Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Mark » Chapter 15 » Verse 1-47

Mark 15:1-47 King James Version (KJV)

1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.

3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,

30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.

31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.


Mark 15:1-47 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G2532 straightway G2112 in G1909 the morning G4404 the chief priests G749 held G4160 a consultation G4824 with G3326 the elders G4245 and G2532 scribes G1122 and G2532 the whole G3650 council, G4892 and bound G1210 Jesus, G2424 and carried him away, G667 and G2532 delivered G3860 him to Pilate. G4091

2 And G2532 Pilate G4091 asked G1905 him, G846 Art G1488 thou G4771 the King G935 of the Jews? G2453 And G1161 he answering G611 said G2036 unto him, G846 Thou G4771 sayest G3004 it.

3 And G2532 the chief priests G749 accused G2723 him G846 of many things: G4183 but G1161 he G846 answered G611 nothing. G3762

4 And G1161 Pilate G4091 asked G1905 him G846 again, G3825 saying, G3004 Answerest thou G611 nothing? G3756 G3762 behold G2396 how many things G4214 they witness G2649 against thee. G4675

5 But G1161 Jesus G2424 yet G3765 answered G611 nothing; G3762 so G5620 that Pilate G4091 marvelled. G2296

6 Now G1161 at G2596 that feast G1859 he released G630 unto them G846 one G1520 prisoner, G1198 whomsoever G3746 they desired. G154

7 And G1161 there was G2258 one named G3004 Barabbas, G912 which lay bound G1210 with G3326 them that had made insurrection with him, G4955 who G3748 had committed G4160 murder G5408 in G1722 the insurrection. G4714

8 And G2532 the multitude G3793 crying aloud G310 began G756 to desire G154 him to do as G2531 he had ever G104 done G4160 unto them. G846

9 But G1161 Pilate G4091 answered G611 them, G846 saying, G3004 Will ye G2309 that I release G630 unto you G5213 the King G935 of the Jews? G2453

10 For G1063 he knew G1097 that G3754 the chief priests G749 had delivered G3860 him G846 for G1223 envy. G5355

11 But G1161 the chief priests G749 moved G383 the people, G3793 that G2443 he should rather G3123 release G630 Barabbas G912 unto them. G846

12 And G1161 Pilate G4091 answered G611 and said G2036 again G3825 unto them, G846 What G5101 will ye G2309 then G3767 that I shall do G4160 unto him whom G3739 ye call G3004 the King G935 of the Jews? G2453

13 And G1161 they cried out G2896 again, G3825 Crucify G4717 him. G846

14 Then G1161 Pilate G4091 said G3004 unto them, G846 Why, G1063 what G5101 evil G2556 hath he done? G4160 And G1161 they cried out G2896 the more exceedingly, G4056 Crucify G4717 him. G846

15 And G1161 so Pilate, G4091 willing G1014 to content G2425 G4160 the people, G3793 released G630 Barabbas G912 unto them, G846 and G2532 delivered G3860 Jesus, G2424 when he had scourged G5417 him, to G2443 be crucified. G4717

16 And G1161 the soldiers G4757 led G520 him G846 away G520 into G2080 the hall, G833 called G3603 Praetorium; G4232 and G2532 they call together G4779 the whole G3650 band. G4686

17 And G2532 they clothed G1746 him G846 with purple, G4209 and G2532 platted G4120 a crown G4735 of thorns, G174 and put it about G4060 his G846 head,

18 And G2532 began G756 to salute G782 him, G846 Hail, G5463 King G935 of the Jews! G2453

19 And G2532 they smote G5180 him G846 on the head G2776 with a reed, G2563 and G2532 did spit G1716 upon him, G846 and G2532 bowing G5087 their knees G1119 worshipped G4352 him. G846

20 And G2532 when G3753 they had mocked G1702 him, G846 they took off G1562 the purple G4209 from him, G846 and G2532 put G1746 his own G2398 clothes G2440 on G1746 him, G846 and G2532 led G1806 him G846 out G1806 to G2443 crucify G4717 him. G846

21 And G2532 they compel G29 one G5100 Simon G4613 a Cyrenian, G2956 who passed by, G3855 coming G2064 out of G575 the country, G68 the father G3962 of Alexander G223 and G2532 Rufus, G4504 to G2443 bear G142 his G846 cross. G4716

22 And G2532 they bring G5342 him G846 unto G1909 the place G5117 Golgotha, G1115 which G3739 is, G2076 being interpreted, G3177 The place G5117 of a skull. G2898

23 And G2532 they gave G1325 him G846 to drink G4095 wine G3631 mingled with myrrh: G4669 but G1161 he received G2983 it not. G3756

24 And G2532 when they had crucified G4717 him, G846 they parted G1266 his G846 garments, G2440 casting G906 lots G2819 upon G1909 them, G846 what G5101 every man G5101 should take. G142

25 And G1161 it was G2258 the third G5154 hour, G5610 and G2532 they crucified G4717 him. G846

26 And G2532 the superscription G1923 of his G846 accusation G156 was G2258 written over, G1924 THE KING G935 OF THE JEWS. G2453

27 And G2532 with G4862 him G846 they crucify G4717 two G1417 thieves; G3027 the one G1520 on G1537 his right hand, G1188 and G2532 the other G1520 on G1537 his G846 left. G2176

28 And G2532 the scripture G1124 was fulfilled, G4137 which G3588 saith, G3004 And G2532 he was numbered G3049 with G3326 the transgressors. G459

29 And G2532 they that passed by G3899 railed G987 on him, G846 wagging G2795 their G846 heads, G2776 and G2532 saying, G3004 Ah, G3758 thou that destroyest G2647 the temple, G3485 and G2532 buildest G3618 it in G1722 three G5140 days, G2250

30 Save G4982 thyself, G4572 and G2532 come down G2597 from G575 the cross. G4716

31 Likewise G1161 G3668 also G2532 the chief priests G749 mocking G1702 said G3004 among G4314 themselves G240 with G3326 the scribes, G1122 He saved G4982 others; G243 himself G1438 he cannot G3756 G1410 save. G4982

32 Let G2597 Christ G5547 the King G935 of Israel G2474 descend G2597 now G3568 from G575 the cross, G4716 that G2443 we may see G1492 and G2532 believe. G4100 And G2532 they that were crucified G4957 with him G846 reviled G3679 him. G846

33 And G1161 when G1096 the sixth G1623 hour G5610 was come, G1096 there was G1096 darkness G4655 over G1909 the whole G3650 land G1093 until G2193 the ninth G1766 hour. G5610

34 And G2532 at the ninth G1766 hour G5610 Jesus G2424 cried G994 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 saying, G3004 Eloi, G1682 Eloi, G1682 lama G2982 sabachthani? G4518 which G3739 is, G2076 being interpreted, G3177 My G3450 God, G2316 my G3450 God, G2316 why G5101 hast G1519 thou forsaken G1459 me? G3165

35 And G2532 some of them G5100 that stood by, G3936 when they heard G191 it, said, G3004 Behold, G2400 he calleth G5455 Elias. G2243

36 And G1161 one G1520 ran G5143 and G2532 filled G1072 a spunge G4699 full G1072 of vinegar, G3690 and G5037 put it on G4060 a reed, G2563 and gave G4222 him G846 to drink, G4222 saying, G3004 Let alone; G863 let us see G1492 whether G1487 Elias G2243 will come G2064 to take G2507 him G846 down. G2507

