Matteo 27:47

47 Ma alcuni degli astanti, udito ciò, dicevano: Costui chiama Elia.

Matteo 27:47 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:47

Some of them that stood there
Near the cross, looking on, and mocking at him,

when they heard that;
the words, "Eli, Eli", spoken by Christ,

said, this man calleth for Elias.
These could not be the Roman soldiers that said so, who had no notion of Elias; rather the Hellenistic Jews, who not so well understanding the Hebrew language, hearing the above words, and having some notion of the prophet Elias, fancied he was calling for him; though it seems most likely to be the Jews, who either through the nearness of the sound of the words, and mistake of them, and not near enough to hear and distinguish them, really thought he called for that prophet; or rather wilfully mistook him, with an intent to banter and ridicule him.

Matteo 27:47 In-Context

45 Or dall’ora sesta si fecero tenebre per tutto il paese, fino all’ora nona.

46 E verso l’ora nona Gesù gridò con gran voce: Elì, Elì, lamà sabactanì? cioè: Dio mio, Dio mio, perché mi hai abbandonato?

47 Ma alcuni degli astanti, udito ciò, dicevano: Costui chiama Elia.

48 E subito un di loro corse a prendere una spugna; e inzuppatala d’aceto e postala in cima ad una canna, gli die’ da bere.

49 Ma gli altri dicevano: Lascia, vediamo se Elia viene a salvarlo.