Mark 15: Jesus before Pilate, the cross, and the tomb
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
The chief priests and the whole council hand Jesus over to Pilate. Pilate asks if he is the King of the Jews, releases Barabbas at the crowd's request, and has Jesus flogged and handed over to be crucified. The soldiers mock him, he is crucified between two robbers, cries out and dies, and the veil of the temple is torn in two. Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for the body and lays it in a tomb cut out of rock.
Who is speaking?
No verse is in gold. The narrator tells the story. Pilate speaks in verses 2, 4, 9, 12 and 14, and Jesus answers him in verse 2. The crowd cries out in verses 13 and 14, and the soldiers speak in verse 18. Those passing by speak in verses 29 and 30, and the chief priests and scribes in verses 31 and 32. Jesus cries out in verse 34, some bystanders speak in verse 35, one man speaks in verse 36, and the centurion speaks in verse 39. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders, scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, bound Jesus, carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.
In plain English: Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the scribes and the whole council, held a consultation. They tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.
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2Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered, “So you say.”
In plain English: Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "So you say."
Good to know: The Greek for "So you say" is two words, sy legeis, word for word "You say". It does not say whether Jesus agrees. In his answer to the high priest is "I am."
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3The chief priests accused him of many things.
In plain English: The chief priests accused him of many things.
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4Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!”
In plain English: Pilate asked him again, "Do you not answer anything? See how many things they testify against you."
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5But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled.
In plain English: But Jesus no longer answered anything, so Pilate was amazed.
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6Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whomever they asked of him.
In plain English: At the feast Pilate used to release to them one prisoner, whichever one they asked for.
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7There was one called Barabbas, bound with his fellow insurgents, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.
In plain English: There was a man called Barabbas, tied up with the men who had rebelled with him. In the rebellion they had committed murder.
Good to know: The dictionary gives the name Barabbas as "son of Abba". Mark says he was tied up with fellow insurgents who had committed murder in the insurrection. says he was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city and for murder. says he was a robber. They are set side by side here and not joined.
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8The multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them.
In plain English: The crowd cried aloud and began to ask him to do for them what he always did.
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9Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
In plain English: Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?"
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10For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.
In plain English: He knew that the chief priests had handed Jesus over because of envy.
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11But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead.
In plain English: But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that Pilate would release Barabbas to them instead.
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12Pilate again asked them, “What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?”
In plain English: Pilate answered again and said to them, "Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?"
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13They cried out again, “Crucify him!”
In plain English: They shouted back, "Crucify him!"
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14Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!”
In plain English: Pilate said to them, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they shouted even louder, "Crucify him!"
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15Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.
In plain English: Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd, so he released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
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16The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort.
In plain English: The soldiers led Jesus away into the courtyard of the palace, which is called the Praetorium. They called together the whole cohort (a group of soldiers).
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17They clothed him with purple; and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him.
In plain English: They put a purple robe on him, twisted together a crown of thorns, and placed it on him.
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18They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
In plain English: They began to greet him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
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19They struck his head with a reed and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him.
In plain English: They kept striking his head with a reed and spitting on him. They bent their knees and bowed down to him (or: did homage to him).
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20When they had mocked him, they took the purple cloak off him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him.
In plain English: When they had mocked him, they took the purple robe off him and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
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21They 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.
In plain English: A man named Simon, from Cyrene, was passing by on his way in from the country. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. They forced him to carry Jesus's cross.
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22They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, “The place of a skull.”
In plain English: They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means "The place of a skull."
Good to know: Golgotha is an Aramaic name, and Mark gives its meaning in Greek: kranion topos, "place of a skull". The dictionary gives kranion as "a skull". Mark says only that the name means this, not why the place was called so.
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23They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn’t take it.
In plain English: They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he did not take it.
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24Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take.
In plain English: They crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, throwing lots for them to decide what each one would take.
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25It was the third hour when they crucified him.
In plain English: It was the third hour when they crucified him.
Good to know: Mark marks the day by hours: the third hour here, the sixth hour in , the ninth hour in , and evening in .
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26The superscription of his accusation was written over him: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
In plain English: The written charge against him was written above him: "THE KING OF THE JEWS."
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27With him they crucified two robbers, one on his right hand, and one on his left.
