Bible Commentaries
Mark 15

Verse 1

straightway . See notes on Mark 1:10 , Mark 1:12 .

in . Greek. epi. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Mark 15:7 , Mark 15:29 , Mark 15:38 , Mar 7:41 , Mar 7:46 .

in the morning = any time before sunrise, while yet dark, Compare Mark 1:35 ; Mark 16:2 , Mark 16:9 . John 20:1 . The Lord must have been led to Pilate before our midnight, because it was "about the sixth hour" of the night when Pilate said "Behold your king "(John 19:14 ). It was there fore in the night, at which time it was unlawful to try a prisoner. See the Talmud, Sanhedrin, c App-4 . It was also unlawful on the eve of the Sabbath, and this was the eve of the High Sabbath. See App-165 . held a consultation having formed a council. See note on Matthew 12:14 .

with = in association with. Greek. meta. App-104 . Same as in verses: Mark 15:7 , Mark 15:28 , Mark 15:31 . Not the same as in Mark 15:27 .

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) to emphasize the fact that it was the act of the whole council.

Jesus. App-98 .

carried Him away . Matthew 27:2 has apegagon = to lead away what is alive (in contrast with pherein, which is generally used of what is inanimate). Luke has egagon = they led (Luke 23:1 ). Mark has apenegkun = carried, as though from faintness.

Verse 2

Pilate asked Him. Matthew and Mark carefully distinguish between this interview with the Lord and the rulers alone, and a subsequent interview with the multitude (Luke 23:4 ). answering said. See note on Deuteronomy 1:41 . ct ea eayest = Thou thyself sayest [it).

Verse 3

accused = kept accusing.

of many things = urgently.

nothing = not (Greek. ou. App-105 .) anything. All the texts omit this clause.

Verse 5

yet . nothing = not anything any longer (Greek. ouden ouketi).

Verse 6

at. Greek. kata App-104 .

that feast = a feast: i.e. any of the three great feasts.

he released = he used, or was wont, to release. Imperf. Tense.

Verse 7

Barabbas. Aramaic. App-94 .

made &c. = been fellow insurgents.

who . Denoting a class of criminals.

in . Greek. en App-104 . As in verses: Mark 15:29 , Mark 15:41 , Mark 15:46 : not the same as in verses: Mark 15:1 , Mark 15:38 .

Verse 8

multitude = crowd.

crying aloud. All the texts read "having gone up".

began. See note on Mark 1:1 . him to do. Note the Ellipsis thus properly supplied.

as = according as.

ever . Om. by T. WH R.

Verse 9

Will ye . ? Are ye willing. ? Greek theIo, See App-102 .

Verse 10

he knew = he was beginning to know. Greek ginosko. App-132 .

delivered Him = delivered Him up.

for = on account of. Greek. dia . App-104 .Mark 15:2 .

Verse 11

moved = vehemently stirred up (as by an earth quake). Greek. anaseio, connected with seismos , an earth quake.

people = crowd. as in Mark 15:8 .

Verse 13

Crucify Him . Stoning was the proper Jewish death for blasphemy. Compare John 18:31 , John 18:32 . Crucifixion was the Roman punishment for treason. Note the addresses of Pilate:

TO THE COUNCIL: Matthew 27:17-20 , Matthew 27:21-23 , Matthew 27:24 , Matthew 27:25

TO THE PEOPLE: Mark 15:8-11 , Mark 15:12-14

TO THE PRIESTS (specially). Luke 23:13-19 , Luke 23:20 , Luke 23:21 , Luke 23:22 , Luke 23:23 .

Then Pilate's final attempt to rescue the Lord. Matthew 27:26 . Matthew 15:15 .Luke 23:24 , Luke 23:25 .

Verse 14

evil. Greek kakos. App-128 .

hath He done = did He do (at any time). Aorist.

Verse 15

willing = determining. Greek. boulomai. See App-102 .2.

to content the people = to satisfy the crowd. This is the motto of the present day, but it always ends in judgment. See and compare Exodus 32:1 with Exodus 26:27 . Acts 12:3 with Acts 12:23 ; 2 Timothy 4:3 with 2 Timothy 4:1 and 2 Timothy 4:8 . So here.

Verse 16

into = within.

the hall = the court. See Matthew 26:3 .

band. Greek. speira = a company bound or assembled round a standard: Latin. manipulus = a handful of hay or straw twisted about a pole as a standard: and, by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , put for the men-at -arms gathered round it.

Verse 17

purple . See Matthew 27:28 .

Verse 18

Hail. See note on Matthew 26:49 .

Verse 19

smote = kept smiting.

did spit = kept spitting.

worshipped = did homage to. App-137 .

Verse 20

to = to the end that they might.

Verse 21

compel . See note on Matthew 27:32 .

passed by = was passing by.

out of = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 . Not the same word as in Mark 15:46 .

the country = a field.

Rufus. This may be the Rufus of Romans 16:1 Romans 16:3 .

Verse 22

unto. Greek. epi. App-104 . As in Mark 15:46 . Not the same word as in verses: Mark 15:41 , Mark 15:43 .

Golgotha. See note on Matthew 27:33 .

Verse 23

they gave, &c. = they were offering. See notes on Matthew 27:34 , Matthew 27:48 .

not. Greek. ou . App-105 .

Verse 24

when they had, &c. The two robbers of Mark 15:27 , and Matthew 27:38 , not yet brought. See App-164 .

parted = divided.

upon. Greek. epi . App-104 .

Verse 25

the third hour . Of the day (John 11:9 ), i.e. 9am. No discrepancy; for the sixth hour of John 19:14 was the sixth hour of the night (from about sunset), viz. "about" midnight (in the midst of the trial), when Pilate said "Behold your King". The context there and here explains and settles the matter. Here, the trial was over; in John 19:14 the trial was going on. See App-156 and App-165 . It was the hour of the morning sacrifice.

