151 Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council , immediately held a consultation ; and binding Jesus , they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate . 2 Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews ?" And He answered him, "It is as you say ." 3 The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly . 4 Then Pilate questioned Him again , saying , "Do You not answer ? See how many charges they bring against You!" 5 But Jesus made no e further answer ; so Pilate was amazed .
6 Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested . 7 The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection . 8 The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. 9 Pilate answered them, saying , "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews ?" 10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy . 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead . 12 Answering again , Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews ?" 13 They shouted back , "Crucify Him!" 14 But Pilate said to them, "Why , what evil has He done ?" But they shouted all the more , "Crucify Him!"
15 Wishing to satisfy e the crowd , Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged , he handed Him over to be crucified . 16 The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium ), and they called together the whole Roman cohort . 17 They dressed Him up in purple , and after twisting a crown of thorns , they put it on Him; 18 and they began to acclaim Him, "Hail , King of the Jews !" 19 They kept beating His head with a reed , and spitting on Him, and kneeling e and bowing before Him. 20 After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.
21 They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country , Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus ), to bear His cross .
22 Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha , which is translated , Place of a Skull . 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh ; but He did not take it. 24 And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take . 25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. 26 The inscription of the charge against Him read , " THE KING OF THE JEWS ." 27 They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left . 28 [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says , "And He was numbered with transgressors ."] 29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads , and saying , "Ha ! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days ,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 15:1-29
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.
Commentary on Mark 15:15-21
(Read Mark 15:15-21)
Christ met death in its greatest terror. It was the death of the vilest malefactors. Thus the cross and the shame are put together. God having been dishonoured by the sin of man, Christ made satisfaction by submitting to the greatest disgrace human nature could be loaded with. It was a cursed death; thus it was branded by the Jewish law, Deuteronomy 21:23. The Roman soldiers mocked our Lord Jesus as a King; thus in the high priest's hall the servants had mocked him as a Prophet and Saviour. Shall a purple or scarlet robe be matter of pride to a Christian, which was matter of reproach and shame to Christ? He wore the crown of thorns which we deserved, that we might wear the crown of glory which he merited. We were by sin liable to everlasting shame and contempt; to deliver us, our Lord Jesus submitted to shame and contempt. He was led forth with the workers of iniquity, though he did no sin. The sufferings of the meek and holy Redeemer, are ever a source of instruction to the believer, of which, in his best hours, he cannot be weary. Did Jesus thus suffer, and shall I, a vile sinner, fret or repine? Shall I indulge anger, or utter reproaches and threats because of troubles and injuries?
Commentary on Mark 15:22-32
(Read Mark 15:22-32)
The place where our Lord Jesus was crucified, was called the place of a scull; it was the common place of execution; for he was in all respects numbered with the transgressors. Whenever we look unto Christ crucified, we must remember what was written over his head; he is a King, and we must give up ourselves to be his subjects, as Israelites indeed. They crucified two thieves with him, and him in the midst; they thereby intended him great dishonour. But it was foretold that he should be numbered with the transgressors, because he was made sin for us. Even those who passed by railed at him. They told him to come down from the cross, and they would believe; but they did not believe, though he gave them a more convincing sign when he came up from the grave. With what earnestness will the man who firmly believes the truth, as made known by the sufferings of Christ, seek for salvation! With what gratitude will he receive the dawning hope of forgiveness and eternal life, as purchased for him by the sufferings and death of the Son of God! and with what godly sorrow will he mourn over the sins which crucified the Lord of glory!