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Jesus before Pilate

15 As soon as morning came, the chief priests held a council meeting with the elders, the legal experts, and the whole Sanhedrin. They bound Jesus, took him off to Pilate, and handed him over.

“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.

“You have said it,” replied Jesus.

The chief priests laid many accusations against him.

Pilate again interrogated him: “Aren’t you going to make any reply? Look how many accusations they’re making against you!”

But Jesus gave no reply at all, which astonished Pilate.

The custom was that at festival time he used to release for them a single prisoner, whoever they would ask for. There was a man in prison named Barabbas, one of the revolutionaries who had committed murder during the uprising. So the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do what he normally did.

“Do you want me,” answered Pilate, “to release for you ‘the king of the Jews’?”

10 He said this because he knew that the chief priests had handed him over out of envy. 11 The chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask for Barabbas instead to be released to them. So Pilate once again asked them, 12 “What then do you want me to do with the one you call ‘the king of the Jews’?”

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted again.

14 “Why?” asked Pilate. “What has he done wrong?”

“Crucify him!” they shouted all the louder.

15 Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd; so he released Barabbas for them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The crucifixion

16 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard, that is, the Praetorium, and called together the whole squad. 17 They dressed Jesus up in purple; then, weaving together a crown of thorns, they stuck it on him. 18 They began to salute him: “Greetings, King of the Jews!” 19 And they hit him over the head with a staff, and spat at him, and knelt down to do him homage. 20 Then, when they had mocked him, they took the purple robe off him, and put his own clothes back on.

Then they led him off to crucify him. 21 They compelled a man called Simon to carry Jesus’ cross. He was from Cyrene, and was coming in from out of town. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus.

22 They took Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which in translation means “Skull’s Place.” 23 They gave him a mixture of wine and myrrh, but he didn’t drink it.

24 So they crucified him; they “parted his clothing between them, casting lots” to see who would get what. 25 It was about nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription, giving the charge, read: “The King of the Jews.” 27 They also crucified two bandits alongside him, one on his right and one on his left.

29 People who were passing by abused him. They shook their heads at him.

“Hah!” they said. “You were going to destroy the Temple, were you? And build it again in three days? 30 Why don’t you rescue yourself, and come down from the cross?”

31 The chief priests and the lawyers were mocking him in the same way among themselves.

“He rescued others,” they said, “but he can’t rescue himself. 32 Messiah, is he? King of Israel, did he say? Well, let’s see him come down from the cross! We’ll believe him when we see that!”

The two who were crucified alongside him taunted him as well.

The death of Jesus

33 At midday there was darkness over all the land until three in the afternoon. 34 At three o’clock Jesus shouted out in a powerful voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”

35 When the bystanders heard it, some of them said, “He’s calling for Elijah!”

36 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a pole, and gave it him to drink.

“Well then,” he declared, “let’s see if Elijah will come and take him down.”

37 But Jesus, with another loud shout, breathed his last.

38 The Temple veil was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion who was standing facing him saw that he died in this way, he said, “This fellow really was God’s son.”

The burial of Jesus

40 Some women were watching from a distance. They included Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. 41 They had followed Jesus in Galilee, and had attended to his needs. There were several other women, too, who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

42 It was already getting towards evening, and it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath. 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a reputable member of the council who was himself eagerly awaiting God’s kingdom, took his courage in both hands, went to Pilate, and requested the body of Jesus.

44 Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion, and asked whether he had been dead for some time. 45 When he learned the facts from the centurion, he conceded the body to Joseph.

46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took the body down, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb cut out of the rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was buried.

Jesus Faces Pilate

15 As(A) soon as it was morning, the chief priests had a meeting with the elders,(B) scribes,(C) and the whole Sanhedrin.(D) After tying Jesus up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.(E)

So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King(F) of the Jews?”(G)

He answered him, “You have said it.”[a]

And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things. Then Pilate(H) questioned Him again, “Are You not answering anything? Look how many things they are accusing You of!” But Jesus still did not answer anything, so Pilate was amazed.

Jesus or Barabbas

At(I) the festival(J) it was Pilate’s(K) custom to release for the people a prisoner they requested. There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder(L) during the rebellion.(M) The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. So Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the King(N) of the Jews(O) for you?” 10 For he knew it was because of envy(P) that the chief priests had handed Him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead.

12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”

13 Again they shouted, “Crucify Him!”

14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why? What has He done wrong?”

But they shouted, “Crucify Him!” all the more.

15 Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged,[b] he handed Him over to be crucified.

