Charles Ellicott Commentary John 19:28

"After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst." — John 19:28 (ASV)

Compare the accounts of the darkness and death in Matthew 27:45-50; Mark 15:33–39; Luke 23:44–46.

Knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled.—It is difficult to give the exact meaning of these words in English.

In the original, the words for “accomplished” and “fulfilled” are derived from the same root. Furthermore, the latter word is not the ordinary formula of quotation that has been used previously, for example, in John 13:18 (see the note there).

The Vulgate has, “Postea sciens Jesus quia omnia consummata sunt ut consummaretur Scriptura.” Perhaps the nearest English rendering is, “that all things were now completed that the Scripture might be accomplished.” But then the difficult question arises: Is this connected with the words that follow, or not? The margin assumes that it is, and refers to Psalm 69:21.

On the other hand:

1. Saint John’s custom is to quote the fulfillment of Scripture as seen in the event after its occurrence.
2. He does not use the ordinary words here that accompany such a reference.
3. The actual meaning of “knowing that all things were now accomplished” seems to exclude the idea of a further accomplishment and to refer to the whole life, which was an accomplishment of Scripture.
4. The context of words as they occur in the Psalm (John 19:22 and following) cannot be understood of our Lord.

Therefore, there seems to be good reason for understanding the words “that the Scripture might be completed” as referring to the events of the whole life, and not to the words that immediately follow.

I thirst.—He had refused the usual stupefying drink at the moment of crucifixion (compare notes on Matthew 27:34; Matthew 27:48), but now all has been accomplished, the moment of His departure is near, and He seeks relief from the physical agony of the thirst caused by His wounds.