Mark 15:1-19
THIS account is closely related to that of Matthew, but the remorse and suicide of Judas are omitted, and in the narrative of the trial before Pilate some independent details are introduced.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS account is closely related to that of Matthew, but the remorse and suicide of Judas are omitted, and in the narrative of the trial before Pilate some independent details are introduced.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:1. THE WHOLE COUNCIL. Comp. Luke 22:66-71, where the particulars of this morning meeting are given; also Luke 23:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:2-5. See on Matthew 27:11-14. The examination before Herod (Luke 23:8-12) occurred next. ACCUSE THEE OF (Mark 15:4). The same word as in Mark 15:3, according to the best authorities.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:6. HE RELEASED. The original implies habitual action.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:7. WITH THEM THAT HAD MADE INSURRECTION, _etc._ Peculiar to Mark. Barabbas, doubtless the leader, was one of these insurgents and murderers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:8. AND THE MULTITUDE WENT UP, _i.e.,_ before the residence of Pilate, AND BEGAN TO ASK. This picture of the mob in Jerusalem is true to the life. As the day wore on, the crowd collected, partly to see the trial, partly to call for the usual release of a prisoner, partly to be in a crowd, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:9-14. See on Matthew 27:17-23. Mark's account is much briefer than the other three. In Mark 15:9 it agrees more closely with John 18:39; referring however to the first proposal of Pilate, before the message from his wife. Mark 15:12 describes the second, Mark 15:14 the third attempt of Pilat... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:15. WISHING TO CONTENT THE MULTITUDE. The word ‘wishing' points to a decision, a determination, neither a hearty desire, nor a mere permission. In Matthew 1:19 the same word is translated ‘was minded.' Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but in the dilemma (of his own making) concluded to gratif... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:16. WITHIN THE COURT, WHICH IS THE PRETORIUM, or ‘palace.' The governor's residence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:17. WITH PURPLE. See on Matthew 27:28. Lange: ‘The scarlet military cloak no more required to be a real purple, than the crown of thorns required to be a real crown, or the reed a real sceptre; for the whole transaction was an ironical drama, and such a one, too, that the infamous abuse migh... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:18-19. See on Matthew 27:29-30. See on Matthew 27:32-56.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:20. LEAD HIM OUT, _i.e.,_ out of the city, as the other accounts imply. This verse, except the last clause, properly belongs to the last section.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark's account resembles that of Matthew, but has independent details.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:21. COMING FROM THE COUNTRY. Lit, ‘from the field.' This statement throws no light on the reason why they impressed him for this service, nor upon the question whether it was the regular feast day or not. THE FATHER OF ALEXANDER AND RUFUS. Persons well known to the first readers of this Gos... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:22. TO THE PLACE GOLGOTHA. More correctly perhaps: place of Golgotha, answering to PLACE OF A SKULL, since Golgotha means ‘skull,' and Luke (Luke 23:33) calls the place simply ‘skull.' This is an additional reason for supposing that the name was owing to the conical shape of the ground. See... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:23. THEY OFFERED HIM, or, ‘were giving Him;' it was offered merely, not forced upon Him. WINE MINGLED WITH MYRRH. See on Matthew 26:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:25. AND IT WAS THE THIRD HOUR, _i.e.,_ nine o'clock in the morning. The last examination before the Jewish rulers took place at daybreak, three hours intervened, during which occurred the examinations before Pilate and Herod. A later hour would scarcely give time for all the incidents up to... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:26. THE KING OF THE JEWS. These words are common to all four accounts. Matthew and Mark make prominent the fact that this was the one charge against our Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:28. This verse (a quotation from Isaiah 53:12) is omitted by the oldest manuscripts and rejected by the latest critics. In Luke 22:37, its genuineness is undoubted. Mark rarely quotes prophecies so directly.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:29. AH. The Greek word is the one used in the ancient games, as a shout of applause; here it seems to be applied ironically to our Lord. But it might have been an expression of reproach.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:33. THE SIXTH HOUR. The form of the verse, as well as the connection, shows that our Lord had already hung for some time upon the cross (see Mark 15:25).... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:34. ELOI. This is in the Aramaic dialect then in use. Our Lord probably used the Hebrew form (‘Eli') given by Matthew, which more closely resembles the name Elijah. A quotation from the Old Testament would naturally be made in Hebrew. On the meaning of the cry, see on Matthew 27:46.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:36. SAYING, LET BE, etc. In Matthew's account, these words are addressed _to_ the man who gave the vinegar, here spoken _by_ him to the others. A sign of accuracy; such a conversation is natural; the one addressed by the crowd flinging back their own words. ‘Let be' means ‘let this suffice,'... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:37. GAVE UP THE GHOST, the literal sense here is: ‘breathed out,' expired. ‘A beautiful substitute for _died_, which all the Evangelists appear to have avoided' (J. A. Alexander).... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:39. THE CENTURION. Mark here and in Mark 15:44-45 gives the Latin term, Matthew and Luke the Greek. WHO STOOD BY OVER AGAINST HIM, _i.e.,_ in front of Him, ‘watching' (Matthew) Him. SAW THAT HE SO GAVE UP THE GHOST. The peculiar cry is mainly referred to, hence this was very early insert... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:40-41. These verses agree in substance with Matthew 27:55-56, but the order is different and the other variations throw much light on the questions which have arisen as to the persons mentioned. MARY, THE MOTHER OF JAMES THE little. Undoubtedly the wife of Alpheus (John 19:25), hence ‘James... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:42. THE PREPARATION. Comp. Matthew 27:62. THE DAY BEFORE THE SABBATH, _i.e.,_ Friday. Joseph and the Jews (John 19:31) desired ‘that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath.' The Sabbath of the festival week was, as usual in such cases, a ‘high day' (John 19:31).... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS section contains some minor incidents omitted in all the parallel accounts.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:43. AN HONOURABLE COUNCILLOR. A member of the Sanhedrin (comp. Luke 23:51). ‘Honorable' here means noble in station. WHO ALSO HIMSELF WAS, etc. He expected the Messiah, and had been a secret disciple of Jesus (John 19:38). CAME. Literally, _having come, i.e.,_ to the scene of the crucifi... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:44. AND PILATE MARVELLED. Not at the request, but: IF HE WERE ALREADY DEAD. This shows there was something unusual in this case of crucifixion. Pilate had already given orders to have the legs of the crucified broken and the bodies taken down. The first part of the order had been carried out... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:45. GRANTED THE CORPSE TO JOSEPH. Presented it to him. The position of Joseph seems to have occasioned this ready compliance, though Pilate was doubtless glad to hear that Jesus was dead and to have Him buried.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:46. AND HE BOUGHT A LINEN CLOTH. It has been argued from this purchase that the day was ‘not the first day of unleavened bread, which was one of sabbatical sanctity,' but in Leviticus 23:7, labor alone was forbidden on that day. That the tomb belonged to Joseph is implied here, that it was n... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 15:47. MARY THE MOTHER OF JOSES. The same person mentioned in Mark 15:4 a BEHELD, _lit.,_ ‘were beholding,' a continued action. Matthew 27:61: ‘sitting over against the sepulchre.' WHERE HE WAS LAID. Luke (Luke 23:55), although mentioning the Galilean women more generally, says: ‘and how His... [ Continue Reading ]