37 And G1161 Jesus G2424 cried G863 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 and gave up the ghost. G1606

38 And G2532 the veil G2665 of the temple G3485 was rent G4977 in G1519 twain G1417 from G575 the top G509 to G2193 the bottom. G2736

39 And G1161 when the centurion, G2760 which G3588 stood G3936 over G1537 against G1727 him, G846 saw G1492 that G3754 he so G3779 cried out, G2896 and gave up the ghost, G1606 he said, G2036 Truly G230 this G3778 man G444 was G2258 the Son G5207 of God. G2316

40 There G1161 were G2258 also G2532 women G1135 looking G2334 on afar G3113 off: G575 among G2532 G1722 whom G3739 was G2258 Mary G3137 Magdalene, G3094 and G2532 Mary G3137 the mother G3384 of James G2385 the less G3398 and G2532 of Joses, G2500 and G2532 Salome; G4539

41 (Who G3739 also, G2532 when G3753 he was G2258 in G1722 Galilee, G1056 followed G190 him, G846 and G2532 ministered G1247 unto him;) G846 and G2532 many G4183 other G243 women which G3588 came up G4872 with him G846 unto G1519 Jerusalem. G2414

42 And G2532 now G2235 when the even G3798 was come, G1096 because G1893 it was G2258 the preparation, G3904 that G3603 is, G2076 the day before the sabbath, G4315

43 Joseph G2501 of G575 Arimathaea, G707 an honourable G2158 counsellor, G1010 which G3739 also G2532 G846 waited G4327 for G2258 the kingdom G932 of God, G2316 came, G2064 and went in G1525 boldly G5111 unto G4314 Pilate, G4091 and G2532 craved G154 the body G4983 of Jesus. G2424

44 And G1161 Pilate G4091 marvelled G2296 if G1487 he were G2348 already G2235 dead: G2348 and G2532 calling G4341 unto him the centurion, G2760 he asked G1905 him G846 whether G1487 he had been G599 any while G3819 dead. G599

45 And G2532 when he knew G1097 it of G575 the centurion, G2760 he gave G1433 the body G4983 to Joseph. G2501

46 And G2532 he bought G59 fine linen, G4616 and G2532 took him down, G2507 and wrapped G1750 him G846 in the linen, G4616 and G2532 laid G2698 him G846 in G1722 a sepulchre G3419 which G3739 was G2258 hewn G2998 out of G1537 a rock, G4073 and G2532 rolled G4351 a stone G3037 unto G1909 the door G2374 of the sepulchre. G3419

47 And G1161 Mary G3137 Magdalene G3094 and G2532 Mary G3137 the mother of Joses G2500 beheld G2334 where G4226 he was laid. G5087


Mark 15:1-47 American Standard (ASV)

1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.

2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering saith unto him, Thou sayest.

3 And the chief priests accused him of many things.

4 And Pilate again asked him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of.

5 But Jesus no more answered anything; insomuch that Pilate marvelled.

6 Now at the feast he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.

7 And there was one called Barabbas, `lying' bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.

8 And the multitude went up and began to ask him `to do' as he was wont to do unto them.

9 And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

10 For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

12 And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

14 And Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, Crucify him.

15 And Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

17 And they clothe him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it on him;

18 and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

19 And they smote his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

20 And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments. And they lead him out to crucify him.

21 And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go `with them', that he might bear his cross.

22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

23 And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

24 And they crucify him, and part his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take.

25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 And with him they crucify two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left.

28 `And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was reckoned with transgressors.'

29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ha! Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,

30 save thyself, and come down from the cross.

31 In like manner also the chief priests mocking `him' among themselves with the scribes said, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reproached him.

33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah.

36 And one ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down.

37 And Jesus uttered a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

38 And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.

39 And when the centurion, who stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

40 And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom `were' both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

41 who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him; and many other women that came up with him unto Jerusalem.

42 And when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

43 there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God; and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

45 And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph.

46 And he bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the `mother' of Joses beheld where he was laid.


Mark 15:1-47 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And immediately, in the morning, the chief priests having made a consultation, with the elders, and scribes, and the whole sanhedrim, having bound Jesus, did lead away, and delivered `him' to Pilate;

2 and Pilate questioned him, `Art thou the king of the Jews?' and he answering said to him, `Thou dost say `it'.'

3 And the chief priests were accusing him of many things, `but he answered nothing.'

4 And Pilate again questioned him, saying, `Thou dost not answer anything! lo, how many things they do testify against thee!'

5 and Jesus did no more answer anything, so that Pilate wondered.

6 And at every feast he was releasing to them one prisoner, whomsoever they were asking;

7 and there was `one' named Barabbas, bound with those making insurrection with him, who had in the insurrection committed murder.

8 And the multitude having cried out, began to ask for themselves as he was always doing to them,

9 and Pilate answered them, saying, `Will ye `that' I shall release to you the king of the Jews?'

10 for he knew that because of envy the chief priests had delivered him up;

11 and the chief priests did move the multitude, that he might rather release Barabbas to them.

12 And Pilate answering, again said to them, `What, then, will ye `that' I shall do to him whom ye call king of the Jews?'

13 and they again cried out, `Crucify him.'

14 And Pilate said to them, `Why -- what evil did he?' and they cried out the more vehemently, `Crucify him;'

15 and Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus -- having scourged `him' -- that he might be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, which is Praetorium, and call together the whole band,

17 and clothe him with purple, and having plaited a crown of thorns, they put `it' on him,

18 and began to salute him, `Hail, King of the Jews.'

19 And they were smiting him on the head with a reed, and were spitting on him, and having bent the knee, were bowing to him,

20 and when they `had' mocked him, they took the purple from off him, and clothed him in his own garments, and they led him forth, that they may crucify him.

21 And they impress a certain one passing by -- Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from the field, the father of Alexander and Rufus -- that he may bear his cross,

22 and they bring him to the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, `Place of a skull;'

23 and they were giving him to drink wine mingled with myrrh, and he did not receive.

24 And having crucified him, they were dividing his garments, casting a lot upon them, what each may take;

25 and it was the third hour, and they crucified him;

26 and the inscription of his accusation was written above -- `The King of the Jews.'

27 And with him they crucify two robbers, one on the right hand, and one on his left,

28 and the Writing was fulfilled that is saying, `And with lawless ones he was numbered.'

29 And those passing by were speaking evil of him, shaking their heads, and saying, `Ah, the thrower down of the sanctuary, and in three days the builder!

30 save thyself, and come down from the cross!'

31 And in like manner also the chief priests, mocking with one another, with the scribes, said, `Others he saved; himself he is not able to save.

32 The Christ! the king of Israel -- let him come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe;' and those crucified with him were reproaching him.

33 And the sixth hour having come, darkness came over the whole land till the ninth hour,

34 and at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a great voice, saying, `Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabachthani?' which is, being interpreted, `My God, my God, why didst Thou forsake me?'

35 And certain of those standing by, having heard, said, `Lo, Elijah he doth call;'

36 and one having run, and having filled a spunge with vinegar, having put `it' also on a reed, was giving him to drink, saying, `Let alone, let us see if Elijah doth come to take him down.'

37 And Jesus having uttered a loud cry, yielded the spirit,

38 and the veil of the sanctuary was rent in two, from top to bottom,

39 and the centurion who was standing over-against him, having seen that, having so cried out, he yielded the spirit, said, `Truly this man was Son of God.'

