and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus explicitly names crucifixion as his coming death here, a detail previously unmentioned, highlighting the shocking and ignominious nature of the end the disciples would struggle to comprehend. He also shows remarkable foresight and deliberate movement towards his suffering, emphasizing his voluntary surrender and divine foreknowledge even as his followers remained utterly bewildered.
and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, knowing his final days are approaching. He pulls the inner circle of his disciples aside to clearly explain, for the third time, the specific details of his coming suffering, including being handed over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged, and crucified. He immediately follows this grim prediction with the assurance of his resurrection on the third day, a crucial detail his disciples struggle to grasp.
Jesus didn't just predict his death; he detailed the agonizing path ahead. Why such explicit descriptions?
In Matthew 20:19, Jesus moves beyond a general prediction of suffering to a remarkably specific outline: "to be mocked and flogged and crucified." This isn't just foresight; it's a deliberate unveiling of the brutal reality he was walking into.
A Deliberate Revelation
Jesus knew the disciples were amazed and afraid as they headed to Jerusalem, likely sensing the danger. He chose this moment, taking the twelve aside, to lay bare the specific horrors awaiting him. This wasn't to shock them, but to prepare them. By detailing the mockery, the scourging, and the crucifixion—a Roman form of execution utterly foreign and ignominious—Jesus was building a foundation for their faith.
Forewarning as Foresight
This detailed prophecy serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' divine knowledge. He wasn't guessing; he was declaring what would happen, down to the method of his death. This foreknowledge would later serve as confirmation for his followers, proving his identity and the divine orchestration of his suffering.
Jesus points to 'the Gentiles' as the ones who would carry out his execution. What's the significance of this detail?
Jesus explicitly states he will be 'delivered over to the Gentiles.' This was a crucial detail that likely confused his Jewish followers. The Gentiles, often viewed with suspicion or even disdain by Jewish people, would be the instruments of the Messiah's death.
Ask a follow-up
A Paradoxical Purpose
This points to a profound paradox. The very people often considered outside God's covenant would be the ones to crucify the Son of God. The commentary notes highlight that this very act, carried out by Gentile hands (Pilate and the Roman soldiers), was part of God's plan for salvation, ultimately making atonement 'for the Gentiles and for the Jews—for the sin of the whole world.' The wrath and actions of men, even those outside the faith, were being used to fulfill God's redemptive purpose.
Breaking Down Barriers
By involving the Gentiles in his death, Jesus was symbolically, and practically, breaking down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. His sacrifice was not just for one people, but for all humanity, a truth that would become evident as the Gospel spread.
After detailing the horrific crucifixion, Jesus immediately pivots to his resurrection. Why is this connection so vital?
The verse concludes with a powerful assurance: 'he will be raised on the third day.' This isn't an afterthought; it's the essential counterbalance to the grim prediction of suffering.
Beyond the Cross
Jesus understood that the cross, while necessary for atonement, was not the end of the story. He looked beyond the agony and shame to the ultimate victory over death. By mentioning the resurrection, he was providing his followers with hope and perspective, showing that his death was not a defeat but a purposeful sacrifice leading to triumph.
A Faith Foundation
Commentators observe that the disciples struggled immensely to grasp this. Their understanding was clouded by preconceived notions of a conquering Messiah. Luke explicitly states, 'they understood none of these things.' Jesus' repeated insistence on his resurrection was a way to fortify them against the scandal of the cross. This foreknowledge of resurrection would become the bedrock of their faith and the message they would proclaim, transforming their fear into boldness.
Understand the original words
ethnesin · Greek Noun
Used generally for non-Jewish people, emphasizing the betrayal of the Messiah into the hands of those outside the covenant community of Israel.
staurōsai · Greek Verb
The capital punishment of the Roman Empire, involving public, slow, and agonizing death; theologically, it is the means by which Christ bore the curse of sin and achieved atonement.
egerthēsetai · Greek Verb
Refers to the bodily return to life of Jesus Christ; it is the foundational event of the Christian faith, signaling the defeat of death and the validation of His sacrificial work.
