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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.(A) Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He replied to him, “It is as you say.”(B) The chief priests began accusing Him of many things. Then Pilate again asked Him, “Have You no answer [to give]? See how many charges they are bringing against You!” But Jesus gave no further answer; so Pilate was perplexed.(C)

Now at the [Passover] feast Pilate used to set free for them any one prisoner whom they requested.(D) The man called Barabbas was imprisoned with the insurrectionists (revolutionaries) who had committed murder in the civil rebellion. The crowd came up and began asking Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 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 [a]scourged, he handed Him over [to his soldiers] to be crucified.(E)

Jesus Is Mocked

16 The soldiers led Him away into the palace (that is, the [b]Praetorium), and they called together the entire [Roman] battalion [of 600 soldiers].(F) 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 [c]reed and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing in [mock] homage to Him.(G) 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 [d]Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), [e]to carry His cross.(H)

The Crucifixion

22 Then they brought Him to the place [called] Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a [f]Skull.(I) 23 They tried to give Him [g]wine mixed with myrrh [to dull the pain], but He would not take it. 24 And they crucified Him, and [h]divided up His clothes among themselves, casting lots for them to see who should take what.(J) 25 It was the third hour (9:00 a.m.) when they crucified Him.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 15:15 I.e. whipped with a short whip of metal-tipped leather thongs. There was no limit to the number of lashings. Frequently, the body was so lacerated that the intestines gushed out. It was not uncommon for a prisoner to die from scourging.
  2. Mark 15:16 The residence of the Roman provincial governor.
  3. Mark 15:19 I.e. a long bamboo-like stick.
  4. Mark 15:21 A port city in north Africa.
  5. Mark 15:21 The crossbeam was usually placed on the nape of the neck like a yoke.
  6. Mark 15:22 Latin: Calvaria; or Calvary; Aram: Golgotha; Greek: Kranion.
  7. Mark 15:23 The myrrh had a narcotic effect and was added to dull the senses.
  8. Mark 15:24 See note Matt 27:35.

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