Matthew 27:26

“Then released he Barabbas unto them, etc.] The seditious person, robber, and murderer, for which crimes he was in prison. This man was an emblem of the persons for whom Christ suffered, both in his character and in his release: in his character; for they are such as have rebelled against God, robbed him of his glory, and destroyed themselves; many of them are notorious sinners, the chief of sinners, and all of them by nature, children of wrath, as others; and as the descendants of Adam, under the sentence of condemnation and death; and yet in Christ, they are children of Abba, Father; being of God predestinated by him, to the adoption of children: and in his release; for when Christ was…”

“And when he had scourged Jesus - See the notes at Matthew 10:17. Among the Romans it was customary to scourge or whip a “slave” before he was crucified. This was done to inflict greater suffering. than crucifixion would be alone, and to add to the horrors of the punishment. Our Lord, being about to be put to death after the manner of a slave, was also treated as a slave as one of the lowest and most despised of mankind. He delivered him to be crucified - Not merely gave him up to them to crucify him, as if they only were answerable, but he gave him up as a judge, when he ought to have saved his life and might have done it. Crucifixion was a Roman punishment; it was performed by Roman…”

“He delivered him to be crucified - The person crucified was nailed to the cross as it lay on the ground, through each hand extended to the utmost stretch, and through both the feet together. Then the cross was raised up, and the foot of it thrust with a violent shock into a hole in the ground prepared for it. This shock disjointed the body, whose whole weight hung upon the nails, till the persons expired through mere dint of pain. This kind of death was used only by the Romans, and by them inflicted only on slaves and the vilest criminals. Matthew 27:27”

“27:26 When a man was flogged, he was beaten with whips that had leather thongs at the end, some with sharp bone, lead, or rock fragments stuck to the ends of the thongs (see also Deut 25:1-3; 1 Kgs 12:11, 14; Acts 16:22; 22:25; 2 Cor 11:24-25).”

“released: Mar 15:15; Luk 23:25 scourged: This of itself was a severe punishment, the flesh being generally cut by the whips used for this purpose. Mat 20:19; Isa 50:6, Isa 53:5; Mar 10:34; Luk 18:32, Luk 18:33, Luk 23:16, Luk 23:24, Luk 23:25; Joh 19:1, Joh 19:16; Pe1 2:24 Matthew 27:27”