Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 27:48

"And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink." — Matthew 27:48 (ASV)

Took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar — The “vinegar” was the sour wine, or wine and water, that was the common drink of the Roman soldiers. They had offered it to the Sufferer at an earlier stage in derision (Luke 23:36). The sponge had probably served as a cork for the jar in which the soldiers brought the drink to sustain them through their long day’s work.

Someone, whether a soldier or a Jew we do not know, heard not only the cry, Eli, Eli... but also the faint words, I thirst, which John records as coming from His fevered lips (John 19:28). Prompted by a rough pity, this person stretched out a cane, or a stalk of hyssop (John 19:29), with the sponge dipped in the wine on it, and lifted it to the parched lips of the Sufferer. This time, it was not refused (John 19:30).

And gave him to drink — The Greek verb is in the imperfect tense, implying that while this person was doing this, the others tried to interrupt him.