Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Under Pilate’s orders, Jesus was turned over to an execution squad, which normally consisted of four legionnaires and a centurion (cf. v.23). A condemned person customarily wore a placard (v.20) giving his name and the nature of his crime and carried the transverse beam of his cross. The procession moved from Pilate’s judgment seat to a place outside the city called Golgotha, “The Place of the Skull” (see comment on Mk 15:22).