在彼拉多面前受審

15 一到清晨,祭司長們就與長老們、經文士們以及全議會的人商議對策,然後把耶穌捆起來帶走,交給彼拉多

彼拉多問他:「你是猶太人的王嗎?」

耶穌回答他,說:「是你說的。」

祭司長們控告了耶穌很多事[a] 所以彼拉多又問他,說:「你什麼都不回應嗎?你看,他們控告你這麼多的事。」 可是,耶穌仍然什麼也不回答,以致彼拉多感到驚奇。

耶穌或巴拉巴

每逢這節日[b]彼拉多都會給民眾釋放一個他們所要求的囚犯。 那時,有一個叫巴拉巴的,和一同叛亂的人被關在牢裡,他們在暴亂中殺過人。 眾人就上前去[c],開始要求彼拉多按照他的慣例給他們辦。 彼拉多問他們,說:「你們要我給你們釋放這猶太人的王嗎?」 10 其實彼拉多知道祭司長們是出於嫉妒才把耶穌交給他的。 11 但是,祭司長們煽動眾人,寧願要彼拉多給他們釋放巴拉巴

12 彼拉多又問他們,說:「那麼,你們要我怎麼處理你們稱為猶太人之王的那一位呢?」

13 他們再次喊叫:「把他釘上十字架!」

14 彼拉多對他們說:「他到底做了什麼惡事呢?」

但他們卻越發喊叫:「把他釘上十字架!」

15 彼拉多想要討好眾人,就給他們釋放了巴拉巴,然後將耶穌鞭打[d]了,把他交出去釘上十字架。

被士兵戲弄

16 士兵們把耶穌帶進大院,那裡就是總督府,並召集了全隊士兵。 17 他們給他穿上紫色袍子,套上用荊棘編的冠冕, 18 然後開始向他致敬說:「萬歲,猶太人的王!」 19 他們用蘆葦打他的頭,向他吐唾沫,又跪下來拜他。 20 他們戲弄完了,就脫下他紫色袍子,給他穿上他自己的衣服,然後帶他出去,要把他釘上十字架。

被釘在罪犯之間

21 有一個古利奈西門,是亞歷山大魯弗斯的父親,正從鄉下來,經過那裡。他們就強迫他來背耶穌的十字架。 22 他們把耶穌帶到一個叫各各他的地方——「各各他」翻譯出來就是「骷髏地」; 23 然後把調了沒藥的酒給耶穌,但他不接受。 24 於是,他們把耶穌釘上十字架,又分他的衣服,抽籤看誰得什麼。 25 在上午九點[e],他們把耶穌釘上了十字架。 26 他的罪狀牌上寫的是:「猶太人的王。」

27 同時,他們把兩個強盜與耶穌一起釘上十字架,一個在右邊,一個在左邊。 28 這就應驗了經上所說的:「他被列在不法之徒當中。」[f][g] 29 那些路過的人辱罵耶穌,搖著頭,說:「咳!你這個要拆毀聖所、三天內又建起來的人哪, 30 從十字架上下來,救救你自己吧!」 31 同樣,祭司長們也與經文士們一起嘲笑,相互說:「他救了別人,卻不能救自己! 32 這個基督,以色列的王,現在讓他從十字架上下來吧,好讓我們看了就相信!」與耶穌一起被釘十字架的人也責罵他。

耶穌之死

33 到了中午十二點[h],黑暗籠罩了整個大地,一直到下午三點[i] 34 下午三點,耶穌大聲呼喊:「以羅伊,以羅伊!拉瑪撒巴克達尼?[j]——這翻譯出來就是「我的神,我的神!你為什麼離棄我?」[k]

35 站在旁邊的一些人聽見了,就說:「看,他在呼喚以利亞呢!」 36 有一個人跑過去,用海綿蘸滿了酸酒,套在蘆葦上,要給他喝,然後說:「等著吧,我們看以利亞會不會來把他放下來。」

