Chapter IX.—Of the Mockery Which He Sustained at the Hands of Pilate’s Cohort, and of the Harmony Subsisting Among the Three Evangelists Who Report that Scene, Namely, Matthew, Mark, and John.

36. We have now reached the point at which we may study the Lord’s passion, strictly so called, as it is presented in the narrative of these four evangelists. Matthew commences his account as follows: “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto Him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. 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, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”871    Matt. xxvii. 27–31. At the same stage in the narrative, Mark delivers himself thus: “And the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Prætorium; and they called together the whole band. And they clothed Him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and began to salute Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him, and, bowing their knees, worshipped Him.” 872    Mark xv. 16–20. Here, therefore, we perceive that while Matthew tells us how they “put on Him a scarlet robe,” Mark speaks of purple, with which He was clothed. The explanation may be that the said scarlet robe was employed instead of the royal purple by these scoffers. There is also a certain red-coloured purple which resembles scarlet very closely. And it may also be the case that Mark has noticed the purple which the robe contained, although it was properly scarlet. Luke has left this without mention. On the other hand, previous to stating how Pilate delivered Him up to be crucified, John has introduced the following passage: “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote Him with their hands.”873    John xix. 1–3. This makes it evident that Matthew and Mark have reported this incident in the way of a recapitulation, and that it did not actually take place after Pilate had delivered Him up to be crucified. For John informs us distinctly enough that these things took place when He yet was with Pilate. Hence we conclude that the other evangelists have introduced the occurrence at that particular point, just because, having previously passed it by, they recollected it there. This is also borne out by what Matthew proceeds next to relate. He continues thus: “And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head. And after that they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him, and put His own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.”874    Matt. xxvii. 30, 31. Here we are given to understand that the taking the robe off Him and the clothing Him with His own raiment were done at the close, when He was being led away. This is given by Mark, as follows: “And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him, and put His own clothes on Him.”875    Mark xv. 20.

CAPUT IX. De illusione qua illusus est a cohorte Pilati, quomodo non dissonent tres qui hoc dicunt, Matthaeus, Marcus et Joannes.

36. Consequens est jam, ut ipsam Domini passionem secundum quatuor Evangelistarum testimonia videamus, quam Matthaeus sic incipit: «Tunc milites praesidis suscipientes Jesum in praetorium, congregaverunt ad eum universam cohortem; et exeuntes eum, chlamydem coccineam circumdederunt ei; et plectentes coronam de spinis, posuerunt super caput ejus, et arundinem in dextera ejus: et genu flexo ante eum illudebant, dicentes: Ave, rex Judaeorum» (Matth. XXVII, 27-31). Hoc Marcus in eodem loco narrationis ita dicit: «Milites autem duxerunt eum intro in atrium praetorii, et convocant totam cohortem; et induunt eum purpuram, et imponunt ei plectentes spineam coronam: et coeperunt salutare eum, Ave, rex Judaeorum: et percutiebant caput ejus arundine, et conspuebant eum; et ponentes genua, adorabant eum» (Marc. XV, 16-20). Intelligitur itaque quod Matthaeus ait, «Chlamydem coccineam circumdederunt ei,» hoc Marcum dixisse, indutum purpuram. Pro regia enim purpura, chlamys illa coccinea ab illudentibus adhibita erat: et est rubra quaedam purpura cocco simillima. Potest etiam fieri, ut purpuram etiam Marcus commemoraverit, quam chlamys habebat, quamvis esset coccinea. Lucas hoc praetermisit. Joannes autem antequam diceret quod eum Pilatus crucifigendum tradiderit, commemoravit hoc dicens: «Tunc ergo apprehendit Pilatus Jesum et flagellavit, Et milites plectentes coronam de spinis, imposuerunt capiti ejus, et veste purpurea circumdederunt eum: et veniebant ad eum, et dicebant, Ave, rex Judaeorum; et dabant ei alapas» (Joan. XIX, 1-3). Unde apparet Matthaeum et Marcum recapitulando istud commemorasse, non 1182 quod tunc factum sit, cum eum Pilatus jam crucifigendum tradidisset: Joannes enim apud Pilatum dicit haec gesta satis evidenter; unde isti quod praeterierant recoluerunt. Ad hoc pertinet etiam quod consequenter dicit Matthaeus: «Et exspuentes in eum acceperunt arundinem, et percutiebant caput ejus: et postquam illuserunt ei, exuerunt eum chlamydem, et induerunt eum vestimentis ejus, et duxerunt eum ut crucifigerent.» Hoc quod exuerunt chlamydem, et induerunt eum vestimentis ejus, in fine factum intelligitur, cum jam duceretur. Marcus hoc ita dicit: Et postquam illuserunt ei, exuerunt illum purpuram, et induerunt eum vestimentis suis.