Mocked by the Military

16 Then(Q) the soldiers led Him away into the courtyard (that is, headquarters(R)) and called the whole company together. 17 They dressed Him in a purple(S) robe, twisted together a crown(T) of thorns, and put it on Him. 18 And they began to salute Him, “Hail,(U) King(V) of the Jews!” 19 They kept hitting Him on the head with a reed and spitting on Him. Getting down on their knees,(W) they were paying Him homage. 20 When they had mocked(X) Him, they stripped Him of the purple robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

Crucified between Two Criminals

21 They(Y) forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’ cross.(Z) He was Simon, a Cyrenian,(AA) the father of Alexander and Rufus.(AB) 22 And(AC) they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Skull Place(AD)). 23 They tried to give Him wine(AE) mixed with myrrh,(AF) but He did not take it. 24 Then they crucified Him and divided His clothes, casting lots(AG) for them to decide what each would get. 25 Now it was nine in the morning[c] when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge written against Him was:

THE KING(AH) OF THE JEWS.(AI)

27 They(AJ) crucified two criminals[d](AK) with Him, one on His right and one on His left. [28 So the Scripture was fulfilled that says: And He was counted among outlaws.][e](AL)[f] 29 Those(AM) who passed by were yelling insults(AN) at[g] Him, shaking their heads,(AO) and saying, “Ha! The One who would demolish the sanctuary and build it in three days,(AP) 30 save Yourself by coming down from the cross!”(AQ) 31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes(AR) were mocking Him to one another and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself! 32 Let the Messiah,(AS) the King(AT) of Israel,(AU) come down now from the cross,(AV) so that we may see and believe.”(AW) Even those who were crucified with Him were taunting Him.

The Death of Jesus

33 When(AX) it was noon,[h] darkness came over the whole land[i] until three in the afternoon.[j](AY) 34 And at three[k] Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lemá[l] sabachtháni? which is translated, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?(AZ)[m]

35 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah!” 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, offered Him a drink,(BA) and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down!”

37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last. 38 Then the curtain(BB) of the sanctuary[n] was split in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He[o] breathed His last, he said, “This man really was God’s Son!”[p](BC)

40 There(BD) were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene,(BE) Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When He was in Galilee,(BF) they would follow Him and help Him. Many other women had come up with Him to Jerusalem.(BG)

The Burial of Jesus

42 When(BH) it was already evening, because it was preparation day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward(BI) to the kingdom of God,(BJ) came and boldly went in to Pilate(BK) and asked for Jesus’ body.(BL) 44 Pilate was surprised that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether He had already died. 45 When he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph. 46 After he bought some fine linen, he took Him down and wrapped Him in the linen. Then he placed Him in a tomb(BM) cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone(BN) against the entrance to the tomb. 47 Now(BO) Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where He was placed.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 15:2 Or That is true, an affirmative oath; Mt 26:64; 27:11
  2. Mark 15:15 Roman flogging was done with a whip made of leather strips embedded with pieces of bone or metal that brutally tore the flesh.
  3. Mark 15:25 Lit was the third hour
  4. Mark 15:27 Or revolutionaries
  5. Mark 15:28 Other mss omit bracketed text
  6. Mark 15:28 Is 53:12
  7. Mark 15:29 Lit passed by blasphemed
  8. Mark 15:33 Lit the sixth hour
  9. Mark 15:33 Or whole earth
  10. Mark 15:33 Lit the ninth hour
  11. Mark 15:34 Lit the ninth hour
  12. Mark 15:34 Some mss read lama; other mss read lima
  13. Mark 15:34 Ps 22:1
  14. Mark 15:38 A heavy curtain separated the inner room of the temple from the outer.
  15. Mark 15:39 Other mss read saw that He cried out like this and
  16. Mark 15:39 Or the Son of God; Mk 1:1

Jesus Before Pilate(A)

15 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law(B) and the whole Sanhedrin,(C) made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.(D)

“Are you the king of the Jews?”(E) asked Pilate.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

But Jesus still made no reply,(F) and Pilate was amazed.

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”(G) asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas(H) instead.

12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,(I) and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(J)

16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace(K) (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”(L) 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out(M) to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus(N)

21 A certain man from Cyrene,(O) Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus,(P) was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.(Q) 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh,(R) but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots(S) to see what each would get.

25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.(T)

27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] [a] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads(U) and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,(V) 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him(W) among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah,(X) this king of Israel,(Y) come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus(Z)

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.(AA) 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b](AB)

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar,(AC) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.(AD)

38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.(AE) 39 And when the centurion,(AF) who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”(AG)

40 Some women were watching from a distance.(AH) Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph,[d] and Salome.(AI) 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.(AJ)

The Burial of Jesus(AK)

42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath).(AL) So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council,(AM) who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God,(AN) went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion(AO) that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.(AP) 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph(AQ) saw where he was laid.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 15:28 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Luke 22:37.
  2. Mark 15:34 Psalm 22:1
  3. Mark 15:39 Some manuscripts saw that he died with such a cry
  4. Mark 15:40 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph; also in verse 47