Mark 15
15
Jesus Before Pilate. 1#Mt 27:1–2, 11–14; Lk 23:1–3. As soon as morning came,#Jn 18:28. the chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin, held a council.#Held a council: the verb here, poieō, can mean either “convene a council” or “take counsel.” This reading is preferred to a variant “reached a decision” (cf. Mk 3:6), which Mk 14:64 describes as having happened at the night trial; see note on Mt 27:1–2. Handed him over to Pilate: lacking authority to execute their sentence of condemnation (Mk 14:64), the Sanhedrin had recourse to Pilate to have Jesus tried and put to death (Mk 15:15); cf. Jn 18:31. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”#The king of the Jews: in the accounts of the evangelists a certain irony surrounds the use of this title as an accusation against Jesus (see note on Mk 15:26). While Pilate uses this term (Mk 15:2, 9, 12), he is aware of the evil motivation of the chief priests who handed Jesus over for trial and condemnation (Mk 15:10; Lk 23:14–16, 20; Mt 27:18, 24; Jn 18:38; 19:4, 6, 12). He said to him in reply, “You say so.” 3The chief priests accused him of many things. 4Again Pilate questioned him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of.” 5Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.
The Sentence of Death.#See note on Mt 27:15–26. 6Now on the occasion of the feast he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested.#Mt 27:15–26; Lk 23:17–25; Jn 18:39–40. 7A man called Barabbas#Barabbas: see note on Mt 27:16–17. was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion. 8The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed. 9Pilate answered, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” 10For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. 12Pilate again said to them in reply, “Then what [do you want] me to do with [the man you call] the king of the Jews?” 13#Crucify him: see note on Mt 27:22. They shouted again, “Crucify him.” 14Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Crucify him.” 15#See note on Mt 27:26. So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified.
Mockery by the Soldiers. 16#Praetorium: see note on Mt 27:27. #Mt 27:27–31; Jn 19:2–3. The soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is, the praetorium, and assembled the whole cohort. 17They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him. 18They began to salute him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19and kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in homage. 20And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him out to crucify him.
The Way of the Cross. 21They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian,#They pressed into service…Simon, a Cyrenian: a condemned person was constrained to bear his own instrument of torture, at least the crossbeam. The precise naming of Simon and his sons is probably due to their being known among early Christian believers to whom Mark addressed his gospel. See also notes on Mt 27:32; Lk 23:26–32. who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.#Mt 27:32; Lk 23:26.
The Crucifixion. 22#Mt 27:33–51; Lk 23:32–46; Jn 19:17–30. They brought him to the place of Golgotha (which is translated Place of the Skull). 23They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24#See notes on Mt 27:35 and Jn 19:23–25a. #Ps 22:18. Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take. 25It was nine o’clock in the morning#It was nine o’clock in the morning: literally, “the third hour,” thus between 9 a.m. and 12 noon. Cf. Mk 15:33, 34, 42 for Mark’s chronological sequence, which may reflect liturgical or catechetical considerations rather than the precise historical sequence of events; contrast the different chronologies in the other gospels, especially Jn 19:14. when they crucified him. 26#The inscription…the King of the Jews: the political reason for the death penalty falsely charged by the enemies of Jesus. See further the notes on Mt 27:37 and Jn 19:19. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left.#Lk 23:33. [28]#This verse, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘And he was counted among the wicked,’” is omitted in the earliest and best manuscripts. It contains a citation from Is 53:12 and was probably introduced from Lk 22:37. 29#See note on Mt 27:39–40. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying,#Jn 2:19. “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30save yourself by coming down from the cross.” 31Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him.#Lk 23:39.
The Death of Jesus. 33At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”#An Aramaic rendering of Ps 22:2. See also note on Mt 27:46. which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”#Ps 22:2. 35#Elijah: a verbal link with Eloi (Mk 15:34). See note on Mk 9:9–13; cf. Mal 3:23–24. See also note on Mt 27:47. Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” 36One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” 37Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38#See note on Mt 27:51–53. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. 39#The closing portion of Mark’s gospel returns to the theme of its beginning in the Gentile centurion’s climactic declaration of belief that Jesus was the Son of God. It indicates the fulfillment of the good news announced in the prologue (Mk 1:1) and may be regarded as the firstfruit of the passion and death of Jesus. #Mt 27:54–56; Lk 23:47–49. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” 40#See note on Mt 27:55–56. There were also women looking on from a distance.#6:3; Lk 8:2–3. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. 41These women had followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.
