Parallel passages: Matthew 27:1 , Matthew 27:2 , Matthew 27:11-26 ; Luke 23:1-7 , Luke 23:13-24 ; John 18:28 ; John 19:16 .— Judicial processes. I. JESUS SENT FROM THE SANHEDRIM TO PILATE — FROM THE JEWISH TRIAL TO THE ROMAN TRIAL . 1 . The first stage of the Jewish trial. After the arrest at Gethsemane, our Lord was conducted back to the city, across the Kidron to the palace-of the ex-high priest Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas,... read more
The second trial. I. IT ELICITED THE INNOCENCE OF JESUS . Charges were made that he had excited sedition through the country, had prohibited the Roman tribute, and had claimed royalty. The last only had any show of plausibility in it. Jesus admitted his kingship, but declared it in immortal words to be the sovereignty of truth over the consciences of men. Reading the narratives of the other evangelists, we gain a clear impression of the innocence of Jesus, as it was exhibited... read more
Art thou the King of the Jews? It appears from St. Luke ( Luke 23:1-5 ) that when Pilate demanded particularly what the charges against Jesus were, on account of which the Jews urged that he should be crucified, they alleged these three things: Whereupon Pilate, who had heard by many of the blameless life, the pure doctrine, and the famous miracles of Jesus, goes at once to the point, and asks him, "Art thou the King of the Jews?"—a question which, of course, affected the position of... read more
And the chief priests accused him of many things . The words in the Authorized Version, "but he answered nothing," are not to be found here in any of the best manuscripts or versions. But they are to be found in St. Matthew ( Matthew 27:12 ); and Pilate's question in the next verse confirms St. Matthew's statement, and makes the sentence unnecessary here. Our Lord answered nothing, because all that they had to say against him was manifestly false or frivolous, and unworthy of any reply.... read more
It would seem that Pilate had led Jesus out of his palace, into which the Jewish priests could not enter ( John 18:28 ), lest they should be defiled by entering a house from which all leaven had not been scrupulously removed. This would have been a violation of their religious scruples; and therefore he went out into the open court, and there heard the accusations of the chief priests. It is supposed that the building occupied by Pilate was the palace built or rebuilt by Herod near the gate... read more
Pilate marvelled . He marvelled that the innocent Savior, wise and eloquent, standing before him in peril of his life, should remain silent when thus vehemently accused by the leading men of the Jews. Pilate marvelled at his forbearance, his calmness, his contempt of death; from all of which he argued his absolute innocence and holiness, and resolved to do everything in his power to deliver him. The silence of a blameless life pleads more powerfully than any defense, however elaborate. read more
See the principal events in this chapter explained in the notes at Matthew 27:0. read more
Mark 15:1. And straightway in the morning Succeeding the dismal night in which the Jewish rulers had been so busily engaged in the horrid transactions related in the preceding chapter; the chief priests As soon as it was day; held a consultation with the elders and scribes What method they should take to execute the sentence they had passed against Jesus, and how they might contrive to put him to death in the most severe and contemptuous manner. And because the sanhedrim, which, indeed,... read more
Mark 15:2-5. Pilate asked him, Art thou the king of the Jews? These verses are explained in the notes on Matthew 27:11-14. But Jesus yet answered nothing This is not an accurate translation of the original, (which is, ουκετι ουδεν απεκριθη ,) implying, as Dr. Campbell justly observes, “that he had answered nothing to the former question, the reverse of which is the fact, as appears, Mark 15:2. All the Latin translators say rightly, Nihil amplius respondit, he answered nothing more, or... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 15:1-15
The trial before Pilate. How true it is that "God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all"! Jesus was first examined by Annas, then tried before Caiaphas, the high priest, then formally condemned by the Sanhedrim. But these mock-trials, with all their injustice and their indignities, were not enough to exhaust the appointed humiliation and suffering. Christ must needs be brought before the Roman governor, who had come up from Caesarea to Jerusalem to attend the Feast of... read more