John represents Andrew as called with himself; and Peter, as subsequently called, through the instrumentality of his brother Andrew. Of James (though affirmed by the other Evangelists to have been his own companion in the call), he is silent. The three first writers not being present, it is nothing wonderful that they are less accurate than the fourth, who was. 2. The three denials of Peter, as recorded by the first, third, and fourth Evangelists, will be found inconsistent in their minute circumstances. The denials are uttered, { 1. to a maid. according to Matthew,[98] { 2. to another maid. { 3. to those who stood by. { 1. to a maid. according to Luke,[99] { 2. to a man. { 3. to another man. { 1. to the maid who admitted him. according to John,[100] { 2. to the officers of the palace. { 3. to a man (a relation of Malchus). 3. Matthew[101] and Luke[102] state, that one Simon bore our Lord’s cross to Calvary; John,[103] that Jesus bore it himself. 4. The inscription annexed by Pilate to the cross is given differently by every one of the Evangelists. Matthew:[104] “This is Jesus the king of the Jews.” Mark:[105]    “The king of the Jews.” Luke:[106]    “This is the king of the Jews.” John:[107]     “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.” 5. Matthew[108] and Mark[109]; state that our Lord on the cross was reviled by both the malefactors; but Luke[110] affirms that when one of them was guilty of this shocking mockery, he was rebuked by the other; and that the latter received the well-known assurance, “this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.” 6. The last discrepancy which I shall mention, has reference to the final Passover, and its relation to the day of crucifixion. But in order to understand the case, and indeed to read with intelligence the whole series of events connected with the crucifixion and resurrection, it is necessary to bear in mind the following facts:— (a.) That the Jewish day commenced in the evening, and was reckoned from sunset to sunset. (b.) That the Jewish Sabbath was the seventh day of the week, and extended from six o’clock on Friday evening, to the same time on Saturday. (c.) That at the Passover, the paschal lamb was slain at the end of one Jewish day, and eaten immediately, _i.e._, at the commencement of the next, or about six or seven in the evening. The three hours before sunset, during which it was prepared, were called _preparation of the Passover_, and belonged to the fourteenth of the month; while the hours after sunset, during which it was eaten, belonged to the fifteenth. The phrase, _preparation of the Sabbath_, was used in like manner, to denote the three hours before sunset every Friday.