And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Ver. 17. And he, bearing his cross, &c.] This was the Roman fashion (as Plutarch relates it), that every condemned person should bear that cross that anon should bear him. a Hence grew that expression of our Saviour, "He that will be my disciple must take up his cross," and so "fill up that which is behind,"Colossians 1:24 .
Into a place called the place of a skull] Where his tender heart was pierced with grief, no doubt, at the sad sight of such a slaughter of men made by sin; like as it could not but be a sore cut and corrosive to Mauritius, to see his wife and children slain before him, when himself was also to be next stewed in his own broth. St John is exact in setting down our Saviour's sufferings, and this for one.
a τω σωματι των κολαζομενων εκαστος εκφερει τον εαυτου σταυρον. Plut.