The Gospel According to St. Mark

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- Chapter 15 -

(Matthew 27:1–2)

And immediately in the morning, after the leaders of the priests had taken counsel with the elders and the scribes and the entire council, binding Jesus, they led him away and delivered him to Pilate.

And Pilate questioned him, “You are the king of the Jews?” But in response, he said to him, “You are saying it.”

And the leaders of the priests accused him in many things.

Then Pilate again questioned him, saying: “Do you not have any response? See how greatly they accuse you.”

But Jesus continued to give no response, so that Pilate wondered.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

(Matthew 27:15–23; Luke 23:13–25)

Now on the feast day, he was accustomed to release to them one of the prisoners, whomever they requested.

But there was one called Barabbas, who had committed murder in the sedition, who was confined with those of the sedition.

And when the crowd had ascended, they began to petition him to do as he always did for them.(a)

But Pilate answered them and said, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”

For he knew that it was out of envy that the leaders of the priests had betrayed him.

Then the chief priests incited the crowd, so that he would release Barabbas to them instead.

Pilate Delivers Up Jesus

(Matthew 27:24–26)

But Pilate, responding again, said to them: “Then what do you want me to do with the king of the Jews?”

But again they cried out, “Crucify him.”

Yet truly, Pilate said to them: “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify him.”

Then Pilate, wishing to satisfy the people, released Barabbas to them, and he delivered Jesus, having severely scourged him, to be crucified.(b)

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

(Isaiah 50:4–11; Matthew 27:27–31; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)

Then the soldiers led him away to the court of the praetorium. And they called together the entire cohort.

And they clothed him with purple. And platting a crown of thorns, they placed it on him.

And they began to salute him: “Hail, king of the Jews.”

And they struck his head with a reed, and they spit on him. And kneeling down, they reverenced him.

And after they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple, and they clothed him in his own garments. And they led him away, so that they might crucify him.

The Crucifixion

(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–27)

And they compelled a certain passerby, Simon the Cyrenian, who was arriving from the countryside, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to take up his cross.

And they led him through to the place called Golgotha, which means, ‘the Place of Calvary.’

And they gave him wine with myrrh to drink. But he did not accept it.

And while crucifying him, they divided his garments, casting lots over them, to see who would take what.

Now it was the third hour. And they crucified him.(c)

And the title of his case was written as: The king of the Jews.

And with him they crucified two robbers: one at his right, and the other at his left.

And the scripture was fulfilled, which says: “And with the iniquitous he was reputed.”

And the passersby blasphemed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ah, you who would destroy the temple of God, and in three days rebuild it,

save yourself by descending from the cross.”

And similarly the leaders of the priests, mocking him with the scribes, said to one another: “He saved others. He is not able to save himself.

Let the Christ, the king of Israel, descend now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.

The Death of Jesus

(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:45–56; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30)

And when the sixth hour arrived, a darkness occurred over the entire earth, until the ninth hour.

And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

And some of those standing near, upon hearing this, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”

Then one of them, running and filling a sponge with vinegar, and placing it around a reed, gave it to him to drink, saying: “Wait. Let us see if Elijah will come to take him down.”(d)

Then Jesus, having emitted a loud cry, expired.

And the veil of the temple was torn in two, from the top to the bottom.

Then the centurion who stood opposite him, seeing that he had expired while crying out in this way, said: “Truly, this man was the Son of God.”(e)

Now there were also women watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome,

(and while he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him) and many other women, who had ascended along with him to Jerusalem.

The Burial of Jesus

(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)

And when evening had now arrived (because it was the Preparation Day, which is before the Sabbath)

there arrived Joseph of Arimathea, a noble council member, who himself was also awaiting the kingdom of God. And he boldly entered to Pilate and petitioned for the body of Jesus.

But Pilate wondered if he had already died. And summoning a centurion, he questioned him as to whether he was already dead.

And when he had been informed by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

Then Joseph, having bought a fine linen cloth, and taking him down, wrapped him in the fine linen and laid him in a sepulcher, which was hewn from a rock. And he rolled a stone to the entrance of the tomb.

Now Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph observed where he was laid.

Footnotes

(a)15:8 At the time of the Passover, most of the Jews visiting Jerusalem were camped out around the city. Then they would ascend to the city, which was built on elevated land, on Mount Zion, to attend the feast.(Conte)

(b)15:15 The term ‘flagellis cæsum’ indicates a severe scourging, not merely any scourging.(Conte)

(c)15:25 The third hour:The ancient account divided the day into four parts, which were named from the hour from which they began; the first, third, sixth, and ninth hour. Our Lord was crucified a little before noon; before the third hour had quite expired; but when the sixth hour was near at hand.(Challoner)

(d)15:36 It seems from Matthew that the person saying ‘Wait’ was not the person with the reed.(Conte)

(e)15:39 The centurion was convinced that Jesus was THE Son of God, not merely A son of God, otherwise, such an assertion would not be remarkable.(Conte)

(Matthew 27:1–2)

Immediately 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.

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

The chief priests accused him of many things.

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

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

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

(Matthew 27:15–23; Luke 23:13–25)

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

There was one called Barabbas, bound with his fellow insurgents, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.

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

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

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

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

Pilate Delivers Up Jesus

(Matthew 27:24–26)

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

They cried out again, “Crucify him!”

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

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

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

(Isaiah 50:4–11; Matthew 27:27–31; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)

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

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

They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

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

When 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.

The Crucifixion

(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–27)

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.

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

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

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

It was the third hour

(a)

when they crucified him.

The superscription of his accusation was written over him: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

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

The Scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was counted with transgressors.”(b)

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

save yourself, and come down from the cross!”

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

Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him.”(c) Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.

The Death of Jesus

(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:45–56; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30)

When the sixth hour

(d)

had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.(e)

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?” (f)

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

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.”

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

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

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!”

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;

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

The Burial of Jesus

(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)

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

Joseph 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.

Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long.

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

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.

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

Footnotes

(a)15:25 a.m.

(b)15:28 NU omits verse 28.

(d)15:33 or, noon

(e)15:33 p.m.

(f)15:34 ℘ Psalms 22:1