37 耶穌大叫一聲,就斷了氣。 38 同時,聖所裡的幔子從上到下裂成兩半。 39 站在耶穌對面的百夫長,看見他這樣[l]斷了氣,就說:「這個人真是神的兒子!」

40 還有一些婦女從遠處觀看,其中有茉大拉瑪麗亞、小雅各約西的母親瑪麗亞,以及莎羅美 41 她們就是耶穌在加利利的時候,跟隨他並服事他的人;還有許多別的跟耶穌一同上耶路撒冷的婦女。

安葬

42 因為那天是預備日,也就是安息日的前一天,所以到了傍晚, 43 亞利馬太約瑟來了,鼓起勇氣去向彼拉多請求要耶穌的遺體。約瑟猶太議會中一位受人尊敬的議員,他也期待著神的國。 44 彼拉多聽見耶穌已經死了就感到驚奇,於是叫來了百夫長,問他耶穌是否已經死了[m] 45 他向百夫長了解情況[n]後,就把遺體[o]給了約瑟 46 於是,約瑟買了細麻布,把遺體取下來,用細麻布包好,安放在一座岩石鑿成的墓穴裡,又滾來一塊石頭,堵住墓穴口。 47 茉大拉瑪麗亞約西的母親[p]瑪麗亞,都看到了安放耶穌的地方。

Footnotes

  1. 馬可福音 15:3 有古抄本附「但是他什麼都不回答」。
  2. 馬可福音 15:6 節日——指「逾越節」。
  3. 馬可福音 15:8 上前去——有古抄本作「高喊」。
  4. 馬可福音 15:15 鞭打——羅馬式鞭打使用的鞭子是帶有碎骨頭或金屬尖鉤的皮條,抽打時使人皮開肉綻,非常殘酷。
  5. 馬可福音 15:25 上午九點——原文為「第三時刻」。
  6. 馬可福音 15:28 有古抄本沒有此節。
  7. 馬可福音 15:28 《以賽亞書》53:12。
  8. 馬可福音 15:33 中午十二點——原文為「第六時刻」。
  9. 馬可福音 15:33 下午三點——原文為「第九時刻」。
  10. 馬可福音 15:34 以羅伊,以羅伊!拉瑪撒巴克達尼?——亞蘭文詞語的音譯。
  11. 馬可福音 15:34 《詩篇》22:1。
  12. 馬可福音 15:39 有古抄本附「喊叫著」。
  13. 馬可福音 15:44 已經死了——有古抄本作「死了很久了」。
  14. 馬可福音 15:45 情況——輔助詞語。
  15. 馬可福音 15:45 遺體——有古抄本作「身體」。
  16. 馬可福音 15:47 母親——輔助詞語。

15 When morning came, the chief priests met in council with all the Jewish leaders. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and turned Him over to the Roman governor, Pilate.

Pilate (after hearing them): Are You the King of the Jews?

Jesus: You have said so.

The chief priests went on to accuse Jesus of many things, but Jesus simply stood quietly.

Pilate: Do You have anything to say? How do You respond to all these charges that have been made against You?

But Jesus said nothing more, and Pilate was astonished.

Now it was his custom at that feast that Pilate should release one prisoner from custody, whomever the people most desired. There was one rebel from those imprisoned for insurrection against the Roman occupation. He had committed murder during an uprising. His name was Barabbas. A crowd had gathered in front of Pilate’s judgment seat to request that Pilate follow his usual custom.

Pilate turned to them.

Pilate: Why don’t I release to you the King of the Jews?

10 He knew that the chief priests had delivered Jesus because they were threatened by Him, not because Jesus was a criminal.

11 But priests moved among the crowd and persuaded them to call for Barabbas instead.

Pilate: 12 Then what do you want me to do with the King of the Jews?

Crowd: 13 Crucify Him, crucify Him!

14 But now he called to them.

Pilate: Why? What has He done to deserve such a sentence?

Crowd (crying all the louder): Crucify Him, crucify Him!

