It appears that it was originally a Persian practice which was learned by the Carthaginians and later applied by the Romans as the means of delivering capital punishment. Among the Romans it was rarely used on her own citizens but rather was reserved for slaves, robbers, and insurrectionists in the provinces under her rule. That is why we have different methods of execution for Paul and Peter. Paul being a Roman Citizen was beheaded while Peter a Jew was crucified. The Jewish historian Josephus recorded that death by crucifixion was a common sight in Palestine at the time of Jesus. So it is not strange to have two other criminals crucified with Jesus at the same time. 

Procedure
First the prisoner was stripped of their clothing and whipped with a piece of leather imbedded with metal pieces to cut the back into strips of flesh. This of itself was an extremely painful punishment. Then severely bleeding the prisoner was required to carry the cross-beam on their shoulders to the place of crucifixion. Then the crossbeam would be laid on the post and fastened with either rope or a spike. Then the hands of the prisoner were either tied or nailed feet and hands to the cross.

Once the prisoner was secured to the cross it was lifted up and dropped into the hole which would rip the nails through the hands and feet. Sometimes the cross-beam was lifted up and placed on the pole and then secured. There was a peg set in the base of the pole to allow the prisoner to support himself and take the pressure off their hands. While this gave some relief it really served to prolong their death and make it more agonising. Sometimes soldiers would break their legs to speed up their death. John 19:31

Jewish Practice
Now the Jews did not crucify people for capital crimes but rather stoned them to death which was more humane a means of death. It was usually a single large stone dropped on the head and then smaller stones thrown at the prisoner. There were no jails in Israel and it was not very common for the death penalty to be carried out by Jewish laws. In the Old Testament on occasion the Jews would suspend the dead person on a pole in public view to display their shame. Numbers 25:4; Joshua 10:26; 1 Samuel 31:10 Those who were hung on a tree were considered cursed by God. Deuteronomy 21:22,23. Jesus was thus cursed by God in taking upon himself the guilt of mans sin by being hung upon a tree. To the Jew it was a cursed way to die. 1 Corinthians 1:23; Galatians 3:13

Christian Symbolism
The cross has become the symbol of the Christian's redemption as this is the instrument used of God to accomplish man's salvation. The cross also conveys the idea of self denial as Jesus spoke of believers taking up their own crosses and following Christ. Matthew 16:24; John 12:26 There was to be a daily commitment to Christ and a daily dying to self. As Christ was obedient to his father in bearing the cross, Christians are to bear the cross by their mission commitment and obedience to the great commission. 

Copyright © 1995 David Graves & Jane Graves, Electronic Christian Media