40 And there were also women afar off beholding, among whom was also Mary the Magdalene, and Mary of James the less, and of Joses, and Salome,

41 (who also, when he was in Galilee, were following him, and were ministering to him,) and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

42 And now evening having come, seeing it was the preparation, that is, the fore-sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, who also himself was waiting for the reign of God, came, boldly entered in unto Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate wondered if he were already dead, and having called near the centurion, did question him if he were long dead,

45 and having known `it' from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

46 And he, having brought fine linen, and having taken him down, wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre that had been hewn out of a rock, and he rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre,

47 and Mary the Magdalene, and Mary of Joses, were beholding where he is laid.


Mark 15:1-47 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And immediately in the morning the chief priests, having taken counsel with the elders and scribes and the whole sanhedrim, bound Jesus and carried [him] away, and delivered [him] up to Pilate.

2 And Pilate asked him, Art *thou* the King of the Jews? And he answered and said to him, *Thou* sayest.

3 And the chief priests accused him urgently.

4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? See of how many things they bear witness against thee.

5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marvelled.

6 But at [the] feast he released to them one prisoner, whomsoever they begged [of him].

7 Now there was the [person] named Barabbas bound with those who had made insurrection with [him], [and] that had committed murder in the insurrection.

8 And the crowd crying out began to beg [that he would do] to them as he had always done.

9 But Pilate answered them saying, Will ye that I release to you the King of the Jews?

10 for he knew that the chief priests had delivered him up through envy.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd that he might rather release Barabbas to them.

12 And Pilate answering said to them again, What will ye then that I do [to him] whom ye call King of the Jews?

13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

14 And Pilate said to them, What evil then has he done? But they cried out the more urgently, Crucify him.

15 And Pilate, desirous of contenting the crowd, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged him, that he might be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away into the court which is [called the] praetorium, and they call together the whole band.

17 And they clothe him with purple, and bind round on him a crown of thorns which they had plaited.

18 And they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

19 And they struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and, bending the knee, did him homage.

20 And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off him, and put his own clothes on him; and they lead him out that they may crucify him.

21 And they compel to go [with them] a certain passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from the field, the father of Alexander and Rufus, that he might carry his cross.

22 And they bring him to the place [called] Golgotha, which, being interpreted, is Place of a skull.

23 And they offered him wine [to drink] medicated with myrrh; but he did not take [it].

24 And having crucified him, they part his clothes amongst [themselves], casting lots on them, what each one should take.

25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

26 And the superscription of what he was accused of was written up: The King of the Jews.

27 And with him they crucify two robbers, one on his right hand, and one on his left.

28 [And the scripture was fulfilled which says, And he was reckoned with the lawless.]

29 And they that passed by reviled him, shaking their heads, and saying, Aha, thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days,

30 save thyself, and descend from the cross.

31 In like manner the chief priests also, with the scribes, mocking with one another, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

32 Let the Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and may believe. And they that were crucified with him reproached him.

33 And when [the] sixth hour was come, there came darkness over the whole land until [the] ninth hour;

34 and at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, [saying], Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

35 And some of those who stood by, when they heard [it], said, Behold, he calls for Elias.

36 And one, running and filling a sponge with vinegar, fixed it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone, let us see if Elias comes to take him down.

37 And Jesus, having uttered a loud cry, expired.

38 And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.

39 And the centurion who stood by over against him, when he saw that he had expired having thus cried out, said, Truly this man was Son of God.

40 And there were women also looking on from afar off, among whom were both Mary of Magdala, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

41 who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him and ministered to him; and many others who came up with him to Jerusalem.

42 And when it was already evening, since it was [the] preparation, that is, [the day] before a sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable councillor, who also himself was awaiting the kingdom of God, coming, emboldened himself and went in to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and having called to [him] the centurion, he inquired of him if he had long died.

45 And when he knew from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

46 And having bought fine linen, [and] having taken him down, he swathed him in the fine linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was cut out of rock, and rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre.

47 And Mary of Magdala and Mary the [mother] of Joses saw where he was put.


Mark 15:1-47 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.

2 Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered, "So you say."

3 The chief priests accused him of many things.

4 Pilate again asked him, "Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!"

5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled.

6 Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.

7 There was one called Barabbas, bound with those who had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.

8 The multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them.

9 Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

10 For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead.

12 Pilate again asked them, "What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?"

13 They cried out again, "Crucify him!"

14 Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they cried out exceedingly, "Crucify him!"

15 Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.

16 The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort.

17 They clothed him with purple, and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him.

18 They began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

19 They struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him.

20 When they had mocked him, they took the purple off of him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him.

21 They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.

22 They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, "The place of a skull."

23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn't take it.

24 Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take.

25 It was the third hour,{9:00 A. M.} and they crucified him.

26 The superscription of his accusation was written over him, "THE KING OF THE JEWS."

27 With him they crucified two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left.

28 The Scripture was fulfilled, which says, "He was numbered with transgressors."

29 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days,

30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!"

31 Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, "He saved others. He can't save himself.

32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him.{TR omits "him"}" Those who were crucified with him insulted him.

33 When the sixth hour{or, noon} had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.{3:00 PM}

34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, "Behold, he is calling Elijah."

36 One ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Let him be. Let's see whether Elijah comes to take him down."

37 Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit.

38 The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

39 When the centurion, who stood by opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

40 There were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

41 who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and served him; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

42 When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for the Kingdom of God, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body.

44 Pilate marveled if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long.

45 When he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

46 He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

47 Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid.


Mark 15:1-47 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And the first thing in the morning the chief priests, with those in authority and the scribes and all the Sanhedrin, had a meeting, and put cords round Jesus, and took him away, and gave him up to Pilate.

2 And Pilate put a question to him, Are you the King of the Jews? And he, answering, said to him, You say so.

3 And the chief priests said a number of things against him.

4 And Pilate again put a question, Do you say nothing in answer? see how much evil they say you have done.

5 But Jesus gave no more answers, so that Pilate was full of wonder.

6 Now at the feast every year he let one prisoner go free at their request.

7 And there was one named Barabbas, in prison with those who had gone against the government and in the fight had taken life.

8 And the people went up, requesting him to do as he had done for them in other years.

9 And Pilate said in answer to them, Is it your desire that I let the King of the Jews go free?

10 For he saw that the chief priests had given him up through envy.

11 But the people were moved by the chief priests to make him let Barabbas go free.

12 And Pilate again said in answer to them, What then am I to do to him to whom you give the name of the King of the Jews?

13 And they said again loudly, To the cross with him!

14 And Pilate said to them, Why, what evil has he done? But their cry was the louder, To the cross!

15 And Pilate, desiring to do what was pleasing to the people, let Barabbas go free, and gave up Jesus, when he had been whipped, to be put to death on the cross.

16 And the men of the army took him away into the square in front of the building which is the Praetorium, and they got together all the band.

17 And they put a purple robe on him, and twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on him;

18 And, as if honouring him, they said, Long life to the King of the Jews!

19 And they gave him blows on the head with a stick and put shame on him and, going down on their knees, gave him worship.

20 And when they had made sport of him, they took the purple robe off him and put his clothing on him. And they took him out to put him to death on the cross.

21 And they made one, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was going by, coming from the country, go with them, so that he might take his cross.

