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 Faces Pilate(A)

15 Immediately, (B)in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and (C)delivered Him to Pilate. (D)Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

He answered and said to him, It is as you say.”

And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He (E)answered nothing. (F)Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things [a]they testify against You!” (G)But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

Taking the Place of Barabbas(H)

Now (I)at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, [b]crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

11 But (J)the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the (K)King of the Jews?”

13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”

14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, (L)what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

15 (M)So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be (N)crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(O)

16 (P)Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called [c]Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they (Q)struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had (R)mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

The King on a Cross(S)

21 (T)Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. 22 (U)And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 (V)Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24 And when they crucified Him, (W)they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.

25 Now (X)it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And (Y)the inscription of His [d]accusation was written above:

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 (Z)With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 [e]So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, (AA)“And He was numbered with the transgressors.”

29 And (AB)those who passed by blasphemed Him, (AC)wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! (AD)You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

31 Likewise the chief priests also, (AE)mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved (AF)others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and [f]believe.”

Even (AG)those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

Jesus Dies on the Cross(AH)

33 Now (AI)when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, (AJ)“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then (AK)someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and (AL)offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”

37 (AM)And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

38 Then (AN)the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So (AO)when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that [g]He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

40 (AP)There were also women looking on (AQ)from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also (AR)followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb(AS)

42 (AT)Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who (AU)was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 (AV)Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 15:4 NU of which they accuse You
  2. Mark 15:8 NU going up
  3. Mark 15:16 The governor’s headquarters
  4. Mark 15:26 crime
  5. Mark 15:28 NU omits v. 28.
  6. Mark 15:32 M believe Him
  7. Mark 15:39 NU He thus breathed His last