“When some of the bystanders
Heard Jesus,
They said.
‘This man
Is calling Elijah.’”
τινὲς δὲ τῶν ἐκεῖ ἑστηκότων ἀκούσαντες ἔλεγον ὅτι Ἡλείαν φωνεῖ οὗτος.
This is almost word for word in Mark, chapter 15:35. However this episode was not in Luke, chapter 23, or John, chapter 19. Matthew said that some of the bystanders heard the cry of Jesus on the cross (τινὲς δὲ τῶν ἐκεῖ ἑστηκότων ἀκούσαντες). They said that Jesus was calling for Elijah (ἔλεγον ὅτι Ἡλείαν φωνεῖ οὗτος). Elijah often came to help the good people who were in need. The name “Eli jah” was close to “Eli,” so that some people might have mistakenly thought that Jesus was crying for help from the ancient Israelite prophet Elijah. Elijah was also a forerunner of the messianic times as was the case of John the Baptist.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 