22 And they took him to the place named Golgotha, which is, Dead Man's Head.

23 And they gave him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it.

24 And he was nailed to the cross; and they made a division of his clothing among them, putting to the decision of chance what everyone was to take.

25 And it was the third hour when they put him on the cross.

26 And the statement of his crime was put in writing on the cross, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 And they put two thieves on crosses with him, one on his right side, and one on his left.

28 []

29 And those who went by made sport of him, shaking their heads, and saying, Ha! you who give the Temple to destruction, and put it up again in three days,

30 Keep yourself from death, and come down from the cross.

31 In the same way the chief priests, laughing at him among themselves with the scribes, said, A saviour of others, he has no salvation for himself.

32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and have belief. And those who were put on crosses with him said evil things against him.

33 And when the sixth hour had come, it was dark over all the land till the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour, Jesus said in a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, My God, my God, why are you turned away from me?

35 And some of those who were near, hearing it, said, See, he is crying to Elijah.

36 And one of them went quickly and, getting a sponge full of bitter wine, put it on a rod, and gave it to him for drink, saying, Let be; let us see if Elijah will come to take him down.

37 And Jesus gave a loud cry, and gave up his spirit.

38 And the curtain of the Temple was parted in two from end to end.

39 And when the captain, who was near, saw how he gave up his spirit, he said, Truly this man was a son of God.

40 And there were women watching from a distance: among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome,

41 Who went with him when he was in Galilee and took care of him; and a number of other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

42 And when it was evening, because it was the time of getting ready, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

43 There came Joseph of Arimathaea, a responsible man in high honour, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God; and he went in to Pilate without fear, and made a request for the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate was surprised that he was dead; and, sending for the captain, he put a question to see if he had been dead for long.

45 And when he had news of it from the captain, he let Joseph have the body.

46 And he got a linen cloth and, taking him down, put the linen cloth round him, and put him in a place for the dead which had been cut out of a rock; and a stone was rolled against the door.

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was put.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Mark 15

Commentary on Mark 15 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 15

What we read of the sufferings of Christ, in the foregoing chapter, was but the prologue or introduction; here we have the completing of them. We left him condemned by the chief priests; but they could only show their teeth, they could not bite. Here we have him,

  • I. Arraigned and accused before Pilate the Roman governor (v. 1-5).
  • II. Cried out against by the common people, at the instigation of the priests (v. 6-14).
  • III. Condemned to be crucified immediately (v. 15).
  • IV. Bantered and abused, as a mock-king, by the Roman soldiers (v. 16-19).
  • V. Led out to the place of execution with all possible ignominy and disgrace (v. 20-24).
  • VI. Nailed to the cross between two thieves (v. 25-28).
  • VII. Reviled and abused by all that passed by (v. 29-32).
  • VIII. Forsaken for a time by his father (v. 33-36).
  • IX. Dying, and rending the veil (v. 37, 38).
  • X. Attested and witnessed to by the centurion and others (v. 39-41).
  • XI. Buried in the sepulchre of Joseph of Arimathea (v. 42-47).

Mar 15:1-14

Here we have,

  • I. A consultation held by the great Sanhedrim for the effectual prosecution of our Lord Jesus. They met early in the morning about it, and went into a grand committee, to find out ways and means to get him put to death; they lost no time, but followed their blow in good earnest, lest there should be an uproar among the people. The unwearied industry of wicked people in doing that which is evil, should shame us for our backwardness and slothfulness in that which is good. They that war against Christ and thy soul, are up early; How long then wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?
  • II. The delivering of him up a prisoner to Pilate; they bound him. He was to be the great sacrifice, and sacrifices must be bound with cords, Ps. 118:27. Christ was bound, to make bonds easy to us, and enable us, as Paul and Silas, to sing in bonds. It is good for us often to remember the bonds of the Lord Jesus, as bound with him who was bound for us. They led him through the streets of Jerusalem, to expose him to contempt, who, while he taught in the temple, but a day or two before, was had in veneration; and we may well imagine how miserably he looked after such a night's usage as he had had; so buffeted, spit upon, and abused. Their delivering him to the Roman power was a type of ruin of their church, which hereby they merited, and brought upon themselves; it signified that the promise, the covenant, and the oracles, of God, and the visible state church, which were the glory of Israel, and had been so long in their possession, should now be delivered up to the Gentiles. By delivering up the king they do, in effect, deliver up the kingdom of God, which is therefore, as it were, by their own consent, taken from them, and given to another nation. If they had delivered up Christ, to gratify the desires of the Romans, or to satisfy and jealousies of theirs concerning him, it had been another matter; but they voluntarily betrayed him that was Israel's crown, to them that were Israel's yoke.
  • III. The examining of him by Pilate upon interrogatories (v. 2); "Art thou the king of the Jews? Dost thou pretend to be so, to be that Messiah whom the Jews expect as a temporal prince?'-"Yea,' saith Christ, "it is as thou sayest, I am that Messiah, but not such a one as they expect.' He is the king that rules and protects his Israel according to the spirit, who are Jews inwardly by the circumcision of the spirit, and the king that will restrain and punish the carnal Jews, who continue in unbelief.
  • IV. The articles of impeachment exhibited against him, and his silence under the charge and accusation. The chief priests forgot the dignity of their place, when they turned informers, and did in person accuse Christ of many things (v. 3), and witness against him, v. 4. Many of the Old-Testament prophets charge the priests of their times with great wickedness, in which well did they prophesy of these priests; see Eze. 22:26; Hos. 5:1; 6:9; Mic. 3:11; Zep. 3:4; Mal. 1:6; 2:8. The destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans is said to be for the iniquity of the priests that shed the blood of the just, Lam. 4:13. Note, Wicked priests are generally the worst of men. The better any thing is, the worse it is when it is corrupted. Lay persecutors have been generally found more compassionate than ecclesiastics. These priests were very eager and noisy in their accusation; but Christ answered nothing, v. 3. When Pilate urged him to clear himself, and was desirous he should (v. 4), yet still he stood mute (v. 5), he answered nothing, which Pilate thought very strange. He gave Pilate a direct answer (v. 2), but would not answer the prosecutors and witnesses, because the things they alleged, were notoriously false, and he knew Pilate himself was convinced they were so. Note, As Christ spoke to admiration, so he kept silence to admiration.
  • V. The proposal Pilate made to the people, to have Jesus released to them, since it was the custom of the feast to grace the solemnity with the release of one prisoner. The people expected and demanded that he should do as he had ever done to them (v. 8); it was not an ill usage, but they would have it kept up. Now Pilate perceived that the chief priests delivered up Jesus for envy, because he had got such a reputation among the people as eclipsed theirs, v. 10. It was easy to see, comparing the eagerness of the prosecutors with the slenderness of the proofs, that it was not his guilt, but his goodness, not any thing mischievous or scandalous, but something meritorious and glorious, that they were provoked at. And therefore, hearing how much he was the darling of the crowd, he thought that he might safely appeal from the priests to the people, and that they would be proud of rescuing him out of the priests' hands; and he proposed an expedient for their doing it without danger of an uproar; let them demand him to be released, and Pilate will be ready to do it, and stop the mouths of the priests with this-that the people insisted upon his release. There was indeed another prisoner, one Barabbas, that had an interest, and would have some votes; but he questioned not but Jesus would out-poll him.
  • VI. The unanimous outrageous clamours of the people have Christ put to death, and particularly to have him crucified. It was a great surprise to Pilate, when he found the people so much under the influence of the priests, that they all agreed to desire that Barabbas might be released, v. 11. Pilate opposed it all he could; "What will ye that I shall do to him whom ye call the King of the Jews? Would not ye then have him released too?' v. 12. No, say they, Crucify him. The priests having put that in their mouths, the insist upon it; when Pilate objected, Why, what evil has he done? (a very material question in such a case), they did not pretend to answer it, but cried out more exceedingly, as they were more and more instigated and irritated by the priests, Crucify him, crucify him. Now the priests, who were very busy dispersing themselves and their creatures among the mob, to keep up the cry, promised themselves that it would influence Pilate two ways to condemn him.
    • 1. It might incline him to believe Christ guilty, when there was so general an out-cry against him. "Surely,' might Pilate think, "he must needs be a bad man, whom all the world is weary of.' He would now conclude that he had been misinformed, when he was told what an interest he had in the people, and that the matter was not so. But the priest had hurried on the prosecution with so much expedition, that we may suppose that they who were Christ's friends, and would have opposed this cry, were at the other end of the town, and knew nothing of the matter. Note, It has been the common artifice of Satan, to put Christ and his religion into an ill name, and so to run them down. When once this sect, as they called it, comes to be every where spoken against, though without cause, then that is looked upon as cause enough to condemn it. But let us judge of persons and things by their merits, and the standard of God's word, and not prejudge by common fame and the cry of the country.
    • 2. It might induce him to condemn Christ, to please the people, and indeed for fear of displeasing them. Though he was not so weak as to be governed by their opinion, to believe him guilty, yet he was so wicked as to be swayed by their outrage, to condemn him, though he believed him innocent; induced thereunto by reasons of state, and the wisdom of the world. Our Lord Jesus dying as a sacrifice for the sins of many, he fell a sacrifice to the rage of many.

