Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
De. Con. Evan. 3, 16: How canthis be, when according to Luke one only reviled Him, but was rebuked by the other who believed on God; unless we understand that Matthew and Mark, who touched but slightly on this place, put the plural for the singular number?
Thus also they confess, though against their will, that He saved many. Therefore your words condemn you, forHe who saved others could have saved Himself. It goes on: “Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. "Wherefore it goes on: And they that were crucified with Him reviled.”
Afterwards they saw Him arising out of the sepulchre whom they thought unable to descend from the cross. Where, O Jew, is thy infidelity? I ask you yourselves. You shall be your own judges. How much more astonishing is it to be able, when dead, to rise again, than, when living, to descend from the cross? You desired a small exertion of power, and a much greater is here performed: but still your infidelity would not be cured. All have turned out of the way, all have become useless. (St. Jerome)
If the Scribes and Pharisees did not believe in Christ when he rose from the dead, neither would they have believed in him had he left the cross. Though the scripture had foretold in many places that he was to suffer, Psalm xxi, They have dug my hands and feet; and Psalm xcv, They shall look upon him whom they have pierced; He shall reign from the tree: (and which St. Justin assures us the Jews had erased from the psalm) yet where can the Jews point out that it was foretold he should descend fro...
The foal of Judah has been tied to the vine, and his clothes dyed in the blood of the grape, and the kids tear the vine, blaspheming Christ, and wagging their heads. Wherefore it is said: “And they that passedby railed on Him, wagging their heads and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple.”
In the case of the robbers, one Evangelist says that the two blasphemed, another that one of them reproved him who was reviling the Lord. Yet in this again there is no contradiction. Both things took place, and at the beginning both the men behaved badly. Afterwards when signs occurred, when the earth shook and the rocks were torn apart, and the sun was darkened, one of them was penitent, became more chastened, recognized the crucified One and acknowledged his kingdom.
For the passers by blasphemed Christ, reproaching Him as a seducer. But the devil moved them to bid Him comedown from the Cross; for he knew that salvation was being won by the Cross, therefore he again proceeded to tempt Christ, so that if He came down from the Cross, he might be certain that He is not truly the Son of God, and so the salvation, which is by the Cross, might be done away. But He being truly the Son of God, did not come down; for if He ought to have come down, He would not have ascended there at all; but since He saw that in this way salvation must be effected, He underwent the crucifixion, and many other sufferings, unto the finishing of His work. It goes on: “Likewise also the Chief Priests mocking said among themselves with the Scribes, He saved others, himself he cannot save. "They said this, to do away with His miracles, as though those which He had done were but the semblance of them, forby working miracles He saved many.
Or else, both at first reviled Him, then o...
