Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 99
Cross for not more than six hours at the outside and probably for a much shorter period. This could not in itself have brought about his death. The two malefactors who had been put upon the cross along with him were taken down at the same time and as they were alive their bones were broken, as is written:. Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. . So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. (John, 19: 31, 32). The demand of the Jews that the legs of those who had been nailed to the cross should be broken is proof that they did not consider that the time spent by them upon the cross had been long enough to induce death. . When Pilate was told that Jesus had died he was surprised as is written:. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. (Mark, 15: 44, 45). John Fleetwood has written:. Pilate was at first surprised at the request of Joseph; thinking it highly improbable that he should be dead in such a short time. (People's Life of Jesus, by John Fleetwood, D. D. page 333). 5a. Crucified felon was left on the cross and was not delivered to his kinsfolk. Mr. Haim Cohen has written:. The Roman law was that a convict after execution, might not be buried. We have seen that the crucified, in particular, were left on the cross until beasts and birds of prey devoured them. Guards were mounted on duty to prevent kinsfolk or friends from taking down a corpse and burying it; unauthorised burial of a crucified convict was a criminal offence. The Emperor or his officers, might, exceptionally, grant kinsfolk or friends authorisation to bury the convict and what in Rome was the imperial prerogative was in provinces the right of the Governor. (The 102