Mar 15:15-21

Here,

  • I. Pilate, to gratify the Jews' malice, delivers Christ to be crucified, v. 15. Willing to content the people, to do enough for them (so the word is), and make them easy, that he might keep them quiet, he released Barabbas unto them, who was the scandal and plague of their nation, and delivered Jesus to be crucified, who was the glory and blessing of their nation. Though he had scourged him before, hoping that would content them, and then not designing to crucify him, yet he went on to that; for no wonder that he who could persuade himself to chastise one that was innocent (Lu. 23:16), could by degrees persuade himself to crucify him.
    Christ was crucified, for that was,
    • 1. A bloody death, and without blood no remission, Heb. 9:22. The blood is the life (Gen. 9:4); it is the vehicle of the animal spirits, which connect the soul and body, so that the exhausting of the blood is the exhausting of the life. Christ was to lay down his life for us, and therefore shed his blood. Blood made atonement for the soul (Lev. 17:11), and therefore in every sacrifice of propitiation special order was given for the pouring out of the blood, and the sprinkling of that before the Lord. Now, that Christ might answer all these types, he shed his blood.
    • 2. It was a painful death; the pains were exquisite and acute, for death made its assaults upon the vitals by the exterior parts, which are quickest of sense. Christ died, so as that he might feel himself die, because he was to be both the priest and the sacrifice; so that he might be active in dying; because he was to make his soul an offering for sin. Tully calls crucifixion, Teterrimum supplicium-A most tremendous punishment: Christ would meet death in its greatest terror, and so conquer it.
    • 3. It was a shameful death, the death of slaves, and the vilest malefactors; so it was accounted among the Romans. The cross and the shame are put together. God having been injured in his honour by the sin of man, it is in his honour that Christ makes him satisfaction, not only by denying himself in, and divesting himself of, the honours due to his divine nature, for a time, but by submitting the greatest reproach and ignominy the human nature was capable of being loaded with. Yet this was not the worst.
    • 4. It was a cursed death; thus it was branded by the Jewish law (Deu. 21:23); He that is hanged, is accursed of God, is under a particular mark of God's displeasure. It was the death that Saul's sons were put to, when the guilt of their father' bloody house was to be expiated, 2 Sa. 21:6. Haman and his sons were hanged, Esth. 7:10; 9:13. We do not read any of the prophets of the Old Testament that were hanged; but now that Christ has submitted to be hanged upon a tree, the reproach and curse of that kind of death are quite rolled away, so that it ought to be any hindrance to the comfort of those who die either innocently or penitently, nor any diminution from, but rather an addition to, the glory of those who die martyrs for Christ, to be as he was, hanged upon a tree.
  • II. Pilate, to gratify the gay humour of the Roman soldiers, delivered him to them, to be abused and spitefully treated, while they were preparing for the execution. They called together the whole regiment that was then in waiting, and they went into an inner hall, where they ignominiously abused our Lord Jesus, as a king, just as in the high priest's hall his servants had ignominiously abused him as a Prophet and Saviour.
    • 1. Do kings wear robes of purple or scarlet? They clothed him with purple. This abuse done to Christ in his apparel should be an intimation to Christians, not to make the putting on of apparel their adorning, 1 Pt. 3:4. Shall a purple or scarlet robe be matter of pride to a Christian, which was matter of reproach and shame to Christ.
    • 2. Do kings wear crowns? They platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head. A crown of straw, or rushes, would have been banter enough; but this was pain also. He wore the crown of thorns which we had deserved, that we might wear the crown of glory which he merited. Let us be taught by these thorns, as Gideon taught the men of Succoth, to hate sin, and be uneasy under it, and to be in love with Jesus Christ, who is here a lily among thorns. If we be at any time afflicted with a thorn in the flesh, let it be our comfort, that our high priest is touched with the feelings of our infirmities, having himself known what thorns in the flesh meant.
    • 3. Are kings attended with the acclamations of their subjects, O king, live for ever? That also is mimicked; they saluted him with "Hail, King of the Jews; such a prince, and such a people, even good enough for one another.'
    • 4. Kings have sceptres put into their hand, marks of dominion, as the crown is of dignity; to imitate this, they put a reed in his right hand. Those that despise the authority of Jesus Christ, as not to be observed and obeyed, who regard not either the precepts of his word, or the threatenings of his wrath, do, in effect, put a reed in his hand; nay, and, as these here, smite him on the head with it, such is the indignity they do him.
    • 5. Subjects, when they swear allegiance, were wont to kiss their sovereign; and this they offered to do, but, instead of that, spit upon him.
    • 6. Kings used to be addressed upon the knee; and this also they brought into the jest, they bowed the knee, and worshipped him; this they did in scorn, to make themselves and one another laugh. We were by sin become liable to everlasting shame and contempt, to deliver us from which, our Lord Jesus submitted to this shame and contempt for us. He was thus mocked, not in his own clothes, but in another's, to signify that he suffered not for his own sin; the crime was ours, the shame his. Those who pretend subjection to Christ, but at the same time give themselves up to the service of the world and the flesh, do, in effect, the same that they did, who bowed the knee to him in mockery, and abused him with, Hail, king of the Jews, when they said, We have no king but Caesar. Those that bow the knee to Christ, but do not bow the soul, that draw nigh to him with their mouths, and honour him with their lips, but their hearts are far from him, put the same affront upon him that these here did.
  • III. The soldiers, at the hour appointed, led him away from Pilate's judgment-hall to the place of execution (v. 20), as a sheep to the slaughter; he was led forth with the workers of iniquity, though he did no sin. But lest his death, under the load of his cross, which he was to carry, should prevent the further cruelties they intended, they compelled one Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross for him. He passed by, coming out of the country or out of the fields, not thinking of any such matter. Note, We must not think it strange, if crosses come upon us suddenly, and we be surprised by them. The cross was a very troublesome unwieldy load: but he that carried it a few minutes, had the honour to have his name upon the record in the book of God, though otherwise an obscure person; so that, wherever this gospel is preached; so that, wherever this gospel is preached, there shall this be told for a memorial to him: in like manner, though no affliction, no cross, for the present, be joyous, but grievous, yet afterward it yields a crown of glory to them that are exercised thereby.

