Mark 15
Common English Bible
Trial before Pilate
15 At daybreak, the chief priests—with the elders, legal experts, and the whole Sanhedrin—formed a plan. They bound Jesus, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “That’s what you say.” 3 The chief priests were accusing him of many things.
4 Pilate asked him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? What about all these accusations?” 5 But Jesus gave no more answers, so that Pilate marveled.
6 During the festival, Pilate released one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 A man named Barabbas was locked up with the rebels who had committed murder during an uprising. 8 The crowd pushed forward and asked Pilate to release someone, as he regularly did. 9 Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” 10 He knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of jealousy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate replied, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call king of the Jews?”
13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!”
14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done?”
They shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”
15 Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd, so he released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus whipped, then handed him over to be crucified.
Jesus is tortured and killed
16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the courtyard of the palace known as the governor’s headquarters,[a] and they called together the whole company of soldiers.[b] 17 They dressed him up in a purple robe and twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on him. 18 They saluted him, “Hey! King of the Jews!” 19 Again and again, they struck his head with a stick. They spit on him and knelt before him to honor him. 20 When they finished mocking him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
21 Simon, a man from Cyrene, Alexander and Rufus’ father, was coming in from the countryside. They forced him to carry his cross.
22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means Skull Place. 23 They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he didn’t take it. 24 They crucified him. They divided up his clothes, drawing lots for them to determine who would take what. 25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The notice of the formal charge against him was written, “The king of the Jews.” 27 They crucified two outlaws with him, one on his right and one on his left.[c]
29 People walking by insulted him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ha! So you were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, were you? 30 Save yourself and come down from that cross!”
31 In the same way, the chief priests were making fun of him among themselves, together with the legal experts. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross. Then we’ll see and believe.” Even those who had been crucified with Jesus insulted him.
33 From noon until three in the afternoon the whole earth was dark. 34 At three, Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, my God, why have you left me?”
35 After hearing him, some standing there said, “Look! He’s calling Elijah!” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, and put it on a pole. He offered it to Jesus to drink, saying, “Let’s see if Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and died.
38 The curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who stood facing Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “This man was certainly God’s Son.”
40 Some women were watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James (the younger one) and Joses, and Salome. 41 When Jesus was in Galilee, these women had followed and supported him, along with many other women who had come to Jerusalem with him.
Jesus’ burial
42 Since it was late in the afternoon on Preparation Day, just before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph from Arimathea dared to approach Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was a prominent council member who also eagerly anticipated the coming of God’s kingdom.) 44 Pilate wondered if Jesus was already dead. He called the centurion and asked him whether Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that Jesus was dead, Pilate gave the dead body to Joseph. 46 He bought a linen cloth, took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him in the cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been carved out of rock. He rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was buried.
Footnotes
- Mark 15:16 Or praetorium
- Mark 15:16 Or cohort (approximately six hundred soldiers)
- Mark 15:27 15:28 is omitted in most critical editions of the Gk New Testament The scripture was fulfilled, which says, He was numbered among criminals.
Mark 15
Expanded Bible
Pilate Questions Jesus(A)
15 Very early in the morning, the ·leading [T chief] priests, the elders, the ·teachers of the law [scribes], and all the ·Jewish council [Sanhedrin; see 14:55] decided what to do with Jesus. They ·tied [bound] him, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate, the governor.
2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “·Those are your words [It is as you say; L You say so; C an indirect affirmation].”
3 The ·leading [T chief] priests accused Jesus of many things. 4 So Pilate asked Jesus another question, “You can see that they are accusing you of many things. Aren’t you going to answer?”
5 But Jesus still said nothing, so Pilate was ·very surprised [amazed].
Pilate Tries to Free Jesus(B)
6 Every year at the ·time of the Passover [festival/feast] the governor would free one prisoner whom the people ·chose [requested]. 7 At that time, there was a man named Barabbas in prison, one of a group of rebels who had committed murder during ·a riot [the uprising/insurrection]. 8 The crowd came to Pilate and began to ask him to free a prisoner as he always did.
9 So Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to free the king of the Jews?” 10 Pilate knew that the ·leading [T chief] priests had turned Jesus in to him because they were jealous. 11 But the ·leading [T chief] priests had ·persuaded [stirred up] the people to ask Pilate to free Barabbas, not Jesus.
