And Pilate marveled if - Wondered if he was dead, or wondered that he was so soon dead. It was not common for persons crucified to expire under two or three days, sometimes not until the sixth or seventh. Joseph had asked for the “body,” implying that he was dead. That he was, had been ascertained by the soldiers. See John 19:33. read more
When he knew it of the centurion - Being informed by the centurion of the fact that he was dead. The centurion had charge of the soldiers who watched him, and could therefore give correct information. read more
Mark 15:42-44. And now, &c. Και ηδη οψιας γενομενης , And the evening being now come. The word οψιας , answering to evening, is used with some latitude in Scripture. The Jews spoke of two evenings, (see notes on Matthew 14:15; Matthew 14:23.) It is probably the former of these that is meant here and Matthew 27:57; for at six the preparation ended, and the sabbath began, when they were no longer at liberty to be employed in the manner mentioned in the subsequent verses. Therefore,... read more
Mark 15:45-47. And he gave the body to Joseph Pilate gave Joseph leave to take down the body, and do with it what he pleased, the priests either not knowing that he was disposed to make such a grant, or being so influenced that they did not oppose his making it. And he bought fine linen Thus showing in what great estimation he held Jesus; and took him down Mangled and macerated as his body was; and wrapped it in the linen As a treasure of great worth; and laid it in a sepulchre To... read more
160. The burial (Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)Two members of the Sanhedrin did not agree with the decision to crucify Jesus. They were Nicodemus (cf. John 3:1-12; John 7:45-52) and Joseph, the latter being a man from the Judean town of Arimathea. Joseph, like many rich people, had built a fine tomb to be used one day for himself, but he sacrificed it so that Jesus could have an honourable burial. The two men took the body down from the cross late on the Friday... read more
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. read more
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. read more
And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.If the place of the crucifixion was the skull-shaped hill mentioned earlier, even an ordinary messenger in the employ of the governor could have covered the distance in less than five minutes; so the time factor here is of no great importance. Pilate's surprise was due to the fact that crucifixion was designed as a slow death; and for Jesus to have been dead so... read more
And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph.Here appears corroboration at the highest official level of the fact of Jesus' actual death. The swoon theory of the resurrection cannot stand against the evidence here. Pilate made sure that it was a corpse that he released to Joseph; and as the Scriptures foretold, Jesus died. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 15:45
And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted ( ἐδωρήσατο ) the corpse ( τὸ πτῶμα ) to Joseph. read more