1. His Accusers were the chief Priests and Elders of the People; 1the very same that before had judged him guilty of Death, are now his Accusers before the temporal Judge: but why must our Saviour be twice Judged? was not the Sanhedrin, or Ecclesiastical Court sufficient to condemn him? I answer,—He is twice judged; 1. That his Innocency might more appear; true Gold often tried in the fire, is not consumed, but rather perfected; so Christ's Integrity, though examined again and again, by divers Judges wholly corrupt; yet thereby it was not hurt, but made rather more illustrious. 2. Because his firster judgment was in the night, and a sentence pronounced then was not reputed valid; it is said of Moses, that he judged the People from the morning unto the evening; 2for until night no judgment was protracted. 3. Because, said the Jews, it is not lawful ⟨p. 360⟩for us to put any man to death. These words had need of exposition; we know Moses's Law prescribed death to the Adulterers, Idolaters, Blasphemers, Man-slayers, Sabbath-breakers: but now the Romans (say some) had come and restrained the Jews from the execution of their Laws; others are of another mind; and therefore the meaning of these words, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death, may be understood (say they) in a double sense: 1. That it was not Lawful for them to put any man to such a death as the Death of the Cross: Moses's Law was Ignorant of such a death; and the words following seem to favour this interpretation,3 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. We read only of four sorts of death that were used among the Jews; as strangling, stoning, burning, and killing with the sword: crucifying was the invention of Romans, and not of Jews.—2. That it was not Lawful for them to put any man to death at such a time: on this day was celebrated the Jews Passover, which was in memory of their deliverance out of Egypt; so that now they had a custom to deliver some from death (the case of Barabbas) but they could not now condemn any one to death; hence it was, that after Herod the Jew had killed James, he proceeded further, to take Peter; also yet during the days of unleavened Bread, he delivers him to be kept in Prison,4 intending (saith the Text) after Easter to bring him forth to the People.
1. His Accusers were the chief Priests and Elders of the People; 1the very same that before had judged him guilty of Death, are now his Accusers before the temporal Judge: but why must our Saviour be twice Judged? was not the Sanhedrim, or Ecclesiastical Court sufficient to condemn him? I answer,—He is twice judged; 1. That his Innocency might more appear; true Gold often tried in the fire, is not consumed, but rather perfected; so Christ's Integrity, though examined again and again, by divers Judges wholly corrupt; yet thereby it was not hurt, but made rather more illustrious. 2. Because his firster judgment was in the night, and a sentence pronounced then was not reputed valid; it is said of Moses, that he judged the People from the morning unto the evening; 2for until night no judgment was protracted. 3. Because, said the Jews, it is not lawful ⟨p. 360⟩for us to put any man to death. These words had need of exposition; we know Moses's Law prescribed death to the Adulterers, Idolaters, Blasphemers, Man-slayers, Sabbath-breakers: but now the Romans (say some) had come and restrained the Jews from the execution of their Laws; others are of another mind; and therefore the meaning of these words, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death, may be understood (say they) in a double sense: 1. That it was not Lawful for them to put any man to such a death as the Death of the Cross: Moses's Law was Ignorant of such a death; and the words following seem to favour this interpretation,3 that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. We read only of four sorts of death that were used among the Jews; as strangling, stoning, burning, and killing with the sword: crucifying was the invention of Romans, and not of Jews.—2. That it was not Lawful for them to put any man to death at such a time: on this day was celebrated the Jews Passover, which was in memory of their deliverance out of Egypt; so that now they had a custome to deliver some from death (the case of Barabbas) but they could not now condemn any one to death; hence it was, that after Herod the Jew had killed James, he proceeded further, to take Peter; also yet during the dayes of unleavened Bread, he delivers him to be kept in Prison,4 intending (saith the Text) after Easter to bring him forth to the People.
- 1Mat. 27.12.
- 2Exod. 18.13. John 18.31.
- 3John 18 32.
- 4Acts. 12.14.