12 Then Pilate asked the crowd again, “So what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?”
13 They shouted, “Crucify him!”
14 Pilate asked, “Why? What ·wrong [crime; evil] has he done?”
But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”
15 Pilate wanted to ·please [satisfy] the crowd, so he freed Barabbas for them. After having Jesus ·beaten with whips [flogged; scourged], he handed Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus(C)
16 The soldiers took Jesus into the [courtyard of the] governor’s palace (called the Praetorium) and called ·all the other soldiers [the whole cohort] together [C a cohort was about 500 soldiers; here it may mean those of the cohort on duty]. 17 They put a purple robe [C probably a scarlet military coat (Matt. 27:28), whose color resembled purple—the color of royalty] on Jesus and used thorny branches to make a crown for his head. 18 They began to ·call out to [greet; salute] him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 The soldiers beat Jesus on the head many times with a stick. They spit on him and made fun of him by bowing on their knees and worshiping him. 20 After they finished, the soldiers took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him out of the palace to be crucified.
Jesus Is Crucified(D)
21 A man named Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus [C probably two Christians known to Mark’s readers], was coming from the ·fields [countryside] to the city. The soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus. 22 They led Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means [C in Aramaic] the Place of the Skull. 23 ·The soldiers [L They; C this could be the soldiers or the women of Jerusalem] tried to give Jesus wine mixed with myrrh to drink [C a narcotic meant to dull the pain; Prov. 31:6; Ps. 69:21], but he refused. 24 The soldiers crucified Jesus and divided his clothes among themselves, throwing lots [C similar to dice] to decide what each soldier would get [Ps. 22:18].
25 It was ·nine o’clock in the morning [L the third hour] when they crucified Jesus. 26 There was a sign with this charge against Jesus written on it: the king of the jews. 27 They also put two ·robbers [rebels; revolutionaries; C the term “robber” was used by the Romans of insurrectionists] on crosses beside Jesus, one on the right, and the other on the left. |28 And the Scripture came true that says, “They put him with criminals [Is. 53:12].”|[a] 29 People walked by and ·insulted [defamed; slandered; C the same Greek word used to “blaspheme”] Jesus and shook their heads [C a gesture of derision; Ps. 22:7], saying, “You said you could destroy the Temple and build it again in three days. 30 So save yourself! Come down from that cross!”
31 The ·leading [T chief] priests and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] were also making fun of Jesus. They said to each other, “He saved other people, but he can’t save himself. 32 If he is really the ·Christ [Messiah], the king of Israel, let him come down now from the cross. When we see this, we will believe in him.” The robbers who were being crucified beside Jesus also ·insulted [ridiculed; taunted] him.
Jesus Dies(E)
33 At ·noon [L the sixth hour] the whole country became dark, and the darkness lasted ·for three hours [L until the ninth hour]. 34 At ·three o’clock [L the ninth hour] Jesus cried in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani.” This means [C in Aramaic], “My God, my God, why have you ·abandoned [forsaken] me?” [Ps. 22:1]
35 When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, “Listen! He is calling Elijah.” [C The prophet Elijah was associated with the end times (Mal. 4:5) and was also viewed as a helper in time of need.]
36 Someone there ran and got a sponge, filled it with ·vinegar [or sour wine; C an inexpensive drink used by soldiers and slaves], tied it to a ·stick [reed], and gave it to Jesus to drink [Ps. 69:21]. He said, “[Leave him be; Wait!] We want to see if Elijah will come to take him down from the cross.”
37 Then Jesus cried in a loud voice and ·died [breathed his last; L expired].
38 The curtain [C dividing the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple] in the Temple was torn into two pieces, from the top to the bottom [C representing new access to the presence of God, and perhaps God’s judgment against the Temple leadership]. 39 When the ·army officer [centurion] who was standing in front of the cross saw ·what happened when [or how] Jesus died,[b] he said, “This man really was the Son of God!”
40 Some women were standing at a distance from the cross, watching; among them were Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph. (James was her youngest son.) 41 These women had followed Jesus in Galilee and ·helped [cared for; supported] him. Many other women were also there who had come with Jesus to Jerusalem.
