We're used to hearing the Passion narratives sung in three different voices—here is an arrangement like that, but also unlike it.
Editors’ Notes
During Holy Week, we hear the Passion of Our Lord chanted on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and throughout the week.
Where possible, it’s divided between three deacons: one narrates, one takes the words of Our Lord, and the third speaks for everyone else.
What you’re going to hear now is like that—but also unlike it.
In one of his books, Fr Coleridge takes the four Passion narratives and arranges them into a single, continuous account—removing repetition where possible, but preserving the distinctive voice of each Evangelist. He imagined the Evangelists seated around a table, each recounting his part of the story of Good Friday—and he hoped that this arrangement would be read aloud during Holy Week, with each person taking the part of an Evangelist.
This week, I got together with David from
and two other friends, to record this text. Thank you very much to David and those two friends for their hard work in helping with this video.Coleridge’s text is below, following his short introduction.
Fr Coleridge’s Introduction
We are accustomed, in the solemn services of Holy Week, to listen with tender devotion to the story of the Passion of our Blessed Lord, chanted in the High Mass, especially on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, by three Deacons, each one of whom takes a separate part, and represents separate persons.
No one can doubt that there is a certain touching beauty in the words of our Lord and the Evangelists, as thus chanted by these sacred Ministers, one of whom speaks in His Name, while the other two represent either the single persons who speak in succession in the course of what we may call this great scene, or the crowd or chorus, whether of the Chief Priests, or of the soldiers, or of the populace who were misled by the rulers to bring about the death of the Saviour of the world.
It will throw much light on the story, if we are not mistaken, if we imitate the custom of the Church, and, for the purpose of making still more clear the part borne by each Evangelist in the sacred narrative of the Passion, if we represent them to ourselves as speaking, one after the other, and relating what occurred, and what was said and done, in these few hours, the most important and awful hours that have ever passed since the world was created.
Unless we are mistaken, it will thus become still more clear how the records which we possess on this great subject have come to be preserved to us, in the shape and order in which they actually exist.
The narrative which will thus be woven out of the four records will not be exactly what is called a Harmony, and what one Evangelist has related will not be repeated from another. The four great saints who have had this office in the Church, of being the historians of our Lord, will stand before us side by side, and will take up the narrative in turn, according to the order of the portions of the history which have fallen to their lot respectively.
Reading it in Holy Week
If I am not mistaken, the chapter on the Passion of which I am speaking, will be found very useful, both in giving a connected view of the whole history, and in bringing out clearly the characteristic spirit of each Evangelist, in his special contributions to the general history.
I could almost wish to suggest that this chapter might be recited in Catholic Schools or families at times such as Holy Week, one person taking the part of one Evangelist, another of another. In this way the distinction between the four Evangelists, and the special character of the work of each of them, might be made thoroughly familiar to Catholics, whose lives are to be so very mainly occupied in thoughts and devotions relating to that greatest of the works of God, the Redemption of the world by the death of His Son.
The Gospel Narrative of the Passion
From
The Words and Works of Our Saviour
Gathered from the Four Gospels
Fr Henry James Coleridge
1882, Ch. V, pp 446-62
PART I – GETHSEMANI
St Mark
And when they had sung a hymn, they went forth to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus saith to them, You will all be scandalized in Me this night. For it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter saith to Him, Although all shall be scandalized in Thee, yet not I. And Jesus saith to him, Amen I say to thee, to-day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice. But he spoke the more vehemently, Although I should die together with Thee, I will not deny Thee. And in like manner said they all.
And they came to a farm called Gethsemani. And He saith to His disciples, Sit you here while I pray. And He taketh Peter and James and John with Him, and He began to fear, and to be heavy. And He saith to them, My soul is sorrowful even unto death, stay you here, and watch. And when He had gone forward a little, He fell flat on the ground, and He prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to Thee, take away this chalice from Me, but not what I will, but what Thou wilt. (xiv. 26-36)
St Luke
And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And, being in an agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood trickling down upon the ground. (xxii. 43-4)
St Mark
And He cometh and findeth them sleeping. And He saith to Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldst thou not watch one hour? Watch ye, and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. And going away again, He prayed, saying the same words. And when He returned, He found them again asleep (for their eyes were heavy), and they knew not what to answer Him.