Verse 26

superscription, &c. = inscription of His indictment. Not the writing put "over His head "(Matthew 27:37 ). See App-163 .

written over = written down (or inscribed, as in Acts 17:23 .Hebrews 8:10 ; Hebrews 8:10 , Heb 8:16 ). Greek epigrapho. Occ, else-where only in Revelation 21:12 . See App-163 .

THE KING , &c. See App-163 for the "inscriptions on the cross", and App-48 for the difference of types.

Verse 27

with = together with. Greek. sun. App-104 .

they crucify . Present Tense, describing what was done then (after the dividing of the garments), not when they put the Lord on the cross in Mark 15:24 .

thieves = robbers, not malefactors as in Luke 23:32 , who were "led with Him". See App-164 .

one on His right hand, &c.: i.e. outside the two "malefactors" of Luke 23:32 . See App-164 , and note on John 19:18 .

on = at. Greek. ek. App-104 .

the other = one.

Verse 28

the scripture . Isaiah 53:12 . See App-107 .

transgressors = lawless ones. App-128 .

railed on = were blaspheming.

Verse 29

Ah, or Aha.

destroyest . As in Mark 13:2 .

Temple = Naos. See notes on Matthew 4:5 ; Matthew 23:16 .

Verse 30

come down. See note on "descend", Mark 15:32 .

from = off. Greek. apo . App-104 . As in Mark 15:32 .

Verse 31

also the chief priests the chief priests also (as well as the passers by).

said = kept saying.

among themselves to (Greek. pros. App-101 .) each other.

others. Greek allos. App-124 .

cannot = is not (Mark 15:23 ) able to.

Verse 32

Christ = the Messiah. App-98 .

the King of Israel . Referring to the confession in Mark 15:2 .

descend. Same as "come down "in Mark 15:30 . see ( App-133 .)

believe ( App-150 .) Vain promise. For they did not believe, though He came up from the grave.

they that were . . . reviled Him . Both the "robbers", but only one of the "malefactors", reviled (Luke 23:39 ).

Verse 33

the sixth hour of the day. (John 11:9 .) From sunrise: i.e. noon. See note on Mark 15:25 , and App-165 .

was = became.

over. Greek. epi. App-104 .

the ninth hour . The hour of offering the evening sacrifice: i.e. 3pm. So that the darkness was from noon till 3pm. See App-165 .

Verse 34

Eloi, &c. Quoted from Psalms 22:1 . See note on Matthew 27:46 .

Verse 35

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Elias = Elijah.

Verse 36

gave Him = - was giving. See note on Matthew 27:34 .

Verse 37

cried with a loud voice, and = having uttered a loud cry,

He gave up the ghost = expired. Greek. ekpneo = to breathe out, or expire. Occurs only here, Mark 15:39 , and Luke 23:46 .

Verse 38

veil . See note on Matthew 27:51

in = into. Greek. eis. App-104 .

twain = two.

the top = above. Greek. anothen, as in Luke 1:3 . See note there.

Verse 39

which = who.

the Son of God = a Son of God: i.e. a supernatural or Divine being. App-98 . Found frequently in the Fayyum Papyri as a title of the Emperor Augustus, in Latin as well as Greek inscriptions.

Verse 40

also women = women also.

afar off = from (Greek. apo. App-104 .) afar.

among. Greek. en App-104 .

Magdalene . See Matthew 27:56 .

the less = junior. Divinely supplied only in Mark to distinguish him from James the Apostle (compare Matthew 13:55 , and Matthew 27:56 ). See also Acts 12:17 ; Acts 15:13 ; Acts 21:18 , Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:12 .

Salome . See Matthew 27:56 .

Verse 41

also, when He was in Galilee = whenHe was in Galilee also.

followed . . . ministered = used to follow and minister.

unto. Greek eis App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Mar 22:43 , Mar 22:46 .

Verse 42

when the even was come evening already having come. Compare Matthew 27:57 .

the preparation : i.e. the 14th of Nisan, the day before the Passover (on the 15th), which took place on the 14th at even, and ushered in the High Sabbath, which commenced after sunset on the 14th.

the day before the sabbath: i.e. the day before the High Sabbath. See App-156 .

Verse 43

of = he from. Greek. ho apo. App-104 .

honourable = honourable (in rank), as in Acts 13:50 ; Acts 17:12 .

counsellor . A member of the Sanhedrin. See Luke 23:51 .

which also waited = who himself also was waiting. the kingdom of God. See App-114 .

went in boldly . = took courage and went in; i.e. braving all consequences.

unto = to. Greek. pros. App-104 . Not the same word as in Mar 22:41 , Mar 22:46 .

craved the body . Because in the usual course the Lord would have been buried with other criminals. See note on Isaiah 53:9 .

Verse 44

marvelled = wondered. This verse and the next are a Divine supplement, peculiar to Mark.

if He were, &c. Implying a hypothesis which he did not yet expect. App-118 .

any while = long.

Verse 45

knew . = having got to know. Greek. ginsoko. See App-132 .

gave = made a gift of (Greek. doreo). Occurs only here and 2 Peter 1:3 , I.

body. Greek. some = body. But all the texts read ptoma = corpse.

Verse 46

fine linen . Greek. sindon. See note on Mark 14:61 , Mark 14:62 .

sepulchre memorial tomb.

out of . Greek. ek. App-104 . Not the same word as in Mark 15:21 .

rock . Greek. petra , as in Matthew 16:18 .

a stone. See note on Matthew 27:60 .

Verse 47

beheld = were (attentively) looking on so as to see exactly. Greek. thereo, App-133 .