Mar 15:22-32

We have here the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus.

  • I. The place where he was crucified; it was called Golgotha-the place of a scull: some think, because of the heads of malefactors that were there cut off: it was the common place of execution, as Tyburn, for he was in all respects numbered with the transgressors. I know not how to give any credit to it, but divers of the ancients mention it as a current tradition, that in this place our first father Adam was buried, and they think it highly congruous that there Christ should be crucified; for as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. Tertullian, Origen, Chrysostom, and Epiphanius (great names), take notice of it; nay, Cyprian adds, Creditur âpiis-Many good people believe that the blood of Christ crucified did trickle down upon the scull of Adam, who was buried in the same place. Something more credible is the tradition, that this mount Calvary was that mountain in the land of Moriah (and in the land of Moriah it certainly was, for so the country about Jerusalem was called), on which Isaac was to be offered; and the ram was offered instead of him; and then Abraham had an eye to this day of Christ, when he called the place Jehovah-jireh-The Lord will provide, expecting that so it would be seen in the mount of the Lord.
  • II. The time when he was crucified; it was the third hour, v. 25. He was brought before Pilate about the sixth hour (Jn. 19:14), according to the Roman way of reckoning, which John uses, with which ours at this day agrees, that is at six o'clock in the morning; and then, at the third hour, according to the Jews' way of reckoning, that is, about nine of the clock in the morning, or soon after, they nailed him to the cross. Dr. Lightfoot thinks the third hour is here mentioned, to intimate an aggravation of the wickedness of the priests, they were here prosecuting Christ to the death, though it was after the third hour, when they ought to have been attending the service of the temple, and offering the peace-offerings; it being the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, when there was to be a holy convocation. At that very time, when they should have been, according to the duty of their place, presiding in the public devotions, were they here venting their malice against the Lord Jesus; yet these were the men that seemed so zealous for the temple, and condemned Christ for speaking against it. Note, There are many who pretend to be for the church, who yet care not how seldom they go to church.
  • III. The indignities that were done him, when he was nailed to the cross; as if that had not been ignominious enough, they added several things to the ignominy of it.
    • 1. It being the custom to give wine to persons that were to be put to death, they mingled his with myrrh, which was bitter, and made it nauseous; he tasted it, but would not drink it; was willing to admit the bitterness of it, but not the benefit of it.
    • 2. The garments of those that were crucified, being, as with us, the executioners' fee, the soldiers cast lots upon his garments (v. 24), threw dice (as our soldiers do upon a drum-head), for them: so making themselves merry with his misery, and sitting at their sport while he was hanging in pain.
    • 3. They set up a superscription over his head, by which they intended to reproach him, but really did him both justice and honour, The king of the Jews, v. 26. Here was no crime alleged, but his sovereignty owned. Perhaps Pilate meant to cast disgrace upon Christ as a baffled king, or upon the Jews, who by their importunity had forced him, against his conscience, to condemn Christ, as a people that deserved no better a king than he seemed to be: however, God intended it to be the proclaiming even of Christ upon the cross, the king of Israel; though Pilate know not what he wrote, any more than Caiaphas what he said, Jn. 11:51. Christ crucified is king of his church, his spiritual Israel; and even then when he hung on the cross, he was like a king, conquering his and his people's enemies, and triumphing over them, Col. 2:15. Now he was writing his laws in his own blood, and preparing his favours for his subjects. Whenever we look unto Christ crucified, we must remember the inscription over his head, that he is a king, and we must give up ourselves to be his subjects, as Israelites indeed.
    • 4. They crucified two thieves with him, one on his right hand, the other on his left, and him in the midst as the worst of the three (v. 27); so great a degree of dishonour did they hereby intend him. And, no doubt, it gave him disturbance too. Some that have been imprisoned in the common gaols, for the testimony of Jesus, have complained of the company of cursing, swearing prisoners, more than any other of the grievances of their prison. Now, in the midst of such our Lord Jesus was crucified; while he lived he had, and there was occasion, associated with sinners, to do them good; and now when he died, he was for the same purpose joined with them, for he came into the world, and went out of it, to save sinners, even the chief. But this evangelist takes particular notice of the fulfilling of the scriptures in it, v. 28. In that famous prediction of Christ's sufferings (Isa. 53:12), it was foretold that he should be numbered with the transgressors, because he was made sin for us.
    • 5. The spectators, that is, the generality of them, instead of condoling with him in his misery, added to it by insulting over him. Surely never was such an instance of barbarous inhumanity toward the vilest malefactor: but thus the devil showed the utmost rage against him, and thus he submitted to the greatest dishonours that could be done him.
      • (1.) Even they that passed by, that were no way concerned, railed on him, v. 29. If their hearts were so hardened, that their compassions were not moved with such a spectacle, yet they should have thought it enough to have their curiosity gratified; but that will not serve: as if they were not only divested of all humanity, but were devils in human shape, they taunted him, and expressed themselves with the utmost detestation of him, and indignation at him, and shot thick at him their arrows, even bitter words. The chief priests, no doubt, put these sarcasms into their mouths, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, now, if thou canst, save thyself, and come down from the cross. They triumph as if now that they had got him to the cross, there were no danger of his destroying the temple; whereas the temple of which he spoke, he was now destroying, and did within three days build it up; and the temple of which they spoke, he did by men, that were his sword and his hand, destroy not many years after. When secure sinners think the danger is over, it is then most ready to seize them: the day of the Lord comes as a thief upon those that deny his coming, and say, Where is the promise of it? much more upon those that defy his coming, and say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work.
      • (2.) Even the chief priests, who, being taken from among men and ordained for men, should have compassion even on those that are out of the way, should be tender of those that are suffering and dying (Heb. 5:1, 2), yet they poured vinegar instead of oil into his wounds, they talked to the grief of him whom God had smitten (Ps. 69:26), they mocked him, they said, He saved others, healed and helped them, but now it appears that it was not by his own power, for himself he cannot save. They challenged him to come down from the cross, if he could, v. 32. Let them but see that, and they would believe; whereas they would not believe, when he gave them a more convincing sign than that, when he came up from the grave. These chief priests, one would think, might now have found themselves other work to do: if they would not go to do their duty in the temple, yet they might have been employed in an office not foreign to their profession; though they would not offer any counsel or comfort to the Lord Jesus, yet they might have given some help to the thieves in their dying moments (the monks and priests in Popish countries are very officious about criminals broken upon the wheel, a death much like that of the cross); but they do not think that their business.
      • (3.) Even they that were crucified with him, reviled him (v. 32); one of them did, so wretchedly was his heart hardened even in the depth of misery, and at the door of eternity.

