Besought (jpérnce). Better, as Rev., asked. See on xi. 22; xvi. 23. Mark adds that he went in boldly, which is suggestive in view of John’s statement of his secret discipleship, a fact which is passed over by the Synoptists.
Gave him leave. According to Roman law. Ulpian, a Roman jurist of the third century, says: “The bodies of those who are capitally punished cannot be denied to their relatives. At this day, however, the bodies of those who are executed are buried only in case permission is asked and granted ; and some- times permission is not given, especially in the cases of those who are punished for high treason. The bodies of the executed are to be given for burial to any one who asks for them.” Avaric- ious governors sometimes sold this privilege. Cicero, in one of his orations against Verres, has a terribly graphic passage de- scribing such extortions. After dwelling upon the tortures in- flicted upon the condemned, he says: “Yet death is the end, It shall not be. Can cruelty go further? A way shall be found. For the bodies of the beheaded shall be thrown to the beasts. If this is grievous to parents, they may buy the liberty of burial” (v., 45). Compare Matt. xiv. 12; Acts vili. 2.
39. Came Nicodemus—came by night. The contrast is marked between his first and his second coming.
Mixture (“/yua). Only here in the New Testament. Some authorities read €dvyya, a roll.
Pounds. Roman pounds, of nearly twelve ounces. The large quantity may be explained by the intention of covering the entire body with the preparation, and by the fact that a portion was designed for the couch of the body in the grave. Compare the account of the burial of Asa, 2 Chron, xvi. 14. “Extraordinary reverence in its sorrowful excitement does not
easily satisfy itself” (Meyer).
40. Linen cloths (dJoviouw). Used only by John, if Luke xxiv. 12 is rejected, as by some editors. The Synoptists all Vou. I1,—19