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CHAPTER XXVII.

1 WHEN the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of 2 the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered

CHAP. XXVII.-1 The morning was come.] And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. Ju. xvi. 2. Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning. And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou shalt be slain. 1 Sa. xix. 11. They (the wicked) sleep not except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall; for they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence : but the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Pr. iv. 16, 17, 18. Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. Mi. ii. 1. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, and the chief priests, and the Scribes, came together, and led him into their council. Lu. xxii. 66. Go (said the angel to the apostles who were imprisoned), and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. Ac. v. 20, 21.

All the chief priests and elders, &c.] See Mat. xxiii. 13; xxvi. 3, 4. And straight way 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. Mar. xv. 1. And the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate; and they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying, That he himself is Christ, a king. Lu. xxiii. 1, 2. Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment, and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. John xviii. 28. And when "they" ("the company of the disciples") heard "that" ("what the chief priests and elders had said unto them"), they lifted up their voices with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is, who by the mouth of thy servant David hast

said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together; for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Ac. iv. 24—28.

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2 Bound him.] And they (Abraham and Isaac) came to the place which God had told him (Abraham) of. And Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Ge. xxii. 9. Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him. Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. John xviii. 12. 24. And Saul went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Ac. ix. 1, 2. when Herod would have brought "him" ("Peter") forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison. Ac. xii. 6. Then (when they went about to kill Paul, and all Jerusalem was in an uproar) the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. Ac. xxi. 33. And as they bound him with thongs Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him; and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. Ac. xxii. 25. 29. But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. Ac. xxiv. 27. For this cause (said Paul) have I called for you, to see you" ("the chief of the Jews"), and to speak with you; because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. Ac. xxviii. 20. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, according to my gospel, wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but

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him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had 3 betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed 4 the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou

the word of God is not bound. 2 Ti. ii. 8, 9. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. He. xiii. 3.

And delivered him to Pontius Pilate.] See chap. xx. 19. For he (the Son of man) shall be delivered unto the Gentiles (said Jesus), and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on. And they shall scourge him, and put him to death, and the third day he shall rise again. Lu. xviii. 32, 33. And they watched him, and sent forth spies which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. Lu. xx. 20.

3 Judas, which had betrayed him.] See chap. xxvi. 14, 15, 16. 46-50.

Repented himself.] The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment. Though he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it still within his mouth, yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God shall cast them out of his belly he shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him. He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter. That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein. Because he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor, surely he shall not save of that which he desired; there shall none of his meat be left. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through. It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him. The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God. Job xx. 5. 15-29. Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Co. vii. 10.

4 I have sinned, &c.] And they (Joseph's brethren) said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear. Therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore behold also his blood is required. Ge. xlii. 21, 22. And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time; the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Ex. ix. 27. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee (said Pharaoh), my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only. Ex. x. 16, 17. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel, and go serve the Lord, as ye have said. xii. 31. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. Then he said, I have sinned; yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God. 1 Sa. xv. 24. 30. It came to pass, when Ahab heard those words (the judgments denounced by Elijah), that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 1 Ki. xxi. 27. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Ro. iii. 19.

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The innocent blood.] See verses 19. 23, 24. 54. Surely at the commandment of the Lord "this" ("the ruin of Jehoiakim") upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; and also for the innocent blood that he shed (for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood), which the Lord would not pardon. 2 Ki. xxiv. 3, 4. Know ye for certain (said Jeremiah), that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof. Je. xxvi. 15. We beseech thee, O Lord (said the men who were in the ship with Jonah), let us not perish for this man's life,

5 to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and 6 departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests

and lay not upon us innocent blood; for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee. Jon. i. 14. And he (Pilate) said unto them the third time, Why? what evil hath he (Christ) done? I have found no cause of death in him. "We" (said "the penitent thief") receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amiss. Now when the centurion saw what was done (at the crucifixion of Jesus), he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. Lu. xxiii. 22. 41. 47. We have a law (said the Jews), and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. John xix. 7. And although they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. Ac. xiii. 28. For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. He. vii. 26. Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Pe. i. 18, 19.

What is that to us? &c.] See verse 25. If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness (for which they brought Paul to the judgment), O ye Jews (said Gallio, the deputy of Achaia), reason would that I should bear with you; but if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drave them from the judgment-seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment-seat; and Gallio cared for none of these things. Ac. xviii. 14-17. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. 1 Ti. iv. 1, 2. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Ti. i. 16. We should love one another; not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 1 John iii. 11, 12. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them" ("the two witnesses'), and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets torment.. ed them that dwelt on the earth. Re. xi. 10.

See thou to that.] Then said Samuel (to Saul), Wherefore then dost thou ask of me (to make known unto thee what thou shalt do), seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the Lord hath

done to him as he spake by me; for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover, the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines. Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Saruuel: and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all the day nor all the night. 1 Sa. xxviii. 16-20. But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. Job xiii. 4. Shall vain words have an end (said Job, reproving his friends)? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? Job xvi. 3. But Abraham said (to the rich man, being in torments), Son, remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot, neither can they pass to us that would come from thence. xvi. 25, 26.

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5 And departed, and went and hanged himself.] Then "he" ("Abimelech," who had been wounded by a piece of a mill-stone, throwa by a woman from the tower of Thebez) called hastily unto the young man his armour-bearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. Ju. ix. 54. Then said Sand (his army being lost, and his sons slain) unto his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised (the Philistines) come and thrust me through and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not, for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. 1 Sa. xxxi. 4, 5. when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed (of pursuing after David), he saddled his ass, and arose and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. 2 Sa. xvii. 23. And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city (of Tirzah) was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died. 1 Ki. xvi. 18. Then said his wife unto "him" ("Job"), Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die. Job ii. 9. My soul chooseth stran

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took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took 7 counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this 8 day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the 9 I prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord 10 appointed me. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the 11

gling and death rather than life. Job vii. 15. Thou, O God, shalt bring "them" ("the wicked") down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days: but I will trust in thee. Ps. lv. 23. Now this man (Judas) purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem, insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama; that is to say, The field of blood. Ac. i. 18, 19.

6 It is not lawful, &c.] Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Mat. xxiii. 24. And the Scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? Lu. vi. 7, 8, 9. Then led they (the chief priests and Pharisees) Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment; and it was early. And they themselves went not into the judgment-hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. John xviii. 28.

To put them into the treasury.] Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore or the price of a dog into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow; for even both these are abomination unto the Lord thy God. De. xxiii. 18. For I the Lord love judgment; I hate robbery for burnt-offering. Is. lxi. 8.

8 That field was called, &c.] And "it" ("the fate of Judas") was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem, insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama; that is to say, The field of blood. Ac. i. 19. Unto this day.] So "they" ("the soldiers who watched the sepulchre of Jesus") took the money, and did as they were taught (having said that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while they slept). And this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Mat. xxviii. 15. No man knoweth of “his” (“Moses' ") sepulchre unto this day.

De. xxxiv. 6. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there unto this day. Jos. iv. 9. And the man (who shewed the entrance to the city of Bethel to the house of Joseph) went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz, which is the name thereof unto this day. Ju. i. 26. And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle, but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day. 2 Chr. v. 9.

9 And they took the thirty pieces.] And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prized at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. Zec. xi. 12, 13.

Thirty pieces.] What will ye give me (said Judas Iscariot), and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. Mat. xxvi. 15. If the ox shall push a man-servant, or maidservant, he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. Ex. xxi. 32. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the Lord by thy estimation. And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary; and if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels; and if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be, of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female ten shekels; and if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be, of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver; and if it be from sixty years old and above, if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. xxvii. 2-7.

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11 Jesus stood before the governor.] And

governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? 12 And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was ac13 cused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then

said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they 14 witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; 15 insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, 16 whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called

ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Mat. x. 18. 25. And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering, said unto him, Thou sayest it. Mar. xv. 2. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him, and said, Thou sayest it. Lu. xxiii. 3. Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now is my kingdom not from hence. John xviii. 33-36.

Thou sayest.] See Mat. xxvi. 25. 64. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. 1 Ti. vi. 13.

12 He was accused, &c.] See verse 14, and chap. xxvi. 62, 63. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee, O Lord, do I hope; thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. Ps. xxxviii. 14, 15. And the chief priests accused him of many things; but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled. Mar. xv. 3, 4, 5. The place of the Scripture which "he" ("the Ethiopian Eunuch," whom Philip ran to meet as he sat in his chariot) read was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. Ac. viii. 32. When he was reviled, (he) reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but-committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. 1 Pe. ii. 23.

13 Hearest thou not, &c.] And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest

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thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. Mat. xxvi. 62, 63. Thine own nation (said Pilate) and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me; what hast thou done? xviii. 35. The chief captain commanded him (Paul) to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. Ac. xxii. 24.

14 Marvelled greatly.] I am as a wonder unto many, but thou art my strong refuge. Ps. lxxi. 7. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion. Is. viii. 1& Hear now, O Joshua, the high priest, thou and thy fellows, that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at; for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch. Ze. iii. 8. We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels and to men. 1 Co. iv. 9.

15 Feast the governor was wont, &c.] And (the chief priests) consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar among the people. Mat. xxvi. 4, 5. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And the multitude, crying aloud, began to desire kim to do as he had ever done unto them. Mar. xv. 6, 7, 8. I will therefore chastise him (said Pilate), and release him, (for of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) Lu. xxiii. 16, 17. Pilate saith unto "him” ("Jesus"), what is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover. Will ye, therefore, that I release unto you the king of the Jews? John xviii. 38, 39. After two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. Ac. xxiv. 27. Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me! Ac. xxv. 9.

16 A notable prisoner.] And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. Mar.

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