Mar 15:33-41

Here we have an account of Christ's dying, how his enemies abused him, and God honoured him at his death.

  • I. There was a thick darkness over the whole land (some think over the whole earth), for three hours, from noon till three of the clock. Now the scripture was fulfilled (Amos 8:9), I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day; and Jer. 15:9, Her sun is gone down while it is yet day. The Jews have often demanded of Christ a sign from heaven; and now they had one, but such a one as signified the blinding of their eyes. It was a sign of the darkness that was come, and coming, upon the Jewish church and nation. They were doing their utmost to extinguish the Sun of righteousness, which was now setting, and the rising again of which they would never own; and what then might be expected among them but a worse than Egyptian darkness? This intimated to them, that the things which belonged to their peace, were now hid from their eyes, and that the day of the Lord was at hand, which should be to them a day of darkness and gloominess, Joel 2:1, 2. It was the power of darkness that they were now under, the works of darkness that they were now doing; and such as this should their doom justly be, who loved darkness rather than light.
  • II. Toward the close of this darkness, our Lord Jesus, in the agony of his soul, cried out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? v. 34. The darkness signified the present cloud which the human soul of Christ was under, when he was making it an offering for sin. Mr. Fox, in his Acts and Monuments (vol. 3, p. 160), tells of one Dr. Hunter, a martyr in queen Mary's time, who, being fastened to the stake, to be burnt, put up this short prayer, Son of God, shine upon me; and immediately the sun in the firmament shone out of the dark cloud, so full in his face, that he was forced to look another way, which was very comfortable to him. But our Lord Jesus, on the contrary, was denied the light of the sun, when he was in his sufferings, to signifying the withdrawing of the light of God's countenance. And this he complained of more than any thing; he did not complain of his disciples' forsaking him, but of his Father's,
    • 1. Because this wounded his spirit; and that is a thing hard to bear (Prov. 18:14); brought the waters into his soul, Ps. 69:1-3.
    • 2. Because in this especially he was made sin for us; our iniquities had deserved indignation and wrath upon the soul (Rom. 2:8), and therefore, Christ, being made a sacrifice, underwent as much of it as he was capable of; and it could not but bear hard indeed upon him who had lain in the bosom of the Father from eternity, and was always his light. These symptoms of divine wrath, which Christ was under in his sufferings, were like that fire from heaven which had been sent sometimes, in extraordinary cases, to consume the sacrifices (as Lev. 9:24; 2 Chr. 7:1; 1 Ki. 18:38); and it was always a token of God's acceptance. The fire that should have fallen upon the sinner, if God had not been pacified, fell upon the sacrifice, as a token that he was so; therefore it now fell upon Christ, and extorted him from this loud and bitter cry. When Paul was to be offered as a sacrifice for the service of saints, he could joy and rejoice (Phil. 2:17); but it is another thing to be offered as a sacrifice for the sin of sinners. Now, at the sixth hour, and so to the ninth, the sun was darkened by an extraordinary eclipse; and if it be true, as some astronomers compute, that in the evening of this day on which Christ died there was an eclipse of the moon, that was natural and expected, in which seven digits of the moon were darkened, and it continued from five o'clock till seven, it is remarkable, and yet further significant of the darkness of the time that then was. When the sun shall be darkened, the moon also shall not give her light.
  • III. Christ's prayer was bantered by them that stood by (v. 35, 36); because he cried, Eli, Eli, or (as Mark has it, according to the Syriac dialect) Eloi, Eloi, they said, He calls for Elias, though they knew very well what he said, and what it signified, My God, My God. Thus did they represent him as praying to saints, either because he had abandoned God, or God had abandoned him; and hereby they would make him more and more odious to the people. One of them filled a sponge with vinegar, and reached it up to him upon a reed; "Let him cool his mouth with that, it is a drink good enough for him,' v. 36. This was intended for a further affront and abuse to him; and whoever it was that checked him who did it, did but add to the reproach; "Let him alone; he has called for Elias: let us see whether Elias will come take him down; and if not, we may conclude that he also hath abandoned him.'
  • IV. Christ did again cry with a loud voice, and so gave up the ghost, v. 37. He was now commending his soul into his Father's hand; and though God is not moved with any bodily exercise, yet this loud voice signified the great strength and ardency of affection wherewith he did it; to teach us, in every thing wherein we have to do with God, to put forth our utmost vigour, and to perform all the duties of religion, particularly that of self-resignation, with our whole heart and whole soul; and then, though speech fails, that we cannot cry with a loud voice, as Christ did, yet if God be the strength of the heart, that will not fail. Christ was really and truly dead, for he gave up the ghost; his human soul departed to the world of spirits, and left his body a breathless clod of clay.
  • V. Just at that instant that Christ died upon mount Calvary, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, v. 38. This bespoke a great deal,
    • 1. Of the terror of the unbelieving Jews; for it was a presage of the utter destruction of their church and nation, which followed not long after; it was like the cutting asunder of the staff of beauty (for this veil was exceedingly splendid and glorious, Ex. 26:31), and that was done at the same time when they gave for his price thirty pieces of silver (Zec. 11:10, 12), to break the covenant which he had made with that people. Now it was time to cry, Ichabod, The glory is departed from Israel. Some think that the story which Josephus relates, of the temple door opening of its own accord, with that voice, Let us depart hence, some years before the destruction of Jerusalem, is the same with this; but that is not probable: however, this had the same signification, according to that (Hos. 5:14), I will tear, and go away.
    • 2. It bespeaks a great deal of comfort to all believing Christians, for it signifies the consecrating and laying open to us of a new and living way into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
  • VI. The centurion who commanded the detachment which had the oversight of the execution was convinced, and confessed that this Jesus was the Son of God, v. 39. One thing that satisfied him, was, that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost: that one who was ready to give up the ghost, should be able to cry out so, was very surprising. Of all the sad spectacles of this kind he never observed the like; and that one who had strength to cry so loud, should yet immediately give up the ghost, this also made him wonder; and he said, to the honour of Christ, and the shame of those that abused him, Truly this man was the Son of God. But what reason had he to say so? I answer,
    • 1. He had reason to say that he suffered unjustly, and had a great deal of wrong done him. Note, He suffered for saying that he was the Son of God; and it was true, he did say so, so that if he suffered unjustly, as it was plain by all the circumstances of his suffering that he did, then what he said was true, and he was indeed the Son of God.
    • 2. He had reason to say that he was a favourite of heaven, and one for whom the almighty power was particularly engaged, seeing how Heaven did him honour at his death, and frowned upon his persecutors. "Surely,' thinks he, "this must be some divine person, highly beloved of God.' This he expresses by such words as denote his eternal generation as God, and his special designation to the office of Mediator, though he meant not so. Our Lord Jesus, even in the depth of his sufferings and humiliation, was the Son of God, and was declared to be so with power.
  • VII. There were some of his friends, the good women especially, that attended him (v. 40, 41); There were women looking on afar off: the men durst not be seen at all, the mob was so very outrageous; Currenti cede furori-Give way to the raging torrent, they thought, was good counsel now. The women durst not come near, but stood at a distance, overwhelmed with grief. Some of these women are here named. Mary Magdalene was one; she had been his patient, and owed all her comfort to his power and goodness, which rescued her out of the possession of seven devils, in gratitude for which she thought she could never do enough for him. Mary also was there, the mother of James the little, Jacobus parvus, so the word is; probably, he was so called because he was, like Zaccheus, little of stature. This Mary was the wife of Cleophas or Alpheus, sister to the virgin Mary. These women had followed Christ from Galilee, though they were not required to attend the feast, as the males were; but it is probably that they came, in expectation that his temporal kingdom would now shortly be set up, and big with hopes of preferment for themselves, and their relations under him. It is plain that the mother of Zebedee's children was so (Mt. 20:21); and now to see him upon a cross, whom they thought to have seen upon a throne, could not but be a great disappointment to them. Note, Those that follow Christ, in expectation of great things in this world by him, and by the profession of his religion, may probably live to see themselves sadly disappointed.

