John 19 - King James Version Bible Commentary

Jn 19:1. Pilate orders Jesus to be scourged, hoping that the Jews would accept this rather than execution. The scourge was made of thongs to which were attached sharp pieces of metal and pieces of bone. The prisoners were beaten across the back, having the flesh and sometimes the organs torn. Many prisoners died from this cruel punishment.

Jn 19:2-3. The soldiers mock and torture Christ by their actions. They force a crown of thorns on His head, causing blood to flow down His face. They hit Him and dress Him like a king.

Jn 19:4-5. Pilate presents Christ dressed in a purple robe, with a crown and a reed. The robe is drenched with blood from the gaping wounds received from the scourging. Behold the man. Pilate clearly states that Christ is no king. He is simply a man. It is interesting to note that Pilate declares Christ innocent, yet subjects Him to a terrible beating.

Jn 19:6. Rather than being appeased, the angry multitude chants, Crucify, … Crucify … Frustrated, Pilate tells them that if Christ is to be crucified, they will have to do it. No fault. This is the third time that Pilate declares the innocence of Christ.

Jn 19:7. According to Roman law, Christ was innocent. The Jews now appeal to their law. Christ had claimed to be God, and by Jewish law, He should die (Lev 24:16).

Jn 19:8-9. When Pilate hears that Christ claimed to be the Son of God, he is more afraid. Superstitious Pilate had already been warned by his wife about Christ (Mt 27:19) and now he realizes that he may be dealing with the Son of God. Pilate immediately attempts to discover the origin of this person standing before him. An answer would be useless, since Pilate was spiritually blind.

Jn 19:10-11. Fearful and confused, Pilate attempts to hide his weaknesses by the statement, I have power. Christ reminds him that the only authority he has is that which has been given to him by a higher source. Greater sin. Although Pilate was responsible for his actions to Christ, Caiaphas, who had planned the entire plot to kill Christ, had committed a greater sin and would be more accountable to God.

Jn 19:12. Fearful of Christ, and knowing that He was innocent, Pilate again attempted to release Him. The Jews made their final argument, thou art not Caesar’s friend. If the Jews contacted Caesar, and explained that Pilate released a king who threatened Roman authority, Pilate would be guilty of treason against Rome.

Jn 19:13-14. Pilate was ready to make his decision. (For a discussion of the chronology of the events of the crucifixion see notes on Mt 26.) Behold your king. It was apparent that Pilate hated the Jews and in scorn he gives them their king, poor, miserable, and beaten.

Jn 19:15-16. Driven by the crowd and not his conscience, Pilate succumbs to the wishes of the Jews.

Jn 19:17. Christ was already weakened by the treatment of the soldiers, and now they make Him carry His cross. Golgotha. Called a place of a skull probably because its physical appearance resembles a skull, this place was also called Calvary (Lk 23:33).

Jn 19:18. They crucify Him between two criminals.

Jn 19:19-20. Since Christ had not been found guilty of a crime, Pilate placed a title above the cross. It was written in Aramaic, the language of the Jews; Greek, the language of culture; and Latin, the official language of Rome.

Jn 19:21-22. The chief priest was furious, and demanded that the title be changed from a statement to a claim. Pilate, vacillating in his character, now refused to change under pressure.

Jn 19:23-24. Four soldiers normally carried out the crucifixion sentence. Each soldier took one garment, and because of the value of the seamless inner coat, they cast lots for it. Unknowingly, the soldiers were actually fulfilling Old Testament Scripture (Ps 22:18). These things therefore the soldiers did. Bruised, beaten, mocked, tortured, compelled to carry His cross, Christ is now left hanging naked before the angry mob.

Jn 19:25. Contrasted to the soldiers and the crowd, John mentions three woman who loved the Lord: Mary, His mother; Mary, the wife of Cleophas; and Mary Magdalene.

Jn 19:26-27. Woman. Although Mary was His earthly mother, Christ as her Redeemer and Saviour refers to her in that redemptive relationship. Here is love again. Christ tells John to take care of His mother. This teaches that everyone has a responsibility to provide for and take care of his parents.

Jn 19:28. The life and death of Christ was a constant fulfillment of prophecy (Ps 22:15). This statement was another evidence of His physical suffering.

Jn 19:29. Vinegar (Gr unuo). This was a very strong wine.

Jn 19:30. It is finished. (The Gr perfect tense denotes the certainty of the fact.) Gave up the ghost. He died and gave His Spirit to God.

Jn 19:31. To permit a body to remain on the cross until the next day was a violation of Jewish law (Deut 21:22-23). Legs might be broken. Since the victim would press on his legs to lift his chest enough to breathe, if the legs were broken, this would hasten death. The victim would not be able to breathe.

Jn 19:32-33. When they came to Christ, they did not break His legs.

Jn 19:34. One of the soldiers took a spear and pierced his side.

Jn 19:35. John adds that he personally witnessed the events he has just described.

Jn 19:36-37. The importance of the piercing, and the fact that they did not break Jesus’ legs, is given in that it fulfilled prophecy (Ps 34:20; Zech 12:10). Even these wicked soldiers in their duties were completing the plan of God.

Jn 19:38-40. Joseph and Nicodemus, who were secret disciples, now came into the open, and prepared the body of Christ for burial. Both men were wealthy, and they were members of the Sanhedrin (Lk 23:51; Jn 3:1).

Jn 19:41-42. They quickly prepared the body for burial, and put it in a new sepulcher near the place of the crucifixion. They intended to finish their preparations after the Sabbath (Lk 24:1).