Matthew 27:47–49

27:47 When83 some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 27:48 Immediately84 one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine,85 put it on a stick,86 and gave it to him to drink. 27:49 But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.”87

83	tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
84	tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
85	sn Sour wine refers to cheap wine that was called in Latin posca, a cheap vinegar wine diluted heavily with water. It was the drink of slaves and soldiers, and was probably there for the soldiers who had performed the crucifixion.
86	tn Grk “a reed.”
87	tc Early and important mss (א B C L Γ pc) have another sentence at the end of this verse: “And another [soldier] took a spear and pierced him in the side, and water and blood flowed out.” This comment finds such a strong parallel in John 19:34 that it was undoubtedly lifted from the Fourth Gospel by early, well-meaning scribes and inserted into Matt 27:49. Consequently, even though the support for the shorter reading (A D W Θ f1, 13 33 𝔐 lat sy sa bo) is not nearly as impressive, internal considerations on its behalf are compelling.