Mark · Chapter 15
Mark 15
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain · Source credits
Jesus Delivered to Pilate
(Matthew 27:1–2)
1Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.*
2So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
3And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.
4Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”
5But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
(Matthew 27:15–23; Luke 23:13–25)
6Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.*
7And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.
8So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom.
9“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.
10For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.
11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.
Pilate Delivers Up Jesus
(Matthew 27:24–26)
12So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”
13And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!”
14“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
15And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
(Isaiah 50:4–11; Matthew 27:27–31; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)
16Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the whole company together.
17They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head.
18And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
19They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.
20After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.
The Crucifixion
(Psalms 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–27)
21Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
22They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull.
23There they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it.
24And they crucified Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.*
25It was the third hour when they crucified Him.*
26And the charge inscribed against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left.*
29And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30come down from the cross and save Yourself!”
31In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself!
32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.
The Death of Jesus
(Psalms 22:1–31; Matthew 27:45–56; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30)
33From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.*
34At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”*
35When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.”
36And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”*
37But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.
38And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”*
40And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.*
41These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.
The Burial of Jesus
(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)
42Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),
43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
44Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so.
45When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
46So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.
47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where His body was placed.*
Source notes
- 15:1 Or the whole Council
- 15:6 Literally Now at the feast he would release to them
- 15:24 See Psalms 22:18. Read Psalms 22:18
- 15:25 That is, nine in the morning
- 15:27 Or insurrectionists BYZ and TR include 28 So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.” See Isaiah 53:12 and Luke 22:37. Read Isaiah 53:12 Read Luke 22:37
- 15:33 That is, from noon until three in the afternoon
- 15:34 Psalms 22:1 Read Psalms 22:1
- 15:36 Or a sponge with wine vinegar See Psalms 69:21. Read Psalms 69:21
- 15:39 BYZ and TR saw how, having cried out, He had breathed His last
- 15:40 Joses is a variant of Joseph; see Matthew 27:56. Read Matthew 27:56
- 15:47 Or Joses
Old Testament references
References from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Text from the Berean Standard Bible.
Psalms 22:18They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
Isaiah 53:12Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
Psalms 22:1My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?
Psalms 69:21They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.
Psalms 2:2The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:
Isaiah 53:7He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
Psalms 71:7I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge.
Isaiah 8:18Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
Zechariah 3:8Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.
Genesis 4:4while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
Genesis 4:5but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 4:6“Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen?
Genesis 37:11And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.
1 Samuel 18:8And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”
1 Samuel 18:9And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.