XXVII. 2. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

But, having not in their own hands the power of life and death, they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate.

XXVII. 3. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces, &c.

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw the proceedings and issue of this business, viz. that Jesus was condemned to die, whereas upon the sight and knowledge of the continual miracles of Christ, he, perhaps, supposed, that, notwithstanding this wicked transacting of his, his Master would easily free himself from their hands; he was stricken with a late remorse, and brought again the thirty pieces, &c.

XXVII. 9. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the 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. See Zech. xi. verse 13.

The testimony is plainly cited out of Zechariah, and yet is in ancient copies alledged under the name of Jeremiah: which doubtless happened by the writer's mistaking of the abbreviations; Ζρίου for Ιρῖου as I have seen it in a very old manuscript.

XXVII. 15. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

Now at that feast of the Passover, for the honour of that solemnity, it was an ancient custom of the Jews, in memory of their letting loose from their Egyptian thraldom, to let loose some one prisoner, whom they would choose, for what offence soever he was committed; which favour the Roman governors, to ingratiate themselves with the Jewish people, thought good to continue unto them.

XXVII. 24. He took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person : see ye to it.

Then Pilate, knowing that it was the Jewish manner, by washing of hands to signify and profess their innocency, took water, and, in the presence of the multitude, washed his hands, and made protestation of his clearness and freedom from the guilt of the innocent blood of Jesus Christ.

XXVII. 25. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

If there be any fault in shedding the blood of this man, we do willingly take it upon ourselves: let it be required of us, and of our children.

XXVII. 28. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

And they scornfully put upon him all the robes and ornaments of royalty, in mockage and derision: as first, they clad him with a scarlet robe.

XXVII. 29. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, &c.

Then, for his crown, they floutingly put upon his head a wreath of thorns platted together; and, instead of a sceptre, they gave him a reed in his hand; and, in an open mockage, they bowed their knees to him, and jeeringly saluted him with the royal acclamation of, Hail, King of the Jews.

XXVII. 34. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

They gave unto him, according as they were wont to do unto condemned malefactors, a potion of sharp wine, mixed with myrrh, and other bitter compositions; which he tasted of, but would not drink.

XXVII. 44. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

All sorts were ready to cast their taunting and opprobrious speeches upon him: not only the scribes and the priests and the multitude, but even the very thieves had their mouths open against him; for, one of those thieves, that was crucified with him, scornfully upbraided his Passion to him.

XXVII. 45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Now, from twelve of the clock until three in the afternoon, there was a darkness over all the land: God, by this, purposing to shew unto the world, by this unusual change of the course of nature, that there was a violence offered to the God of Nature, which he abhorred; and the delinquents had cause to be stricken with remorse for:

XXVII. 46. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

And, about three of the clock in the afternoon, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, in the words of the prophet David, his true and ancient type, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? which he did in a deep sense of his Father's wrath unto mankind, in whose stead he now underwent that, which was due for the sins of the whole world: while he said, Why hast thou forsaken me? implying that God had, for the time, withdrawn from him the sense and vision of his comfortable presence; and while he said, My God, implying the strength of his faith, whereby he did firmly apprehend the sure and gracious aid of his Eternal Father.

XXVII. 47. Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

Some of them, that stood there, when they heard him say Eloi, whether mistaking the likeness of the word, or whether wilfully scorning him in this passionate expression of his grief, said, This man calleth for Elias.

XXVII. 51, 52, 53. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

And, behold, that the Jews might now understand, that, by the death of this Son of God, all the Mosaical ceremonies and rites were at a full end, the veil of the temple, which was before the Holy of Holies, rent in pieces, from the top to the bottom; and, that they might see the God of Heaven and Earth suffered under their hands, as the heavens testified their interest in him by subduing their light, so did the earth by the quaking and agitation thereof, and by the rending of her rocks; Yea, the very graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints, which had long lain therein, now, by the Almighty power of their dying Saviour, arose, And came out of their graves, to attend him who was the First Fruits of the dead; the Author of the happy resurrection of his chosen; and, therefore, upon the Resurrection of this Son of God, the Lord of Life, they arose, and went into the city of Jerusalem, and shewed themselves to many, whom they had been formerly known unto.

XXVII. 54. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Now, when the Centurion, though a mere heathen, and the Roman soldiers that were with him, saw the darkness and the earthquake, and the manner of Christ's death, his patience, his mercy, his voluntary and sweet expiration, they were stricken with great fear, saying, This Jesus was put to death as upon pretence of blasphemy, for that he gave out himself for the Son of God; but all these things plainly shew, that he said nothing but truth, of himself: doubtless he was no other, than that he said of himself, the Son of God.

XXVII. 56. Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

This while, there was no news of his Disciples: they, except John only, had withdrawn themselves; but many women, who had been very ready to attend Christ, and to minister unto

him, in his journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, stood within sight, though not very near to his Cross; sadly beholding all that was done unto him.

XXVII. 61. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Now there was Mary Magdalene, and that other Mary the mother of James, sitting over against the sepulchre, that they might take good view of the place where Jesus was laid; purposing to bring sweet odours, when the Sabbath was over, for the perfuming and embalming of his body.

XXVII. 62. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate.

Now, the next day, that followed the preparation day, being both the Sabbath day and the day of the Passover, the chief priests, now not regarding the sacred solemnity thereof out of their malice to Christ, came together to the Roman Governor, Pilate.

XXVII. 65. Pilate said unto them, Ye havera watch; go your way, make it as sure as you can.

Ye have a guard of soldiers, which, out of the tower of Antonia, are designed to this service: go your way; set sure watch upon the sepulchre.

XXVIII. 1. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week.

In the night after the Sabbath, when it was dawning toward the morning of the first day of the week.

XXVIII. 18. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. All power is given to me both in heaven and earth, as Mediator betwixt God and Man: neither is this power at this time conveyed unto me, which before I had not; but now, by this my glorious and triumphant Resurrection, it is manifested to you and the world, that I am invested with this power.

XXVIII. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

By virtue whereof, I give you, my Apostles, commission and charge, to go teach all nations of the world; adding to your doctrine the seal of holy Baptism, whereby ye shall initiate all believers into my Church: baptizing them, as, by calling upon the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, one in essence, three in distinction of persons; so, in the authority of the same One God, and into the profession of the faith and religion of that one God, distinguished by those three co-eternal and co-equal persons, blessed for ever.

XXVIII. 20. And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world, Amen.

And, lo, howsoever my bodily presence shall be seduced from you, yet, in my Spirit and Infinite Deity, I will be ever present with you, to protect and bless you, and my whole Church, to the end of the world.

THE GOSPEL OF ST. MARK.

I. 2. Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. See Malachi iii. 1.

I. 3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, &c. See Isaiah xl. 3.

I. 5. And were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

And, as John preached unto them repentance, that they might be capable of the remission of their sins, so they accordingly practised it; for those, that came to be baptized of him, presented themselves to him with an humble confession of their sins.

I. 6. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey. See Matthew iii. 4.

I. 8. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. See Matthew iii. 11.

1. 10. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. See Matthew iii. 16.

I. 12. And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. See Matthew iv. 1.

I. 17. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

See Matthew iv. 19.

I. 22. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. See Matthew vii. 28, 29.

I. 34. And he suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

And he suffered not the evil spirits to profess their knowledge of him; because he would not have him, who is the Father of Lies, to slander and disgrace the truth by his testimony.

I. 44. Offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. See Matthew viii. 4.

I. 45. Insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

Insomuch as Jesus, who purposely shunned the confluences and applauses of the people, found it not fit for him to enter openly into the city any more, &c.