A.T. Robertson Commentary John 19:17

"They took Jesus therefore: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha:" — John 19:17 (ASV)

They took (παρελαβον). Second aorist active indicative of παραλαμβανω, they took Jesus from Pilate. Cf. 1:11; 14:3. This is after the shameful scourging between 6 A.M. and 9 A.M. when the soldiers insult Jesus ad libitum (Matthew 27:27–30).

Bearing the cross for himself (βασταζων αυτω τον σταυρον). Cf. Luke 14:27 for this very picture in the words of Jesus. The dative case of the reflexive pronoun αυτω "for himself" is in strict accord with Roman custom. "A criminal condemned to be crucified was required to carry his own cross" (Bernard). But apparently Jesus under the strain of the night before and the anguish of heart within him gave out so that Simon of Cyrene was impressed to carry it for Jesus (Mr 15:21f.; Matthew 27:32f.; Luke 23:26). See Mr 15:22f.; Matthew 27:33f.; Luke 23:33 for the meaning of "place of a skull" or Calvary and Golgotha in Hebrew (Aramaic). Luke has simply Κρανιον (Skull), a skull-looking place.