151 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 Pilate asked him, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?" 3 The high priests let loose a barrage of accusations. 4 Pilate asked again, "Aren't you going to answer anything? That's quite a list of accusations." 5 Still, he said nothing. Pilate was impressed, really impressed.
6 It was a custom at the Feast to release a prisoner, anyone the people asked for. 7 There was one prisoner called Barabbas, locked up with the insurrectionists who had committed murder during the uprising against Rome. 8 As the crowd came up and began to present its petition for him to release a prisoner, 9 Pilate anticipated them: "Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?" 10 Pilate knew by this time that it was through sheer spite that the high priests had turned Jesus over to him. 11 But the high priests by then had worked up the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas. 12 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!"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 15:1-14
Commentary on Mark 15:1-14
(Read Mark 15:1-14)
They bound Christ. It is good for us often to remember the bonds of the Lord Jesus, as bound with him who was bound for us. By delivering up the King, they, in effect, delivered up the kingdom of God, which was, therefore, as by their own consent, taken from them, and given to another nation. Christ gave Pilate a direct answer, but would not answer the witnesses, because the things they alleged were known to be false, even Pilate himself was convinced they were so. Pilate thought that he might appeal from the priests to the people, and that they would deliver Jesus out of the priests' hands. But they were more and more urged by the priests, and cried, Crucify him! Crucify him! Let us judge of persons and things by their merits, and the standard of God's word, and not by common report. The thought that no one ever was so shamefully treated, as the only perfectly wise, holy, and excellent Person that ever appeared on earth, leads the serious mind to strong views of man's wickedness and enmity to God. Let us more and more abhor the evil dispositions which marked the conduct of these persecutors.