Bible Commentaries
Mark 15

Verse 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.

And straightway in the morning — They thought once to have deferred his execution till after the feast,Mark 14:2; Mark 14:2 . But their malice was restless, as his was that said he would not away till he saw the martyr’s (the traitor’s he called him) heart out.

Verse 2

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

See Trapp on " Matthew 27:1 " See Trapp on " Matthew 27:2 " See Trapp on " Matthew 27:3 "

Verse 6

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.

Now at the feast — Or, at each great feast, καθ εορτην , viz. at the Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. The reason of this custom: See Trapp on " Matthew 27:15 "

Verse 15

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.

When he had scourged him — Purposely to move the people to pity him, and therefore brought him forth so misused, with, "Behold the man." But this was ill done of Pilate nevertheless, as was also his comparing with Barabbas, though with intent so to have delivered him. For we may not do evil that good may come thereof.

Verse 21

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.

And they compel one Simon — αγγαρευουσι , cogunt invitum. We all come off heavily, and shrink in the shoulder when called to carry the cross, as Peter did, John 21:18 .

The father of Alexander and Rufus — Men famously known in the Church, and therefore here but named only. God will recompense even involuntary services.

Verse 22

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

St Mark very diligently describeth what happened at Calvary; what Christ did and said on the cross, what was done and said to him there, how he gave up the ghost, …, that we might have these things as ready, and at our fingers’ ends, as he had who wrote the whole history of our Saviour’s passion upon the nails of his hands.

Verse 23

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

Wine mingled with myrrh — This was not the same potion with that in Mark 15:36 ; Matthew 27:48 , but another.

Verse 25

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.

They crucified him — i.e. they began to crucify him, but nailed him not to the tree till the sixth hour, John 19:14 .

Verse 26

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

See Trapp on " Matthew 27:37 "

Verse 33

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.

Darkness over the whole land — Portending doubtless those dreadful calamities that were coming upon this perverse people, according to Isaiah 5:30 ; Isaiah 8:22 ; Lamentations 3:1-2 ; but clearly showing God’s heavy displeasure against his Son, our surety, which made him also cry out with a loud voice in the next verse, as one so far forsaken, as not afforded the common benefit of sunlight.

Verse 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?

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani — Psalms 22:1 . It is thought by some that he repeated the whole of Psalms 22:1-31 , which is an admirable narration of the passion, and might well help him the better to bear it.

Verse 35

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

See Trapp on " Matthew 27:47 "

Verse 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.

See Trapp on " Matthew 27:48 "

Verse 37

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

He gave up the ghost — After which he went not to Limbus Patrum to preach there, as Papists dote, and would deduce it from 1 Peter 3:19 .

Verse 38

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

See Trapp on " Matthew 27:51 "

Verse 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.

See Trapp on " Matthew 27:54 " See Trapp on " Matthew 27:55 "

Verse 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;

James the less — viz. In stature, note, or age.

Verse 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.

Followed him and ministered — See Luke 8:3 .

Verse 42

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

The day before the sabbath — Their preparation to the sabbath began at three o’clock in the afternoon. The Jews of Tiberias began their sabbath sooner than others; those at Tsepphore continued it longer; adding de profano ad sacrum. (Buxtorf.) Among our forefathers, at the ringing of the bell to prayer on Saturday evening, the husbandman would stop his labour in the field, and the tradesman his work in the shop, and set themselves to prepare for the sabbath. Among the Jews to this day in many cities, there is one goes about and proclaims the approaching of the sabbath, about half an hour before it begins, that they may prepare.

Verse 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.

Went in boldly unto Pilate — It was boldly done indeed, thus to oppose, not the Jews only, but Pilate in that which he had done to Christ. Good blood will not belie itself.

Verse 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.

See Trapp on " Matthew 27:58 "

Verse 45

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

See Trapp on " Matthew 27:58 "

Verse 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.

See Trapp on " Matthew 27:59 " See Trapp on " Matthew 27:60 "

Verse 47

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

See Trapp on " Matthew 27:61 "