[358] Epiph. l. 2. Tom. 1. c. 51. p. 147.
[359] Usum fermentati panis in cœna Dominica Ecclesia Romana olim non damnavit. Casaubon. exercit. 16. p. 65.
[360] Munster. in Mat. cap. 26.
[361] Joseph. Scalig. de emend. temp. lib. 6. p. 266.
For reconciling the Evangelists in this point, we must note these particulars, which are more at large proved in the Chapter of the Passover. 1. The fourteenth day of the month, on which the Paschal Lamb was eaten, was called the first day of unleavened bread; the Feast of unleavened bread drew near, which is called the Passover, Luke 22. 1.
The fourteenth day was not holy, but the fifteenth was. In the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the Lord, and in the fifteenth day of this month is the Feast, Numb. 28. 16, 17. Some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the Feast, John 13. 29.
The Sheep and Bullocks offered upon this day, are called the Passover, Deut. 16. 2. And of this we are to understand S. John, Joh. 18. 28. They themselves went not into the common Hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. So that this eating of the Passover is not understood of the Paschal Lamb. But some may question, How they should have been defiled by entring into the common Hall? The answer is,[362] that upon Holy-day-eves, which they termed days of preparation, they held it unlawful for their Judges to sit on life and death. Hence it is that they brought Jesus to Pilate the Roman Deputy. Secondly, they withdrew themselves out of the common Hall. Thirdly, for this reason they said, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death, Joh. 18. 31. that is, upon this, or such like day;[363] for though their high Court of Sanedrim were put down at this time, yet all power in cases of life and death was not taken from them, as is implied in the words following; It was that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake signifying what death he should die, ver. 32. Which text intimateth, that that unlawfulness was urged by the special providence of God, that he might be crucified, being judged by Pilat: for if the Jews had judged, they used no such kind of death towards Malefactors. Again, Stephen was condemned by them to be stoned, Act. 7. And they complained before Felix, that when they were about to proceed against Paul according to their own Law, the chief Captain Lysias with violence took him out of their hands, Acts 24. Which argueth, that all power in causes capital was not taken from them: But of this see the Chapter, Of their capital punishments.
[362] אין דנין דיני נפשות לא בערב שבת ולא בערב יום טוב Moses ben Maimon. li. ult. Iad. c. Sanedrin. Sect. 11.
[363] August. tract. 114. In Ioann. ita hunc locum exponunt etiam Cyrill. lib. 12. in Ioan. c. 6. Chrys. hom. 12. in Joan. Beda in c. 18. Joan.