Mark 14:53-15:32

Amplified Bible

Jesus before His Accusers

⁵³ They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) gathered together.^{(A) 54} Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers [guards and servants] and warming himself at the fire. ⁵⁵ Now the chief priests and the entire Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were trying to obtain testimony against Jesus [which they could use] to have Him [condemned and] executed, but they were not finding any. ⁵⁶ For many [people] were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimonies were not consistent. ⁵⁷ Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, ⁵⁸ “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple (sanctuary) that was made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’”^{(B) 59} Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. ⁶⁰ The high priest stood up and came forward and asked Jesus, “Have You no answer to give [in response] to what these men are testifying against You?” ⁶¹ But Jesus kept silent and gave no answer at all. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the ^[a]Blessed One?” ⁶² Jesus said, “I am; and you will [all] see the Son of Man seated [with authority] at the right hand of Power (the Father), and coming with the clouds of heaven.”^{(C) 63} Then ^[b]tearing his robe [to express his indignation], the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?^{(D) 64} You have heard the blasphemy [that is, His claim to be the Son of God]. What is your decision?” And they all condemned Him to be [guilty and] deserving of death.^{(E) 65} And some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy [by telling us who hit you]!” Then the officers took custody of Him and struck him in the face.

Peter’s Denials

⁶⁶ While Peter was down below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came,^{(F) 67} and when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You were with Jesus the Nazarene, too.” ⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” Then he went out [of the courtyard] to the porch, ^[c][and a rooster crowed.] ⁶⁹ The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to tell the bystanders, “This [man] is one of them.” ⁷⁰ But again he denied it. After a little while, the bystanders again said to Peter, “You are in fact one of them, for [it is clear from your accent, that] you are a Galilean, too.” ⁷¹ But he began to ^[d]invoke a curse [on himself] and to swear [an oath], “I do not know this man you are talking about!” ⁷² Immediately a rooster crowed the second time. And Peter remembered what Jesus said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And thinking of this, he began weeping [in anguish].

Jesus before Pilate

15 Early 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.^{(G) 2} Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He replied to him, “It is as you say.”^{(H) 3} The chief priests began accusing Him of many things. ⁴ Then Pilate again asked Him, “Have You no answer [to give]? See how many charges they are bringing against You!” ⁵ But Jesus gave no further answer; so Pilate was perplexed.^(I)

⁶ Now at the [Passover] feast Pilate used to set free for them any one prisoner whom they requested.^{(J) 7} The man called Barabbas was imprisoned with the insurrectionists (revolutionaries) who had committed murder in the civil rebellion. ⁸ The crowd came up and began asking Pilate to do as he usually did for them. ⁹ Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to set free for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he was aware that the chief priests had turned Jesus over to him because of envy and resentment. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get him to release Barabbas for them instead. ¹² Again Pilate answered, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” ¹³ They screamed back, “Crucify Him!” ¹⁴ But Pilate asked them, “Why, what has He done that is evil?” But they screamed all the more, “Crucify Him!” ¹⁵ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, set Barabbas free for them; and after having Jesus ^[e]scourged, he handed Him over [to his soldiers] to be crucified.^(K)

Jesus Is Mocked

¹⁶ The soldiers led Him away into the palace (that is, the ^[f]Praetorium), and they called together the entire [Roman] battalion [of 600 soldiers].^{(L) 17} They 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; ¹⁸ and they began saluting and mocking Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ They kept beating Him on the head with a ^[g]reed and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing in [mock] homage to Him.^{(M) 20} After 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.

²¹ They forced into service a passer-by coming in from the countryside, Simon of ^[h]Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), ^[i]to carry His cross.^(N)

The Crucifixion

²² Then they brought Him to the place [called] Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a ^[j]Skull.^{(O) 23} They tried to give Him ^[k]wine mixed with myrrh [to dull the pain], but He would not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified Him, and ^[l]divided up His clothes among themselves, casting lots for them to see who should take what.^{(P) 25} It was the third hour (9:00 a.m.) when they crucified Him.^{(Q) 26} The inscription of the accusation against Him had been written [above Him]: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

²⁷ They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. ^28 [m][And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was counted with the transgressors.”]^{(R) 29} Those 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,^{(S) 30} save Yourself by coming down from the cross!” ³¹ In 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!^{(T) 32} Let 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.