Mark 15

Standing Before Pilate

1 At dawn's first light, the high priests, with the religious leaders and scholars, arranged a conference with the entire Jewish Council. After tying Jesus securely, they took him out and presented him to Pilate.

2-3 Pilate asked him, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?"
He answered, "If you say so." The high priests let loose a barrage of accusations.

4-5 Pilate asked again, "Aren't you going to answer anything? That's quite a list of accusations." Still, he said nothing. Pilate was impressed, really impressed.

6-10 It was a custom at the Feast to release a prisoner, anyone the people asked for. There was one prisoner called Barabbas, locked up with the insurrectionists who had committed murder during the uprising against Rome. As the crowd came up and began to present its petition for him to release a prisoner, Pilate anticipated them: "Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?" Pilate knew by this time that it was through sheer spite that the high priests had turned Jesus over to him.

11-12 But the high priests by then had worked up the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas. Pilate came back, "So what do I do with this man you call King of the Jews?"

13 They yelled, "Nail him to a cross!"

14 Pilate objected, "But for what crime?"
But they yelled all the louder, "Nail him to a cross!"

15 Pilate gave the crowd what it wanted, set Barabbas free and turned Jesus over for whipping and crucifixion.

16-20 The soldiers took Jesus into the palace (called Praetorium) and called together the entire brigade. They dressed him up in purple and put a crown plaited from a thornbush on his head. Then they began their mockery: "Bravo, King of the Jews!" They banged on his head with a club, spit on him, and knelt down in mock worship. After they had had their fun, they took off the purple cape and put his own clothes back on him. Then they marched out to nail him to the cross.

The Crucifixion

21 There was a man walking by, coming from work, Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. They made him carry Jesus' cross.

22-24 The soldiers brought Jesus to Golgotha, meaning "Skull Hill." They offered him a mild painkiller (wine mixed with myrrh), but he wouldn't take it. And they nailed him to the cross. They divided up his clothes and threw dice to see who would get them.

25-30 They nailed him up at nine o'clock in the morning. The charge against him—the king of the jews—was printed on a poster. Along with him, they crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: "You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down from that cross!"

31-32 The high priests, along with the religion scholars, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: "He saved others—but he can't save himself! Messiah, is he? King of Israel? Then let him climb down from that cross. We'll all become believers then!" Even the men crucified alongside him joined in the mockery.

33-34 At noon the sky became extremely dark. The darkness lasted three hours. At three o'clock, Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

35-36 Some of the bystanders who heard him said, "Listen, he's calling for Elijah." Someone ran off, soaked a sponge in sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down."

37-39 But Jesus, with a loud cry, gave his last breath. At that moment the Temple curtain ripped right down the middle. When the Roman captain standing guard in front of him saw that he had quit breathing, he said, "This has to be the Son of God!"

Taken to a Tomb

40-41 There were women watching from a distance, among them Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and Joses, and Salome. When Jesus was in Galilee, these women followed and served him, and had come up with him to Jerusalem.

42-45 Late in the afternoon, since it was the Day of Preparation (that is, Sabbath eve), Joseph of Arimathea, a highly respected member of the Jewish Council, came. He was one who lived expectantly, on the lookout for the kingdom of God. Working up his courage, he went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate questioned whether he could be dead that soon and called for the captain to verify that he was really dead. Assured by the captain, he gave Joseph the corpse.

46-47 Having already purchased a linen shroud, Joseph took him down, wrapped him in the shroud, placed him in a tomb that had been cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the opening. Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Joses, watched the burial.

Mark 15

1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering saith unto him, Thou sayest.3 And the chief priests accused him of many things.4 And Pilate again asked him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of.5 But Jesus no more answered anything; insomuch that Pilate marvelled.6 Now at the feast he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.7 And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.8 And the multitude went up and began to ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them.9 And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?10 For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.11 But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.12 And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.14 And Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, Crucify him.15 And Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.16 And the soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.17 And they clothe him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it on him;18 and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!19 And they smote his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.20 And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments. And they lead him out to crucify him.21 And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.23 And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.24 And they crucify him, and part his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take.25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.27 And with him they crucify two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left.28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was reckoned with transgressors.29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ha! Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,30 save thyself, and come down from the cross.31 In like manner also the chief priests mocking him among themselves with the scribes said, He saved others; himself he cannot save.32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reproached him.33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah.36 And one ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down.37 And Jesus uttered a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.38 And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.39 And when the centurion, who stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.40 And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;41 who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him; and many other women that came up with him unto Jerusalem.42 And when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,43 there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God; and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.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.45 And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph.46 And he bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.