Mar 15:42-47

We are here attending the funeral of our Lord Jesus, a solemn, mournful funeral. O that we may by grace be planted in the likeness of it! Observe,

  • I. How the body of Christ was begged. It was, as the dead bodies of malefactors are, at the disposal of the government. Those that hurried him to the cross, designed that he should make his grave with the wicked; but God designed he should make it with the rich (Isa. 53:9), and so he did. We are here told,
    • 1. When the body of Christ was begged, in order to its being buried, and why such haste was made with the funeral; The even was come, and it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, v. 42. The Jews were more strict in the observation of the sabbath than of any other feast; and therefore, though this day was itself a feast-day, yet they observed it more religiously as the eve of the sabbath; when they prepared their houses and tables for the splendid and joyful solemnizing of the sabbath day. Note, The day before the sabbath should be a day of preparation for the sabbath, not of our houses and tables, but of our hearts, which, as much as possible, should be freed from the cares and business of the world, and fixed, and put in frame for the service and enjoyment of God. Such work is to be done, and such advantages are to be gained on the sabbath day, that it is requisite we should get ready for it a day before; nay, the whole week should be divided between the improvement of the foregoing sabbath and the preparation for the following sabbath.
    • 2. Who was it that begged the body, and took care for the decent interment of it; it was Joseph of Arimathea, who is here called an honourable counsellor (v. 43), a person of character and distinction, and in an office of public trust; some think in the state, and that he was one of Pilate's privy council; his post rather seems to have been in the church, he was one of the great Sanhedrim of the Jews, or one of the high priest's council. He was euscheµmoµn bouleuteµs-a counsellor that conducted himself in his place as did become him. Those are truly honourable, and those only, in place of power and trust, who make conscience of their duty, and whose deportment is agreeable to their preferment. But here is a more shining character put upon him; he was one that waited for the kingdom of God, the kingdom of grace on earth, and of glory in heaven, the kingdom of the Messiah. Note, Those who wait for the kingdom of God, and hope for an interest in the privileges of it, must show it by their forwardness to own Christ's cause and interest, even then when it seems to be crushed and run down. Observe, Even among the honourable counsellors there were some, there was one at least, that waited for the kingdom of God, whose faith will condemn the unbelief of all the rest. This man God raised up for this necessary service, when none of Christ's disciples could, or durst, undertake it, having neither purse, nor interest, nor courage, for it. Joseph went in boldly to Pilate; though he knew how much it would affront the chief priests, who had loaded him with so much reproach, to see any honour done him, yet he put on courage; perhaps at first he was a little afraid, but tolmeµsas-taking heart on it, he determined to show this respect to the remains of the Lord Jesus, let the worst come to the worst.
    • 3. What a surprise it was to Pilate, to hear that he was dead (Pilate, perhaps, expecting that he would have saved himself, and come down from the cross), especially that he was already dead, that one who seemed to have more than ordinary vigour, should so soon yield to death. Every circumstance of Christ's dying was marvellous; for from first to last his name was called Wonderful. Pilate doubted (so some understand it) whether he was yet dead or no, fearing lest he should be imposed upon, and the body should be taken down alive, and recovered, whereas the sentence was, as with us, to hang till the body be dead. He therefore called the centurion, his own officer, and asked him whether he had been any while dead (v. 44), whether it was so long since they perceived any sign of life in him, any breath or motion, that they might conclude he was dead past recall. The centurion could assure him of this, for he had particularly observed how he gave up the ghost, v. 39. There was a special providence in it, that Pilate should be so strict in examining this, that there might be no pretence to say that he was buried alive, and so to take away the truth of his resurrection; and so fully was this determined, that the objection was never started. Thus the truth of Christ gains confirmation, sometimes, even from its enemies.
  • II. How the body of Christ was buried. Pilate gave Joseph leave to take down the body, and do what he pleased with it. It was a wonder the chief priests were not too quick for him, and had not first begged the body of Pilate, to expose it and drag it about the streets, but that remainder of their wrath did God restrain, and gave that invaluable prize to Joseph, who knew how to value it; and the hearts of the priests were so influenced, that they did not oppose it. Sit divus, modo non sit vivus-We care not for his being adored, provided he be not revived.
    • 1. Joseph bought fine linen to wrap the body in, though in such a case old linen that had been worn might have been thought sufficient. In paying respects to Christ it becomes us to be generous, and to serve him with the best that can be got, not with that which can be got at the best hand.
    • 2. He took down the body, mangled and macerated as it was, and wrapt it in the linen as a treasure of great worth. Our Lord Jesus hath commanded himself to be delivered to us sacramentally in the ordinance of the Lord's supper, which we should receive in such a manner as may best express our love to him who loved us and died for us.
    • 3. He laid it in a sepulchre of his own, in a private place. We sometimes find it spoken of in the story of the kings of Judah, as a slur upon the memory of the wicked kings, that they were not buried in the sepulchres of the kings; our Lord Jesus, though he did no evil but much good, and to him was given the throne of his father David, yet was buried in the graves of the common people, for it was not in this world, but in the other, that his rest was glorious. The sepulchre belonged to Joseph. Abraham when he had no other possession in the land of Canaan, yet had a burying-place, but Christ had not so much as that. This sepulchre was hewn out of a rock, for Christ died to make the grave a refuge and shelter to the saints, and being hewn out of a rock, it is a strong refuge. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave! Christ himself is a hiding place to his people, that is, as the shadow of a great rock.
    • 4. He rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre, for so the manner of the Jews was to bury. When Daniel was put into the lion's den, a stone was laid to the mouth of it to keep him in, as here to the door of Christ's sepulchre, but neither of them could keep off the angels' visits to the prisoners.
    • 5. Some of the good women attended the funeral, and beheld where he was laid, that they might come after the sabbath to anoint the dead body, because they had not time to do it now. When Moses, the mediator and lawgiver of the Jewish church, was buried, care was taken that no man should know of his sepulchre (Deu. 34:6), because the respect of the people towards his person were to die with him; but when our great Mediator and Lawgiver was buried, special notice was taken of his sepulchre, because he was to rise again: and the care taken of his body, bespeaks the care which he himself will take concerning his body the church. Even when it seems to be a dead body, and as a valley full of dry bones, it shall be preserved in order to a resurrection; as shall also the dead bodies of the saints, with whose dust there is a covenant in force which shall not be forgotten. Our mediations on Christ's burial should lead us to think of our own, and should help to make the grave familiar to us, and so to render that bed easy which we must shortly make in the darkness. Frequent thoughts of it would not only take off the dread and terror of it, but quicken us, since the graves are always ready for us, to get ready for the graves, Job 17:1.