For reconciling of the difference between the Evangelists, their judgment is most probable, that say the women of Jerusalem out of pitty gave him wine mingled with mirrhe, but the Souldiers and Jews out of very spight and cruelty, changed it into vi∣negar mingled with gall. It is guessed that this was a custome even in Salomons time, because of that sentence, Prov. 31.6.
Vers. 25. And it was the third houre, and they crucified him] Christs crucifying began at the third houre, that is, at nine of the clocke in the morning, and ended at the ninth houre, that is, at three in the afternoone. The day (from Sun-rising to the setting) had twelve houres, as Christ saith, Iohn 11.9. Are there not twelve houres in the day? Their first houre was about six of the clocke in the morning with us, their sixth houre was noon, their ninth houre was three of the clock in the afternoone. Christs cruci∣fying began at the third houre; but his hanging on the Crosse was not till the sixth houre. See Weemes his Christian Synagogue. p. 15.4.
Crucifying] Signifies an inchoate, not a perfect act; as if he should say, at the third houre the Jews began to talke of crucifying Christ, crying crucifie him, crucifie him, Pilate consented to them and commanded that he should be scourged, as it were preparing him for the Crosse and death, but at the end of the third houre, the sixth beginning, Pilate iuridically condemned him, and presently they crucified him; Marke therefore declares the originall and beginning of the crucifying at the third houre, but Iohn assigned the execution and complement of it at the sixth houre.
Vers. 34. Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani] Psal. 22.2. In the Hebrew it is, Eli, Eli, lammah gnazabtani. The name of God which Christ useth here Elis derived from strength, therefore he complaines, that the strong God who can free him, leaves him in such straights, yet cals him his God, that by this relative he may declare his confidence still in him.
Forsake mee] The Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 hath a singular emphasis in it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is to leave or forsake, but this is more, to forsake a man in danger, or drowned in the mudde.
Vers. 36. And one ran, and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drinke] Marke attributes that here to a Souldiour, which Matthew ascribes to others, but there is no repugnancie, for it is probable that the scoffing began with one, which being received greedily by others, stirred up a cry amongst all, so the word let alone, is not a word forbidding, but of sporting. Calvin.
Vers. 40. Mary the mother of James the lesse] That is not to be understood in respect of age or yeares, as if he were younger than the rest of the brethren, but in respect of body or stature; the word in Greek is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For there were two of that name, one the Sonne of Zebedee the other of Cleophas, and they both Apostles, and such as conver∣sed with Christ, the former was taller in body, the latter shorter; therefore from the stature of their bodies He was was called the greater, but this the lesser. Chemnit.