And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.
48. And immediately one ran. As Christ had once refused to drink, it may be conjectured with probability, that it was repeatedly offered to him for the sake of annoyance; though it is also not improbable that the vinegar was held out to him in a cup before he was raised aloft, and that a sponge was afterwards applied to his mouth, while he was hanging on the cross.
The rest said, let be,.... The others, to whom he belonged, that fetched the sponge, said to him, let him alone, keep at a distance from him, give him nothing to drink: let us see whether Elias will come to save him; whom the Jews looked upon to be the forerunner of the Messiah, and therefore suggest, that should he come to save him, they...
Verse 48. One of them ran. John says, that this was in consequence of Jesus saying, "I thirst." One of the effects of crucifixion was excessive thirst. Took a spunge. A sponge is a well-known porous substance, that easily absorbs water. It was used in this case because, Jesus being elevated, it was difficult to convey a cup to his lips. Filled it with vinegar.