Jesus Is Buried(F)
42 This was Preparation Day. (That means the day before the Sabbath day.) That evening, 43 Joseph from Arimathea was ·brave [bold] enough to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body. Joseph, an ·important [respected] member of the ·Jewish council [Sanhedrin; see 14:55], was one of the people who was waiting for the kingdom of God to come. 44 Pilate was amazed that Jesus would have already died, so he called the ·army officer [centurion] and asked him if Jesus ·had already died [or had been dead very long]. 45 The officer told Pilate that he was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. 46 Joseph bought some linen cloth, took the body down from the cross, and wrapped it in the linen. He put the body in a tomb that was cut out of a wall of rock. Then he rolled a [C large] stone to block the entrance of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph ·saw [took note of] the place where Jesus was laid.
Footnotes
- Mark 15:28 And … criminals.” Some Greek copies do not contain the bracketed text, which quotes from Isaiah 53:12.
- Mark 15:39 when Jesus died Some Greek copies read “when Jesus cried out and died.”
Mark 15
Revised Geneva Translation
15 And before dawn, the chief priests held a council with the elders, and the scribes, and the whole Council; and bound Jesus and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.
2 Then Pilate asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And He answered, and said to him, “You have said so.”
3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things.
4 So Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do you answer nothing? Behold how many things they witness against You.”
5 But Jesus answered no more at all, so that Pilate marveled.
6 Now at the feast, Pilate would deliver a prisoner to them, whoever they desired.
7 And there was one named Barabbas (who was bound with his fellows) who had made insurrection, during which he had committed murder.
8 And the people cried aloud and began to desire that Pilate would do as he had always done for them.
9 Then Pilate answered them, and said, “Should I release to you the King of the Jews?”
10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him out of envy.
11 But the chief priests had incited the people to desire Barabbas.
12 And Pilate answered, and said to them again, “What then shall I do with Him Whom you call the King of the Jews?”
13 And they cried again, “Crucify Him!”
14 Then Pilate said to them, “But, what evil has He done?” And they cried even more fervently, “Crucify Him!”
15 So Pilate, willing to content the people, gave them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus - once he had scourged Him - to be crucified.
16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall (which is the common hall) and called together the whole band,
17 and clothed Him with purple, and put a crown of thorns on His head,
18 and began to salute Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
19 And they struck Him on the head with a reed, and spit on Him, and bowed their knees, and did Him reverence.
20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, and put His own clothes back on, and led Him out to crucify Him.
21 And they compelled one who passed by called Simon of Cyrene (who came out of the country and was father of Alexander and Rufus) to bear His cross.
22 And they brought Him to a place named Golgotha (which is by interpretation, ‘Place of Dead Mens’ Skulls’).
23 And they gave Him wine to drink, mingled with myrrh. But He did not receive it.
24 And when they had crucified Him, they parted His garments, casting lots for what every man should have.
25 And it was the third hour when they crucified Him.
26 And the title of His cause was written above, ‘THE KING OF THE JEWS.’
27 They also crucified two thieves with Him, one on the right and the other on His left.
28 Thus the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was counted among the wicked.”
29 And those who passed by railed on Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Hey, You who would destroy the Temple, and build it in three days,
30 save Yourself! And come down from the cross!”
31 Likewise even the chief priests, also mocking, said among themselves with the scribes, “He saved other men! Himself He cannot save!
32 “Let Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him also reviled Him.
33 Now, when the sixth hour had come, darkness arose over all the land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama-sabachthani?” Which is by interpretation, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
35 And some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, He calls Elijah!”
36 And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar and put it on a reed and gave it to Him, saying, “Let Him alone! Let us see if Elijah will come and take Him down!”
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up the ghost.
38 And the veil of the Temple was torn in two, from the top to the bottom.
39 Now when the centurion who stood near Him saw that He, thus crying, gave up the ghost, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.”
40 There were also women who watched from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome,
41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
42 And now when the night had come (because it was the Day of the Preparation that is before the Sabbath)
43 Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable councilman, who also looked for the Kingdom of God, went in boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
44 And Pilate was surprised that He was already dead. So, he called the centurion and asked him whether He were indeed dead.
45 And when he knew the truth from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph;
46 who bought a linen cloth, and took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb that was hewn out of a rock; and rolled a stone over the door of the sepulcher.
47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary Joses’ mother beheld where He was laid.
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