And He cometh the third time, and saith to them, Sleep ye now, and take rest. It is enough, the hour is come, behold, the Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go. Behold, he that will betray Me is at hand. And while He was yet speaking, cometh Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the Chief Priests, and the Scribes and the ancients. (xiv. 37-42)
St John
Now Judas also, who betrayed Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often resorted thither together with His disciples. Judas, therefore, having received a band of men and servants from the Chief Priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns, and torches, and weapons.
Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that were to come upon Him, went forward, and said to them, Whom seek ye? They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith to them, I am He. And Judas also who betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon then as He had said to them, I am He, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Again, therefore, He asked them, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am He. If therefore, you seek Me, let these go their way, that the word might be fulfilled which He said, Of them whom Thou hast given Me I have not lost any one. (xviii. 2-9)
St Mark
And he that betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He, lay hold on Him, and lead Him away cautiously. And when he was come, immediately going up to Him, he saith, Hail, Rabbi, and he kissed Him. (xiv. 44-5)
St Matthew
And Jesus said to him, Friend, whereto art thou come? (xxvi. 50)
St Luke
And Jesus said to him, Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss? And they that were about Him, seeing what would follow, said to Him, Lord, shall we strike with the sword? (xxii. 48-49).
St John
Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and struck the servant of the High Priest, and cut off his right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus. Then Jesus said to Peter, Put up thy sword into the scabbard. The chalice which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it? (xviii. 10–11).
St Luke
But Jesus, answering, said, Suffer ye thus far. And when He had touched his ear, He healed him. (xxii. 51).
St Mark
And Jesus answering, said to them, Are you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves, to apprehend Me? I was daily with you in the Temple teaching, and you did not lay hands on Me. But that the Scriptures may be fulfilled. Then His disciples, leaving Him, all fled away. And a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body, and they laid hold on him. But he, casting off the linen cloth, fled from them naked.
And they brought Jesus to the High Priest, and all the Priests and the Scribes and the ancients were assembled together. And Peter followed Him afar off, even into the palace of the High Priest, and he sat with the servants at the fire, and warmed himself. (xiv. 48–54)
PART II – THE JEWISH TRIBUNALS
St John
Then the band, and the tribune, and the servants of the Jews, took Jesus, and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the High Priest of that year. Now Caiaphas was he who had given the counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. And that disciple was known to the High Priest, and went in with Jesus into the court of the High Priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then the other disciple, who was known to the High Priest, went out, and spoke to the porteress, and brought in Peter. [And the maid that was porteress said to Peter, Art thou not also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. Now the servants and officers stood at a fire of coals, because it was cold, and warmed themselves, and with them was Peter also standing and warming himself.]
The High Priest then asked Jesus of His disciples, and of His doctrine. Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world, I have always taught in the synagogue, and in the Temple, whither all the Jews resort, and in private I have spoken nothing. Why askest thou Me? ask them who have heard what I have spoken to them, behold, they know what things I have said. And when He had said these things, one of the officers standing by gave Jesus a blow, saying, Answerest thou the High Priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken ill, give testimony of the evil, but if well, why strikest thou Me? And Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas, the High Priest. (xviii. 12-24)
St Mark
And the Chief Priests and all the council sought for evidence against Jesus, that they might put Him to death, and they found none. For many bore false witness against Him, and their evidence did not agree. And some, rising up, bore false witness against Him, saying, We heard Him say, I will destroy this Temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another not made with hands. And their witness did not agree.
And the High Priest, rising up in the midst, asked Jesus, saying, Answerest Thou nothing to the things that are laid to Thy charge by these men? But He held His peace, and answered nothing. Again the High Priest asked Him, and said to Him, Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the blessed God? And Jesus said to Him, I am, and you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming with the clouds of heaven. Then the High Priest, rending his garments, saith, What need we any further witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy, what think you? And they all condemned Him to be guilty of death. (xiv. 55-64)
St John
And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said, therefore, to him, Art not thou also one of His disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. (xviii. 17, 18, 25)
St Luke
And after a little while, another, seeing him, said, Thou also art one of them. But Peter said, O man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after, another man affirmed, saying, Surely this man was also with Him, for he is also a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he was yet speaking, the cock crew. And the Lord, turning, looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
And the men that held [Jesus] mocked Him, and struck Him. And they blindfolded Him, and smote Him on the face. And they asked Him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that struck Thee? And many other things, blaspheming, they said against Him. And as soon as it was day, the ancients of the people, and the Chief Priests and Scribes, came together, and they brought Him into their council, saying, If Thou be the Christ, tell us. And He said to them, If I shall tell you, you will not believe Me, and if I shall also ask you, you will not answer Me, nor let Me go. But hereafter the Son of Man shall be sitting on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art Thou then the Son of God? And He said, You say that I am. Then they said, What need we any further testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth. And the whole multitude of them rose up, and led Him away to Pilate. (xxii. 58-71; xxiii. 1)
St Matthew
Then Judas, who betrayed Him, seeing that He was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests and the ancients, saying, I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? look thou to it. And casting down the pieces of silver in the Temple, he departed and went and hanged himself with a halter.1
But the Chief Priests, having taken the pieces of silver, said, It is not lawful to put them into the corbona, because it is the price of blood.2 And having consulted together, they bought with them the potter's field, to be a burying-place for strangers. Wherefore that field was called Haceldama, that is, The field of blood, even to this day.
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was valued, Whom they prized of the children of Israel. And they gave them unto the potter's field, as the Lord appointed to me.3 (xxvii. 3-10)
PART III – PILATE AND HEROD
St John
Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's hall. And it was morning, and they went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the Pasch. Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, What accusation bring you against this Man? They answered and said to him, If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee. Pilate then said to them, Take Him you, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him, It is not lawful for us to put any one to death; that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He said, signifying what death He should die. (xviii. 28-32)
St Luke
And they began to accuse Him saying, We have found this Man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He is Christ the King. And Pilate asked Him, saying, Art Thou the King of the Jews? And He answered and said, Thou sayest it. (xxii. 2, 3)
St Mark
And the Chief Priests accused Him in many things. And Pilate again asked Him, saying, Answerest Thou nothing? Behold, in how many things they accuse Thee. But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate wondered. (xviii. 33-40)
St John
Pilate, therefore, went into the hall again, and called Jesus and said to Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of Me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thy nation and the Chief Priests have delivered Thee up to me. What hast Thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My kingdom is not from hence.
Pilate therefore said to Him, Art Thou a King, then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a King. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice. Pilate saith to Him, What is truth?
And when he had said this, he went forth again to the Jews, and saith to them, I find no cause in Him. But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Pasch; will you, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then they all cried again, saying, Not this Man, but Barabbas. And Barabbas was a robber. (xviii. 33-40)
St Luke
Then Pilate said to the Chief Priests and to the multitude, I find no cause in this Man. But they were more earnest, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee to this place. And Pilate, hearing of Galilee, asked if the Man were a Galilaean? And when he understood that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him away to Herod, who himself was also at Jerusalem in those days.
And Herod, seeing Jesus, was very glad, for he was desirous of a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things of Him, and he hoped to see some miracle wrought by Him. And he questioned Him with many words. But He answered him nothing. And the Chief Priests and the Scribes stood by, earnestly accusing Him. And Herod with his soldiers despised Him, and mocked Him, putting on Him a white garment, and sent Him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate were made friends together that same day, for before they were enemies one to another.
