But Pilate wondered that he should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if he were already dead.
ο δε πιλατος εθαυμασεν ει ηδη τεθνηκεν και προσκαλεσαμενος τον κεντυριωνα επηρωτησεν αυτον ει παλαι απεθανεν
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Pilate was astonished that Jesus had already passed away, as he believed that Christ would experience prolonged suffering, similar to the criminals. Consequently, he inquired of the centurion, “How long has He been dead?” In other words, did He die prematurely?
As recorded in the Gospel, witnesses at the crucifixion were taken aback when He, with a great cry that symbolized our transgressions, instantly surrendered His spirit. Those who were crucified typically endured prolonged and agonizing deaths, leading to the breaking of the legs of the thieves so they would succumb and be removed from their crosses before the Sabbath (cf. Jn. 19:31-32). What is remarkable is that He was already found to be dead. It is noted that Pilate expressed astonishment when the request for the Lord's body for burial was made.
Pilate was taken aback by the rapidity of Jesus' demise and felt compelled to inquire of the centurion, "How long had He been deceased?" Typically, those crucified sustained life for two to three days. However, the Lord Jesus hung on the cross for little more than three hours. He perished swiftly, very swiftly. This astonishment filled Pilate, particularly because he could not shake the consideration that had invaded his thoughts regarding Jesus, the Son of God. If Jesus had succumbed so quickly, Pilate surmised, it represented a providence from above that mitigated the anguish of the innocent. His inquiry about the duration of Jesus' death was clearly aimed at seeking affirmation from an eyewitness, hoping it would substantiate his clandestine reflections about Jesus.
The centurion validated Joseph's account, prompting Pilate to grant Joseph the body; he was relieved to do so, in an effort to alleviate the guilt that had been weighing on him due to the injustice of the trial. Thus, Jesus' death was confirmed within Pilate's jurisdiction, reinforcing the certainty of His eventual resurrection.
Pilate was taken aback when Joseph informed him of Christ's death; he found it hard to accept Joseph's account. Consequently, he summoned the centurion, the officer in charge, and inquired, “How long has Christ been dead?” Pilate's astonishment was not without just cause: Christ was executed around the sixth hour. John records it was the fifth day of Passover, and the time was similar to the sixth hour, leading to His being handed over for crucifixion (John 19:14, 16). He passed away at the ninth hour (Matt. 27:46); Mark states that the crucifixion occurred at the third hour (Mark 15:25), which aligns with John's timeline.
The divinely inspired Evangelists corroborate one another: Mark referenced the hour when Pilate made the decision to permit Christ's crucifixion, while John noted the actual moment of crucifixion. Ignatius the Theologian confirms this, stating that at the third hour on the fifth day, Pilate received the divine decision; Christ was crucified at the sixth hour, and He breathed His last at the ninth hour (in the epistle to Trul.). Pilate was astonished that Christ died after just three hours on the cross. A young, healthy individual could typically survive much longer, as demonstrated by the two criminals who were crucified alongside Him. He was astonished because he could not comprehend that Christ, using His divine power as the Son of God, willingly entrusted His spirit to God the Father, exclaiming with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46).
Upon receiving Joseph's petition, Pilate was taken aback by the quick death of Jesus. It is likely that the command to shatter the legs had only recently been issued and had not been carried out by the time Joseph arrived. It is also possible that as Joseph entered Pilate's residence, he encountered the individuals dispatched by the chief priests to urge him to expedite the demise of those being crucified.
Pilate was astonished that Jesus had died so quickly; it was not uncommon for those crucified to endure agonizing torment for several days before succumbing to death. However, our Lord breathed His last just three or four hours after being nailed to the cross, a reality shaped by the intense pain He had already endured leading up to His crucifixion. Pilate likely felt a mix of relief and wonder upon hearing this, as he harbored sympathy for the innocent man who had suffered greatly.
Pilate found it remarkable that Jesus had died so soon. He was astonished to learn that Christ had passed away before the soldiers broke the prisoners' legs, as he had observed in the past that individuals crucified typically lingered for several days before succumbing.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 16 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS