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Verse Takeaways
1
The Urgency of a "High Day"
Commentators explain this was not a typical Sabbath. It was a "high day" because the weekly Sabbath coincided with the Passover festival. According to Jewish law (Deuteronomy 21:22–23), leaving a hanged body overnight would defile the land, so the leaders urgently requested the bodies be removed before sunset when this special Sabbath began.
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John
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Commentaries
9
Albert Barnes
On John 19:31
18th Century
Theologian
The preparation. See John 19:4. The law required that the bodies of those who were hanged should not remain suspended during the night. Se…
AT Robertson
On John 19:31
The Preparation (παρασκευη). Friday. See verse 14.
Might not remain (μη μεινη). Negative final clause with…
Charles Ellicott
On John 19:31
19th Century
Bishop
The account of the piercing of the side (John 19:31–37) is peculiar to St. John.
The preparation, ... an high day
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Charles Spurgeon
On John 19:31
19th Century
Preacher
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath day (for that Sabbath day was…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On John 19:31
Jesus died on the day preceding the Sabbath, hence, on Friday, “the day of Preparation” (cf. Mark 15:42). The day began at sunset on Thu…
John Calvin
On John 19:31
16th Century
Theologian
For it was the preparation. This narrative also serves to build up our faith: first, because it shows that what had been foretold in the S…
John Gill
On John 19:31
17th Century
Pastor
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation
That is, either of the passover, as in (John 19:14) w…
Matthew Henry
On John 19:31–37
17th Century
Minister
A test was made to see if Jesus was dead. He died in less time than people crucified commonly did. This showed that He had laid down His life of Hi…