In plain English: With him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.
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28The Scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was counted with transgressors.”
In plain English: So the Scripture came true (or: was fulfilled) which says, "He was counted with transgressors."
Good to know: The words "counted with transgressors" are close to in the World English Bible: "was counted with the transgressors". Mark says the Scripture "was fulfilled" and names no passage.
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29Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,
In plain English: People passing by insulted him, shaking their heads and saying, "Ha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,
Good to know: Words like these were spoken against Jesus at his trial in : "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands." The people passing by say it here as an insult.
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30save yourself, and come down from the cross!”
In plain English: save yourself and come down from the cross!"
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31Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, “He saved others. He can’t save himself.
In plain English: In the same way the chief priests, mocking him among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others. He cannot save himself.
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32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him.” Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.
In plain English: Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe him." Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.
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33When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
In plain English: When the sixth hour came, darkness came over the whole land (or: earth) until the ninth hour.
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34At 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?”
In plain English: At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken (or: left behind) me?"
Good to know: Mark gives the cry in Aramaic and then says what it means. begins "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" In the Hebrew text the first two words are Eli, Eli, and Mark writes Eloi, Eloi. The Byzantine Greek spells the third word lima, where the World English Bible has "lama".
The Greek word: "Forsaken" is enkataleipo, which the dictionary gives as "to leave behind in some place, i.e. (in a good sense) let remain over, or (in a bad sense) to desert".
How it is translated: In Mark this word is in 1 verse, this one. In the whole New Testament it is in 9 verses, and the World English Bible has a form of "forsake" in 5 of them, "left" in 3 and "leave" in 2 (one verse uses two of these words).
What changes: Read as "left behind", Jesus asks why he has been left in this place. Read as "forsaken" or "deserted", he asks why God has left him. The plain line gives both.
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35Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”
In plain English: Some of those standing there heard it and said, "Look, he is calling Elijah."
Good to know: The bystanders say he is calling Elijah. The Greek name for Elijah is Elias, and the cry in the Byzantine Greek begins Eloi. The text gives only what they said.
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36One 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.”
In plain English: One man ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. He said, "Let him be (or: Wait). Let us see whether Elijah comes to take him down."
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37Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit.
In plain English: Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
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38The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
In plain English: The veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
The Greek word: "Veil" is katapetasma, which the dictionary gives as "something spread thoroughly, i.e. (specially) the door screen (to the Most Holy Place) in the Jewish Temple".
How it is translated: In Mark this word is in 1 verse, this one. In the whole New Testament it is in 6 verses, and the World English Bible has "veil" in all 6.
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39When 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!”
In plain English: The centurion was standing opposite Jesus. When he saw that Jesus cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God (or: a son of God)!"
The Greek words: In the Greek, "Son of God" is huios theou with no word for "the" in front of huios. Word for word it reads "son was of God".
How it is translated: The World English Bible has "the Son of God" here. It could also be written "a son of God".
What changes: Read as "the Son of God", the centurion gives Jesus that title. Read as "a son of God", he says Jesus was a son of God. The plain line gives both, and the verse does not say which he meant.
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40There 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;
In plain English: There were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger (or: the less) and of Joses, and Salome.
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41who, when he was in Galilee, followed him and served him; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
In plain English: When Jesus was in Galilee, these women had followed him and served him. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were there too.
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42When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
In plain English: Evening had come. It was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath.
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43Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for God’s Kingdom, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.
In plain English: Joseph of Arimathea came. He was a respected member of the council, and he was also waiting for the Kingdom of God. He found the courage to go in to Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus.
The Greek words: "God's Kingdom" is basileia tou theou. The dictionary gives basileia as "royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm".
How it is translated: In Mark this word is in 19 verses, and the World English Bible has "kingdom" in all 19.
What changes: Read as "rule", Joseph is waiting for God to rule. Read as "realm", he is waiting for a place that God rules. The text says only that he was waiting for it.
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44Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long.
In plain English: Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead. He called the centurion and asked him whether Jesus had been dead for some time.
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45When he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
In plain English: When Pilate learned it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
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46He 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.
In plain English: Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Jesus down, and wrapped him in the cloth. He laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
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47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid.
In plain English: Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched to see where he was laid.
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