Then Pilate, calling together the Chief Priests, and the magistrates, and the people, said to them, You have brought this Man to me, as one that perverteth the people, and, behold, I, having examined Him before you, find no cause in this Man touching those things wherein you accuse Him; no, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him, and, behold, nothing worthy of death is done to Him. I will chastise Him, therefore, and release Him.
Now of necessity he was to release to them one upon the feast-day. (xxiii. 4-17)
St Matthew
Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would. And he had then a notorious prisoner, that was called Barabbas. They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said, Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus Who is called Christ? For he knew that through envy they had delivered Him up.
And as he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just Man. For I have suffered many things this day in a dream on account of Him.
But the Chief Priests and ancients persuaded the people, that they should ask Barabbas, and make Jesus away. And the governor, answering, said to them, Which will you have of the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas. (xxvii. 15-22)
St Luke
But the whole multitude cried out at once, saying, Away with this Man; and release unto us Barabbas; who, for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.
And Pilate spoke to them again, desiring to release Jesus. But they cried out, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him. And he said to them the third time, Why, what evil hath this Man done? I find no cause of death in Him, I will chastise Him, therefore, and let Him go. But they were instant with loud voices, requiring that He might be crucified, and their voices prevailed. (xxiii. 18-23)
St Matthew
And Pilate, seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, having taken water, washed his hands before the people, saying, I am innocent of the Blood of this just Man, look you to it. And all the people, answering, said, His Blood be upon us, and upon our children. Then he released to them Barabbas; and having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to them to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor, taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto Him the whole band, and stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand. And bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews. And spitting upon Him, they took the reed, and struck His head. (xxvii. 24-30)
PART IV – FROM THE PRÆTORIUM TO CALVARY
St John
Pilate, therefore, went forth again, and saith to them, Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no cause in Him. (So Jesus came forth, bearing the crown of thorns, and the purple garment.) And he saith to them, Behold the Man! When the Chief Priests, therefore, and the officers had seen Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify Him, Crucify Him. Pilate saith to them, Take Him you, and crucify Him, for I find no cause in Him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and according to the law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.
When Pilate, therefore, had heard this saying, he feared the more. And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus, Whence art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate, therefore, saith to Him, Speakest Thou not to me? knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and I have power to release Thee? Jesus answered, Thou shouldest not have any power against Me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that hath delivered Me to thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him.
But the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this Man thou art not Caesar's friend, for whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the Parasceve of the Pasch, about the sixth hour, and he saith to the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith to them, Shall I crucify your King? The Chief Priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then, therefore, he delivered Him to them to be crucified. (xix. 4-16)
St Matthew
And after they had mocked Him, they took off the cloak from Him, and put on Him His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him. And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon, him they forced to take up His cross. (xxvii. 31-2)
St Luke
And there followed Him a great multitude of people and of women, who bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For, behold, the days shall come wherein they will say, Blessed are the barren and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall upon us, and to the hills, Cover us.4 For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?
And there were also two other malefactors led with Him, to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there, and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. (xxiii. 27-33)
St John
And Pilate wrote a title also, and he put it upon the Cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title, therefore, many of the Jews read, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near to the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.
Then the Chief Priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews, but that He said, I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
PART V – CALVARY
St Matthew
And after they had crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots, that the word might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying, They divided My garments among them, and upon My vesture they cast lots.5 (xxvii. 35)
St John
Then the soldiers when they had crucified Him, took His garments, (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part,) and also His coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said then one to another, Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saying, They have parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture they have cast lots. And the soldiers, indeed, did these things. (xix. 23-4)
St Mark
And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, And with the wicked He was reputed. (xv. 28)
St Luke
And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (xxiii. 34)
St Matthew
And they that passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads, and saying, Vah, Thou Who destroyest the Temple of God, and in three days buildest it up again, save Thy own self, if Thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. In like manner also the Chief Priests with the Scribes and ancients, mocking, said, He saved others, Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the Cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him, for He said, I am the Son of God. (xxvii. 39-43)
St Luke
And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar, and saying, If Thou be the King of the Jews save Thyself. (xxiii. 36-7)
St Matthew
And the self-same thing the thieves also, that were crucified with Him, reproached Him with. (xxvii. 44)
St Luke
And one of those robbers who were hanging, blasphemed Him, saying, If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us.
But the other answering, rebuked him, saying, Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man hath done no evil. And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him, Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise. (xxiii. 39-43)
St John
Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore, saw His mother, and the disciple standing whom He loved, He saith to His mother, Woman, Behold thy son. After that He saith to the disciple, Behold thy Mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own. (xix. 25-27)
St Luke
And it was almost the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth, until the ninth hour. (xxiii. 44)
St Matthew
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani?6 that is, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? And some of them that stood there, and heard, said, This Man calleth for Elias.
St John
Afterwards Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst.7 Now there was a vessel set there, full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar about hyssop, offered it to His mouth. (xix. 28-9)
St Matthew
And the others said, Stay, let us see whether Elias will come to deliver Him. (xxvii. 49)
St John
When Jesus, therefore, had taken the vinegar, He said, It is consummated. (xix. 30)
St Luke
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the Temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into Thy Hands I commend My spirit.8 And saying this, He gave up the ghost. (xxiii. 45-6)
St Matthew
And, behold, the veil of the Temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent. And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, came into the holy city, and appeared to many. (xxvii. 51-53)
St Mark
And the centurion who stood over against Him, seeing that crying out in this manner He had given up the ghost, said, Indeed, this Man was the Son of God. And there were also women looking on afar off, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less, and of Joseph, and Salome, who also, when He was in Galilee, followed Him, and ministered to Him, and many other women that came up with Him to Jerusalem. (xv. 39-41)
PART VI – BURIAL OF OUR LORD
St John
Then the Jews (because it was the Parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day (for that was a great Sabbath day) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came, and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs, but one of the soldiers opened His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.
And he that saw it gave testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true, that you also may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled, You shall not break a bone of Him.9 And again another Scripture saith, They shall look on Him Whom they pierced.10 (xix. 31-37)
St Mark
And when evening was now come (because it was the Parasceve, that is, the day before the Sabbath), Joseph of Arimathaea, a noble councillor, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the Body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that He should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if He were already dead. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the Body to Joseph. (xv. 42-5)
St John
And Nicodemus also came, he who at first came to Jesus by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. They took, therefore, the Body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as it is the custom with the Jews to bury. And there was in the place where He was crucified a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man had yet been laid. There, therefore, by reason of the Parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulchre was nigh at hand. (xix. 39-42)
St Mark
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph beheld where He was laid. (xv. 47)
St Matthew
And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the Sepulchre. (xxvii. 61)
St Luke
And it was the day of the Parasceve, and the Sabbath drew near. And the women that were come with Him from Galilee, following after, saw the Sepulchre, and how His Body was laid. And, returning, they prepared spices and ointments, and on the Sabbath day they rested, according to the commandment. (xxiii. 54-56)
St Matthew
And the next day, which followed the day of the preparation, the Chief Priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate, saying, Sir, we have remembered that that seducer said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command, therefore, the Sepulchre to be guarded until the third day, lest His disciples come, and steal Him away, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead, so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Pilate said to them, You have a guard, go, guard it as you know. And they, departing, made the Sepulchre sure, with guards, sealing the stone. And in the end of the Sabbath, when it began to draw on towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the Sepulchre. (xxvii. 62-6; xxviii. 1)
St Mark
And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought sweet spices, that coming they might anoint Jesus.
We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee:
Because by thy holy cross, thou hast redeemed the world.
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Cf. 2 Kings xvii. 23 (Achitophel)
Deut. xxiii. 18
Zach. xi. 13; Jerem. xxxii. 9
Osee x. 8
Ps. xxi. 19
Ps. xxi. 2
Ps. lxviii. 22
Ps. xxx. 6
Exod. xii. 46
Zach. xii. 10
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