Mark15
New King James Version
1Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.
2Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”
3And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.
4Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!”
5But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
6Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.
7And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.
8Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.
9But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
10For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.
12Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”
13So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”
14Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”
15So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
16Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison.
17And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head,
18and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
19Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.
20And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.
21Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.
22And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.
23Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.
24And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
25Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
26And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.
28So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”
29And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,
30save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”
31Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.
32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
33Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
35Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!”
36Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”
37And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
40There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,
41who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
42Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
44Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time.
45So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
46Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
47And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed 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