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Mark 15
New Living Translation

Jesus’ Trial before Pilate

15 Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire high council[a]—met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

3 Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, 4 and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?” 5 But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.

6 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner—anyone the people requested. 7 One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising. 8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual.

9 “Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?”

13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

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

But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

16 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. 17 They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. 18 Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 19 And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. 20 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

21 A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene,[b] was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.) 22 And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 23 They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.

24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice[c] to decide who would get each piece. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 Two revolutionaries[d] were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.[e]

29 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.

The Death of Jesus

33 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 34 Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”[f]

35 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 36 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!”

37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

39 When the Roman officer[g] who stood facing him[h] saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

40 Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph[i]), and Salome. 41 They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.

The Burial of Jesus

42 This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation,[j] the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) 44 Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. 45 The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. 46 Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.

Footnotes

  1. 15:1 Greek the Sanhedrin; also in 15:43.
  2. 15:21 Cyrene was a city in northern Africa.
  3. 15:24 Greek cast lots. See Ps 22:18.
  4. 15:27a Or Two criminals.
  5. 15:27b Some manuscripts add verse 28, And the Scripture was fulfilled that said, “He was counted among those who were rebels.” See Isa 53:12; also compare Luke 22:37.
  6. 15:34 Ps 22:1.
  7. 15:39a Greek the centurion; similarly in 15:44, 45.
  8. 15:39b Some manuscripts add heard his cry and.
  9. 15:40 Greek Joses; also in 15:47. See Matt 27:56.
  10. 15:42 Greek It was the day of preparation.
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Mark 15
Lexham English Bible

Jesus Taken to Pilate

15 And as soon as morning came, after[a] formulating a plan, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the whole Sanhedrin, tied up Jesus, led him[b] away, and handed him[c] over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And he answered him and[d] said, “You say so.” 3 And the chief priests began to accuse[e] him of many things. 4 So Pilate asked him again, saying, “Do you not answer anything? See how many charges[f] they are bringing against you!” 5 But Jesus did not answer anything further, so that Pilate was astonished.

Pilate Releases Barabbas

6 Now at each feast he customarily released[g] for them one prisoner whom they requested. 7 And the one named Barabbas[h] was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 And the crowd came up and[i] began to ask him to do as he customarily did[j] for them. 9 So Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?” 10 (For he realized that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy.) 11 But the chief priests incited the crowd so that he would release for them Barabbas[k] instead. 12 So Pilate answered and said to them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one whom you call the king of the Jews?” 13 And they shouted again, “Crucify him!” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”

15 So Pilate, because he[l] wanted to satisfy[m] the crowd, released for them Barabbas. And after[n] he had Jesus flogged, he handed him[o] over so that he could be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked

16 So the soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called together the whole cohort. 17 And they put a purple cloak on him, and after[p] weaving a crown of thorns they placed it[q] on him. 18 And they began to greet him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 And they repeatedly struck[r] him on the head with a reed, and were spitting on him, and they knelt down[s] and[t] did obeisance to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes[u] on him, and they led him out so that they could crucify him.

Jesus Is Crucified

21 And they forced a certain man who was passing by, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), who was coming from the country, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place Golgotha (which is translated “Place of a Skull”). 23 And they attempted to give[v] him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves[w] by[x] casting lots for them to see who should take what. 25 Now it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him was written, “The king of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.[y] 29 And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it[z] in three days, 30 save yourself by[aa] coming down from the cross!” 31 In the same way also the chief priests, along with the scribes, were mocking him[ab] to one another, saying, “He saved others; he is not able to save himself! 32 Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe! Even those who were crucified with him were reviling him.