Barabbas is an active and a militant Jewish leader. In one sense, the choice that the crowd is offered—to have either Jesus or Barabbas released—can be seen as a choice between two types of revolutions. Do they want a revolution of power, a revolution that is easily visible, a revolution that will conquer their enemies in a way they can understand? Or do they want a revolution of healing, a revolution of love, a revolution that will bring the kingdom of God to earth in a mystical, transcendental way? It’s no wonder they make the choice they do. Who wants a gentle revolution in a time of war?

15 When Pilate saw that he could not persuade the crowd to change its mind, he released Barabbas to them and had Jesus publicly whipped, which was the normal prelude to crucifixion. Then he had Jesus led away to be crucified. 16 The soldiers took Him into the headquarters of the governor; and the rest of the soldiers in the detachment gathered there, hundreds of them. 17 They put a purple robe on Him and made a crown of thorns that they forced onto His head, 18 and they began to cry out in mock salute.

Soldiers: Hail to the King of the Jews!

19 For a long while they beat Him on the head with a reed, spat upon Him, and knelt down as if to honor Him. 20 When they had finished mocking Him, they stripped off His purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they took Him away to be executed.

21 Along the way, they met a man from Cyrene, Simon (the father of Rufus and Alexander), who was coming in from the fields; and they ordered him to carry the heavy crossbar of the cross. 22 And so they came at last to the execution site, a hill called Golgotha, which means the “Place of a Skull.”

23 The soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh to dull His pain, but He refused it. 24 And so they crucified Him, divided up His clothes, and cast lots (an ancient equivalent of rolling dice) to see who would keep the clothes they had stripped from Him.

25 His crucifixion began about nine o’clock in the morning. 26 Over His head hung a sign that indicated the charge for which He was being crucified. It read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 27 On either side of Him were two insurgents who also had received the death penalty. [28 And the Hebrew Scripture was completed that said, “He was considered just another criminal.”][a]

29 Those passing by on their way into or out of Jerusalem insulted and ridiculed Him.

Some in the Crowd: So You’re the One who was going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days? 30 Well, if You’re so powerful, then why don’t You rescue Yourself? Come on down from the cross!

Chief Priests and Scribes (mocking Jesus among themselves): 31 He rescued others, but He can’t rescue Himself. 32 Let the Anointed—the King of Israel—come down from the cross now, and we will see it and believe.

Even the insurgents who were being crucified next to Him taunted Him and reviled Him.

33 At noon, the day suddenly darkened for three hours across the entire land. 34 Sometime around three o’clock Jesus called out in a loud voice.

Jesus: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?

Jesus was speaking, as in the psalms, “My God, My God, why have You turned Your back on Me?”[b]

35 Some of those standing nearby misunderstood Him.

Bystanders: Hey, He’s calling for Elijah.

36 One of them filled a sponge with wine that had turned to vinegar and lifted it to Jesus’ lips on a stick so He could drink.

Bystander: Let’s see if Elijah will come to take Him down.

37 Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and He took His last breath.

38 At that moment, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

The tearing of the temple veil is a picture of what Jesus’ death has accomplished. The temple sanctuary is divided into two sections: the holy place and the most holy place. The most holy place is a chamber so sanctified that only the high priest can enter—and then only once a year. There God’s presence is manifest on earth.

A long curtain divides the two areas, and at the moment of Jesus’ death it is torn in two. The veil that serves as a means to protect everyone but the high priest from the power of God’s presence is no longer needed because Jesus, on account of His sacrificial death, gives everyone access to God. Only God Himself can rip the curtain in two “from top to bottom,” opening the way for people to come into His presence.

39 The Roman Centurion, the soldier in charge of the executions, stood in front of Jesus, [heard His words,][c] and saw the manner of His death.

Centurion: Surely this man was the Son of God!

40 Off in the distance, away from the crowds, stood some women who knew and had followed Jesus, including Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of the younger James, Joses, and Salome. 41 These were women who used to care for Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who had followed Jesus to Jerusalem joined them.

42 Evening came. The crucifixion had taken place on preparation day, Friday, before the Jewish Sabbath began at sundown. 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the ruling council who was also a believer anxiously waiting for the kingdom of God, went to Pilate and boldly asked for the body of Jesus.

