Mark15
New American Standard
1Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders, scribes, and the entire Council immediately held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led Him away, and turned Him over to Pilate.
2Pilate questioned Him: “So You are the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.”
3And the chief priests started accusing Him of many things.
4But Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You offer nothing in answer? See how many charges they are bringing against You!”
5But Jesus said nothing further in answer, so Pilate was amazed.
6Now at the Passover Feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested.
7And the one named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder in the revolt.
8And the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.
9Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”
10For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.
12And responding again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”
13They shouted back, “Crucify Him!”
14But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!”
15Intent on satisfying the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
16Now the soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort.
17And they dressed Him in purple, and after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on Him;
18and they began saluting Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
19And they repeatedly beat His head with a reed and spit on Him, and kneeling, they bowed down before Him.
20And after they had mocked Him, they took the purple cloak off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.
21And they compelled a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to carry His cross.
22Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.
23And they tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.
24And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man would take.
25Now it was the third hour when they crucified Him.
26The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
27And they crucified two rebels with Him, one on His right and one on His left.
28
29Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30save Yourself by coming down from the cross!”
31In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself!
32Let this Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.
33When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabaktanei?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
35And when some of the bystanders heard Him, they began saying, “Look! He is calling for Elijah!”
36And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”
37But Jesus let out a loud cry, and died.
38And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39And when the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw that He died in this way, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
40Now there were also some women watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome.
41When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and serve Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
42When evening had already come, since it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
43Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself also waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
44Now Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead.
45And after learning this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
46Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been cut out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching to see where He was laid.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Mark 15.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ before Pilate. (1–14). Christ led to be crucified. (15–21). The crucifixion. (22–32). The death of Christ. (33–41). His body buried. (42–47).
vv1-14
They bound Christ. It is good for us often to remember the bonds of the Lord Jesus, as bound with him who was bound for us. By delivering up the King, they, in effect, delivered up the kingdom of God, which was, therefore, as by their own consent, taken from them, and given to another nation. Christ gave Pilate a direct answer, but would not answer the witnesses, because the things they alleged were known to be false, even Pilate himself was convinced they were so. Pilate thought that he might appeal from the priests to the people, and that they would deliver Jesus out of the priests' hands. But they were more and more urged by the priests, and cried, Crucify him! Crucify him! Let us judge of persons and things by their merits, and the standard of God's word, and not by common report. The thought that no one ever was so shamefully treated, as the only perfectly wise, holy, and excellent Person that ever appeared on earth, leads the serious mind to strong views of man's wickedness and enmity to God. Let us more and more abhor the evil dispositions which marked the conduct of these persecutors.
vv15-21
Christ met death in its greatest terror. It was the death of the vilest malefactors. Thus the cross and the shame are put together. God having been dishonoured by the sin of man, Christ made satisfaction by submitting to the greatest disgrace human nature could be loaded with. It was a cursed death; thus it was branded by the Jewish law, De 21:23. The Roman soldiers mocked our Lord Jesus as a King; thus in the high priest's hall the servants had mocked him as a Prophet and Saviour. Shall a purple or scarlet robe be matter of pride to a Christian, which was matter of reproach and shame to Christ? He wore the crown of thorns which we deserved, that we might wear the crown of glory which he merited. We were by sin liable to everlasting shame and contempt; to deliver us, our Lord Jesus submitted to shame and contempt. He was led forth with the workers of iniquity, though he did no sin. The sufferings of the meek and holy Redeemer, are ever a source of instruction to the believer, of which, in his best hours, he cannot be weary. Did Jesus thus suffer, and shall I, a vile sinner, fret or repine? Shall I indulge anger, or utter reproaches and threats because of troubles and injuries?
vv22-32
The place where our Lord Jesus was crucified, was called the place of a scull; it was the common place of execution; for he was in all respects numbered with the transgressors. Whenever we look unto Christ crucified, we must remember what was written over his head; he is a King, and we must give up ourselves to be his subjects, as Israelites indeed. They crucified two thieves with him, and him in the midst; they thereby intended him great dishonour. But it was foretold that he should be numbered with the transgressors, because he was made sin for us. Even those who passed by railed at him. They told him to come down from the cross, and they would believe; but they did not believe, though he gave them a more convincing sign when he came up from the grave. With what earnestness will the man who firmly believes the truth, as made known by the sufferings of Christ, seek for salvation! With what gratitude will he receive the dawning hope of forgiveness and eternal life, as purchased for him by the sufferings and death of the Son of God! and with what godly sorrow will he mourn over the sins which crucified the Lord of glory!
Key Words
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εὐθέως (euthéōs): directly, i.e. at once or soon
πρωΐ (prōḯ): at dawn; by implication, the day-break watch
ἀρχιερεύς (archiereús): the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest
ποιέω (poiéō): to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
συμβούλιον (symboúlion): advisement; specially, a deliberative body, i.e. the provincial assessors or lay-court
μετά (metá): properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 (ἀπό) or G1537 (ἐκ) and G1519 (εἰς) or G4314 (πρός); less intimate than G1722 (ἐν) and less close than G4862 (σύν))
πρεσβύτερος (presbýteros): older; as noun, a senior; specially, an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian "presbyter"
γραμματεύς (grammateús): scribe, town-clerk
ὅλος (hólos): "whole" or "all", i.e. complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
Cross References
Mark 15Directly cited in verse 28: Christ was numbered with the transgressors.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Jesus quotes the opening verse of Psalm 22 in His cry of dereliction.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Prophetic description of Roman soldiers casting lots for His garments.
Supported by John Calvin
Prophesies Jesus' silence before His accusers and judges like a lamb.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic parallel to the custom of offering gall and vinegar during suffering.
Supported by John Calvin
Describes the construction of the Temple veil, which was split at Christ's death.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Mentions Rufus, likely the son of Simon the Cyrenian who carried the cross.
Crucifixion was cursed under Jewish law; Christ became accursed to redeem us.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Prophesies onlookers wagging their heads and railing at Him in derision.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explains theological meaning of rent veil: a new, living way to God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Refers to Christ's bold, good confession before Pontius Pilate.
Peter accuses the crowd of choosing a murderer over the Holy and Just One.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Synoptic parallel detail of darkness over the land during the same hours.
Prophesied Christ would be with a rich man in His death (Joseph of Arimathea).
Supported by Matthew Henry
Like Simeon, Joseph of Arimathea is characterized as one waiting for the kingdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry