OW the Council of the Jews, having fpent the greatest part of the Night in Examining Jefus, after a fhort Retirement came in the Morning to confult mong themselves, which way they fhould get him put to Death. a 2. And because they might not of themselves cause him to be Executed, they refolved to carry him before the Roman Governor, with a grievous Accufation of Blafphemy against God and the Emperor, having owned himself to be the Meffiah and King of the Jews. Putting him therefore in Bonds, they brought him to Pilate, who was at that time Governor of Judea. as WHEN the morning was come, all the chief priefts and elders of the people, took counfel againft Jefus to put him to death. 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3¶ Then 3 Then Fudas which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was con 3. Then Judas (who had betrayed Jefus out of Covetousness) when demned, repented he faw that the Council himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of filver, to the chief priests and elders. had really Condemned Jefus, and that they were likely to prevail to have him put to Death; was ftruck with remorfe and horror at the greatness of his Crime, and Carried back the Thirty Pieces of Silver to the Ghief Priests and Elders? 4. And he faid; I have committed a horrid Sin, in betraying an Innocent Man to Death: But they faid, That's not our fault; Look you to that. 5. Seeing therefore that he could not retrieve what he had done, 5 And he caft down the pieces of filver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged he himself. of in great Anguish Mind threw down the Mony in the Council-chamber adjoyning to the Temple; and unable to bear the horror and Defpair of a Guilty Confcience, went and 1 and made away with him, Self. 6. Now the Chief Priefts taking up the Mony, thought it was not fit to put it into the Treasury among the Oblations Confecrated to the Service of God, because it was the price of Blood, having been given to procure a Man's being betray'd to Death. So Religioufly did thofe Hypocrites pretend to be Cautious in difpofing of that Mony, wherewith they had not fcrupled to procure the Death of an Innocent Perfon. 6 And the chief priefts took the fil ver peices, and faid, It is not lawful to put them into the treafury, because it is the price of blood. In this place the Word is dry Earo, be hanged himfelf. In Alts 1. 18. Τίς πρηνής γενόμενΘ ελάκησε μέσα, he fell headlong and burst a funder. Either therefore in the utmost despair and confufion of mind, he hanged him felf in fuch a manner, as that he fell down and burft; as moft Expofitors both Ancient and Modern fuppofe: Or else he threw himself down fome Precipice, envás éveTo; and then the Word anyaro muft here be used proverbially, to fignify only in general that he destroy'd himself. ་ 9 (Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the Prophet, faying, And they took the thirty pieces of filver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Ifrael did value: 10 And gave them for the potters field, as the Lord appoint ed me) asked him, saying, 7. Upon Confultation they Refolved therefore to lay it out upon a piece of Land to bury Strangers in; and they bought therewith the Potters-field. 8. And the Field was from thenceforward called Aceldama, that is, the Field of Blood. and gave them 9&10. Then was fulfilled that Prophecy Zech. 11. 13. I took the thirty Pieses of Silver, the price of him that was valued, for the Potters field, by the Command of the Lord. 11. ¶ Now when JeSus was brought before Pilate the Roman Governor, being accused of fetting up himself to be a King in oppofition to Cafar, Pilate asked him, faying; Do you pretend to be King of the Jews? Jefus +Tis poffible that fome of that Prophecy, which goes under the Name of Zechary, might be indeed Feremiahs, (as Mr. Mead thinks;) or that Zechary might have this paffage from Feremy, (as Grotius conjectures.) But Bishop Hall with others, fuppofes that the Transcriber of this Verfe miftook Zeix for Ieix, as he fays he has seen it abbreviated in a very old Manufcript. faid; |