Saviour’s trial before Pilate, with an account of Judas’s end. We must not interpret Then strictly, so as to think Judas did this at the time when Christ was carried before Pilate, but some short time after; for they…

God, Deut. 23:18, had forbidden to bring the price of a whore, or a dog, into the temple; this they had interpreted of all filthy gain: upon which they thus determine, that it was not lawful for them to put the money they had given Judas, for so sordid a service as that of betraying his Master,…

They at last resolve what to do with the money, which was no great sum, for, as we noted before, it exceeded not three pounds fifteen shillings. They would not turn it to their own private use, for (probably) it was before taken out of the treasury; neither would they again return it into the…

Mark hath the same, Mark 15:2; so hath Luke, Luke 23:3. John relates it more distinctly, John 18:29–32; Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

Mark saith much the same, Mark 15:3–5. These things were before Pilate went out to the people, and told them that he found no fault in him at all, and offered to release Barabbas unto them.

Mark saith, Mark 15:6–11, Now at that feast he released unto them, one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

Matthew only mentions this passage of Pilate’s wife; whether it was when Pilate sat upon the judgment seat the second time, (the story of which we have heard), or afterward, is uncertain; nor is it material.

Mark hath the same, Mark 15:12–14. So also Luke saith, Luke 23:20–23, Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

Mark saith, Mark 15:15, So Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him to be crucified. Luke saith, Luke 23:24–25, And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

Mark hath the same, Mark 15:17–20, only he saith they put upon him a purple robe. John seemeth to mention this a little out of order, John 19:1–3, as done before his condemnation; for though some think that Matthew and Mark rather mention these things out of their due order, yet the abuses seem…

Mark saith, Mark 15:21–23, And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

Mark saith, Mark 15:24–28, When they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, The King of the Jews.

Mark relates this part of the history with no material circumstance differing from Matthew, Matt. 15:29–32. Luke saith, Luke 23:39–43, And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

Mark hath the same, Mark 15:33–38. Luke saith, Luke 23:44, that it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

Mark, Mark 15:38, mentions only the rending of the veil. No more doth Luke, Luke 23:45. John mentions none of these things. It pleased God to give a testimony against this prodigious piece of wickedness by prodigious signs, both in the heavens and on the earth.

Mark saith, Mark 15:39–41, And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Mark hath it, Mark 15:42–47, And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

This part of the history is recorded by no other evangelist: the recording it by Matthew contributes yet further to evidence the truth of Christ’s resurrection; for here was all imaginable care taken to prevent a cheat in the case.