This verse is a pivotal moment where Jesus meticulously details the brutal, humiliating, and foreign nature of his impending death by crucifixion, a fate wholly unexpected by his disciples who still held earthly kingdom expectations.
c. AD 29— this verse
Jesus' Final Journey to Jerusalem
Jesus begins his last journey to Jerusalem, knowing the events that await him. His disciples are filled with a mix of awe and fear about what lies ahead.
c. AD 29
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
Jesus explicitly tells his twelve disciples about his coming suffering, death by crucifixion at the hands of Gentiles, and resurrection on the third day.
c. AD 29
Disciples' Misunderstanding
Despite Jesus' clear words, the disciples fail to grasp the meaning of his impending death and resurrection, their minds clouded by their own expectations.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Arrest and Trial
Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and subjected to trials before Jewish authorities and then handed over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.
c. AD 30
Mocking and Scourging by Romans
Roman soldiers, under the direction of the authorities, mock Jesus, flog him, and prepare him for execution.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion
Jesus is crucified by Roman soldiers, fulfilling the prophecy of his death and the specific details he had shared with his disciples.
c. AD 30
Resurrection on the Third Day
As Jesus foretold, he is raised from the dead on the third day, conquering death and validating his claims.
This passage describes the suffering servant being pierced for transgressions and crushed for iniquities, directly foreshadowing the crucifixion and suffering Jesus speaks of here.
Psalm 22:16-18This psalm speaks of being surrounded by dogs, wicked men piercing hands and feet, and people casting lots for clothing, which are specific details of Jesus' mocking, flogging, and crucifixion.
Luke 23:11This passage shows Herod and his soldiers mocking Jesus and clothing him in splendid but mocking attire before sending him back to Pilate, illustrating the 'mocked' aspect of Jesus' suffering by the Gentiles.
Acts 2:23This New Testament passage directly states that Jesus was delivered up according to God's set purpose and foreknowledge, highlighting the divine plan behind His crucifixion as foretold.
1 Corinthians 15:4This verse confirms the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies that Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day, directly echoing the latter part of Jesus' prediction.
henryMatthew 20:17-19: "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,"
20:17-19 Christ is more particular here in foretelling his sufferings than before. And here, as before, he adds the mention of his resurrection and his glory, to that of his death and sufferings, to encourage his disciples, and comfort them. A believing view of our once crucified and now glorified Redeemer, is good to humble a proud, self-justifying disposition. When we consider t…
clarkeMatthew 20:19: "And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again."
Deliver him to the Gentiles to mock - This was done by Herod and his Roman soldiers. See Luke 23:11 . To scourge, and to crucify - This was done by Pilate, the Roman governor. The punishment of the cross was Roman not Jewish; but the chief priests condemned him to it, and the Romans executed the sentence. How little did they know that they were, by this proc…
Jesus explicitly names crucifixion as his coming death here, a detail previously unmentioned, highlighting the shocking and ignominious nature of the end the disciples would struggle to comprehend. He also shows remarkable foresight and deliberate movement towards his suffering, emphasizing his voluntary surrender and divine foreknowledge even as his followers remained utterly bewildered.
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, knowing his final days are approaching. He pulls the inner circle of his disciples aside to clearly explain, for the third time, the specific details of his coming suffering, including being handed over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged, and crucified. He immediately follows this grim prediction with the assurance of his resurrection on the third day, a crucial detail his disciples struggle to grasp.
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, knowing his final days are approaching. He pulls the inner circle of his disciples aside to clearly explain, for the third time, the specific details of his coming suffering, including being handed over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged, and crucified. He immediately follows this grim prediction with the assurance of his resurrection on the third day, a crucial detail his disciples struggle to grasp.
"and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”" — Jesus explicitly names crucifixion as his coming death here, a detail previously unmentioned, highlighting the shocking and ignominious nature of the end the disciples would struggle to comprehend. H…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026