44 Pilate could not believe Jesus was already dead, so he sent for the Centurion, 45 who confirmed it. Then Pilate gave Joseph permission to take the body.

46 Joseph had the body wrapped in a linen burial cloth he had purchased and laid Him in a tomb that had been carved out of rock. Then he had a stone rolled over the opening to seal it. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching as the body was interred.

Footnotes

  1. 15:28 Some manuscripts omit verse 28, a quote from Isaiah 53:12.
  2. 15:34 Psalm 22:1
  3. 15:39 Some early manuscripts omit this portion.

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

Jesus before Pilate(A)

15 Early in the morning the chief priests met hurriedly with the elders, the teachers of the Law, and the whole Council, and made their plans. They put Jesus in chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “So you say.”

The chief priests were accusing Jesus of many things, so Pilate questioned him again, “Aren't you going to answer? Listen to all their accusations!”

Again Jesus refused to say a word, and Pilate was amazed.

Jesus Is Sentenced to Death(B)

At every Passover Festival Pilate was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner the people asked for. At that time a man named Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder in the riot. When the crowd gathered and began to ask Pilate for the usual favor, he asked them, “Do you want me to set free for you the king of the Jews?” 10 He knew very well that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask, instead, that Pilate set Barabbas free for them. 12 Pilate spoke again to the crowd, “What, then, do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?”

13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

14 “But what crime has he committed?” Pilate asked.

They shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus(C)

16 The soldiers took Jesus inside to the courtyard of the governor's palace and called together the rest of the company. 17 They put a purple robe on Jesus, made a crown out of thorny branches, and put it on his head. 18 Then they began to salute him: “Long live the King of the Jews!” 19 They beat him over the head with a stick, spat on him, fell on their knees, and bowed down to him. 20 When they had finished making fun of him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Jesus Is Crucified(D)

21 (E)On the way they met a man named Simon, who was coming into the city from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross. (Simon was from Cyrene and was the father of Alexander and Rufus.) 22 They took Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means “The Place of the Skull.” 23 There they tried to give him wine mixed with a drug called myrrh, but Jesus would not drink it. 24 (F)Then they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, throwing dice to see who would get which piece of clothing. 25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The notice of the accusation against him said: “The King of the Jews.” 27 They also crucified two bandits with Jesus, one on his right and the other on his left. 28 [a]

29 (G)People passing by shook their heads and hurled insults at Jesus: “Aha! You were going to tear down the Temple and build it back up in three days! 30 Now come down from the cross and save yourself!”

31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the Law made fun of Jesus, saying to one another, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 32 Let us see the Messiah, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him!”

And the two who were crucified with Jesus insulted him also.

The Death of Jesus(H)

33 At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours. 34 (I)At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”

35 Some of the people there heard him and said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah!” 36 (J)One of them ran up with a sponge, soaked it in cheap wine, and put it on the end of a stick. Then he held it up to Jesus' lips and said, “Wait! Let us see if Elijah is coming to bring him down from the cross!”

37 With a loud cry Jesus died.

38 (K)The curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 The army officer who was standing there in front of the cross saw how Jesus had died.[b] “This man was really the Son of God!” he said.

40 (L)Some women were there, looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 They had followed Jesus while he was in Galilee and had helped him. Many other women who had come to Jerusalem with him were there also.

The Burial of Jesus(M)

42-43 It was toward evening when Joseph of Arimathea arrived. He was a respected member of the Council, who was waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of God. It was Preparation day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), so Joseph went boldly into the presence of Pilate and asked him for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead. He called the army officer and asked him if Jesus had been dead a long time. 45 After hearing the officer's report, Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. 46 Joseph bought a linen sheet, took the body down, wrapped it in the sheet, and placed it in a tomb which had been dug out of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph were watching and saw where the body of Jesus was placed.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 15:28 Some manuscripts add verse 28: In this way the scripture came true which says, “He shared the fate of criminals” (see Lk 22.37).
  2. Mark 15:39 had died; some manuscripts have had cried out and died.