Jesus Dies on the Cross

33 And when[ac] the sixth hour came, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which is translated, “My God, my God, why[ad] have you forsaken me?”)[ae] 35 And some of the bystanders, when they[af] heard it,[ag] said, “Behold, he is summoning Elijah!” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it[ah] on a reed, and[ai] gave it[aj] to him to drink, saying, “Leave him[ak] alone! Let us see if Elijah is coming to take him down.” 37 But Jesus uttered a loud cry and[al] expired. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when[am] the centurion who was standing opposite him saw that he expired like this, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 40 And there were also women observing from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger[an] and Joses,[ao] and Salome, 41 who used to follow[ap] him and serve him when he was in Galilee, and many other women who went up with him to Jerusalem.

Jesus Is Buried

42 And when it[aq] was already evening, since it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the council who was also himself looking forward to[ar] the kingdom of God, came acting courageously and[as] went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate was surprised that he was already dead, and summoning the centurion, asked him whether he had died already. 45 And when he[at] learned of it[au] from the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And after[av] purchasing a linen cloth and[aw] taking him down, he wrapped him[ax] in the linen cloth and placed him in a tomb that had been cut from the rock. And he rolled a stone over the entrance of the tomb. 47 Now Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was placed.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 15:1 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“formulating”) which is understood as temporal
  2. Mark 15:1 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  3. Mark 15:1 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  4. Mark 15:2 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  5. Mark 15:3 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to accuse”)
  6. Mark 15:4 The word “charges” is not in the Greek text but is implied
  7. Mark 15:6 The imperfect tense has been translated as customary here (“customarily released”)
  8. Mark 15:7 “Barabbas” means “son of the father” in Aramaic
  9. Mark 15:8 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  10. Mark 15:8 The imperfect tense has been translated as customary here (“customarily did”)
  11. Mark 15:11 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  12. Mark 15:15 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
  13. Mark 15:15 Literally “to make sufficient”
  14. Mark 15:15 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“flogged”) which is understood as temporal
  15. Mark 15:15 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  16. Mark 15:17 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“weaving”) which is understood as temporal
  17. Mark 15:17 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  18. Mark 15:19 The imperfect tense has been translated as iterative here (“repeatedly struck”)
  19. Mark 15:19 Literally “bending the knees”
  20. Mark 15:19 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“knelt down”) has been translated as a finite verb
  21. Mark 15:20 Some manuscripts have “his clothes” in place of “his own clothes”
  22. Mark 15:23 Here the imperfect tense is translated as a conative imperfect (“attempted to give”)
  23. Mark 15:24 Here “among themselves” reflects the middle voice of the verb “divided”
  24. Mark 15:24 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“casting”) which is understood as means
  25. Mark 15:27 Most later Greek manuscripts add v. 28 (a quotation from Isa 53:12) after v. 27, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘And he was counted with the lawless ones’”
  26. Mark 15:29 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  27. Mark 15:30 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“coming down”) which is understood as means
  28. Mark 15:31 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  29. Mark 15:33 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“came”)
  30. Mark 15:34 Literally “for what reason”
  31. Mark 15:34 A quotation from Ps 22:1
  32. Mark 15:35 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  33. Mark 15:35 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  34. Mark 15:36 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  35. Mark 15:36 Here “and” is supplied because the two previous participles (“ran” and “filled”) have been translated as finite verbs
  36. Mark 15:36 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  37. Mark 15:36 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  38. Mark 15:37 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“uttered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  39. Mark 15:39 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  40. Mark 15:40 Or perhaps “the short,” referring to stature
  41. Mark 15:40 This name appears in Matt 27:56 as “Joseph”
  42. Mark 15:41 The imperfect tense has been translated as customary here (“used to follow”)
  43. Mark 15:42 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
  44. Mark 15:43 Or “waiting for”
  45. Mark 15:43 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came”) has been translated as a finite verb
  46. Mark 15:45 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“learned of”) which is understood as temporal
  47. Mark 15:45 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  48. Mark 15:46 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“purchasing”) which is understood as temporal
  49. Mark 15:46 Here “and” is supplied because the participle (“taking...down”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
  50. Mark 15:46 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
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