The Burial of Jesus. 42#Mt 27:57–61; Lk 23:50–56; Jn 19:38–42. When it was already evening, since it was the day of preparation, the day before the sabbath, 43Joseph of Arimathea,#Joseph of Arimathea: see note on Mt 27:57–61. a distinguished member of the council, who was himself awaiting the kingdom of God, came and courageously went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44Pilate was amazed that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had already died. 45And when he learned of it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46Having bought a linen cloth, he took him down, wrapped him in the linen cloth and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where he was laid.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Mark 15
15
Jesus before Pilate
1Early in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the whole Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), immediately consulted together; and they bound Jesus, they took Him away [violently] and handed Him over to Pilate. [Is 53:8] 2Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He replied to him, “It is as you say.” [Matt 27:11-14; Luke 23:2, 3; John 18:29-37] 3The chief priests began accusing Him of many things. 4Then Pilate again asked Him, “Have You no answer [to give]? See how many charges they are bringing against You!” 5But Jesus gave no further answer; so Pilate was perplexed. [Is 53:7]
6Now at the [Passover] feast Pilate used to set free for them any one prisoner whom they requested. [Matt 27:15-26; Luke 23:18-25; John 18:39-19:16] 7The man called Barabbas was imprisoned with the insurrectionists (revolutionaries) who had committed murder in the civil rebellion. 8The crowd came up and began asking Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to set free for you the King of the Jews?” 10For he was aware that the chief priests had turned Jesus over to him because of envy and resentment. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12Again Pilate answered, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13They screamed back, “Crucify Him!” 14But Pilate asked them, “Why, what has He done that is evil?” But they screamed all the more, “Crucify Him!” 15So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, set Barabbas free for them; and after having Jesus #15:15 I.e. whipped with a short whip of metal-tipped leather thongs. There was no limit to the number of lashings. Frequently, the body was so lacerated that the intestines gushed out. It was not uncommon for a prisoner to die from scourging.scourged, he handed Him over [to his soldiers] to be crucified. [Is 53:5]
Jesus Is Mocked
16The soldiers led Him away into the palace (that is, the #15:16 The residence of the Roman provincial governor.Praetorium), and they called together the entire [Roman] battalion [of 600 soldiers]. [Matt 27:27-31] 17They dressed Him up in [a ranking Roman officer’s robe of] purple, and after twisting [together] a crown of thorns, they placed it on Him; 18and they began saluting and mocking Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19They kept beating Him on the head with a #15:19 I.e. a long bamboo-like stick.reed and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing in [mock] homage to Him. [Is 50:6] 20After they had mocked Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out [of the city] to crucify Him.
21They forced into service a passer-by coming in from the countryside, Simon of #15:21 A port city in north Africa.Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), #15:21 The crossbeam was usually placed on the nape of the neck like a yoke.to carry His cross. [Matt 27:32; Luke 23:26]
The Crucifixion
22Then they brought Him to the place [called] Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a #15:22 Latin: Calvaria; or Calvary; Aram: Golgotha; Greek: Kranion.Skull. [Matt 27:33-44; Luke 23:33-43; John 19:17-24] 23They tried to give Him #15:23 The myrrh had a narcotic effect and was added to dull the senses.wine mixed with myrrh [to dull the pain], but He would not take it. 24And they crucified Him, and #15:24 See note Matt 27:35.divided up His clothes among themselves, casting lots for them to see who should take what. [Ps 22:18] 25It was the third hour (9:00 a.m.) when they crucified Him. [Ps 22:14-16] 26The inscription of the accusation against Him had been written [above Him]: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
27They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. 28#15:28 Early mss do not contain this verse.[And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was counted with the transgressors.”] [Is 53:12] 29Those who were passing by were insulting Him with abusive and insolent language, wagging their heads [as a sign of contempt], and saying, “Ha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in [only] three days, [John 2:19] 30save Yourself by coming down from the cross!” 31In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were ridiculing and mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others [from death]; He cannot save Himself! [Ps 22:7, 8] 32Let the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe and trust [in Him]!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.
33When the sixth hour (noon) came, darkness covered the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.). [Matt 27:45-56; Luke 23:44-49] 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” [Ps 22:1] 35Some of the bystanders heard Him and said, “Look! He is calling for #15:35 The Jews believed that the prophet Elijah would return before the Messiah appeared.Elijah!” 36Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah is coming to take Him down.” [Ps 69:21; Matt 27:48, 50; Luke 23:36; John 19:29, 30] 37But Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out His last [voluntarily, sovereignly dismissing and releasing His spirit from His body in submission to His Father’s plan]. 38And the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from #15:38 This act of God signified that the death of Jesus ended the need for temple sacrifices and intermediaries, and opened the way for free and direct access to God.top to bottom. 39When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He breathed His last [being fully in control], he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40Now some women also were watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and #15:40 Gr Maria. She is believed to be a sister or sister-in-law of Jesus’ mother, Mary (Gr Mariam).Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and #15:40 Matt 27:56 indicates that Salome was the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Salome is believed to be one of the sisters of Jesus’ mother, Mary.Salome. [John 19:25] 41When Jesus was in Galilee, they used to accompany him and minister to Him; and there were also many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Jesus Is Buried
42When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, [Deut 21:22, 23; Matt 27:57-61; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42] 43Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent and respected member of the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God—and he courageously dared to go in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44Pilate #15:44 Death by crucifixion was usually a slow process, sometimes lasting two or three days.wondered if He was dead by this time [only six hours after being crucified], and he summoned the centurion and asked him whether He was already dead. 45And when he learned from the centurion [that Jesus was in fact dead], he gave the body to Joseph [by granting him permission to remove it]. 46So Joseph purchased a [fine] linen cloth [for #15:46 It was Jewish custom to wash the body of a deceased person, then wrap it tightly in linen, placing spices or pouring aromatic perfumes between the successive layers of cloth to mitigate the stench of decay (see John 19:39, 40).wrapping the body], and after taking Jesus down [from the cross], he wrapped Him in the linen cloth and placed Him in a tomb which had been cut out of rock. Then he rolled a [large, wheel-shaped] stone against the entrance of the tomb. [Is 53:9] 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were [carefully] watching to see where He was laid.
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