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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 15:42-47

We are here attending the funeral of our Lord Jesus, a solemn, mournful funeral. O that we may by grace be planted in the likeness of it! Observe, I. How the body of Christ was begged. It was, as the dead bodies of malefactors are, at the disposal of the government. Those that hurried him to the cross, designed that he should make his grave with the wicked; but God designed he should make it with the rich (Isa. 53:9), and so he did. We are here told, 1. When the body of Christ was begged, in... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 15:42-47

15:42-47 When it was now evening, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, a respected member of the council, and a man who was himself waiting for the Kingdom of God, ventured to go to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was amazed that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion, and asked if he had been long dead. And when he had learned the facts from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. And Joseph bought fine... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 15:44

And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead ,.... For death, by crucifixion, was a slow lingering death; persons that were in their full strength hung a great while before they expired; and the two thieves, which were crucified with Christ, were not dead when he was: and calling unto him the centurion ; who was set to watch him: he asked him, whether he had been any while dead ; he inquired of him, whether he was dead, and how long he had been dead. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 15:40-47

The burial. I. FAITH THRIVES IN SORROW . Remoter disciples draw near, and secret disciples come forth, in the hour of humiliation and defeat. The sun sets, but not their hope; and the stars rise, but their faith is earlier up. II. LOVE SURVIVES ALL LOSS . Its burning ray, like that of a hidden gem, flashes out in the gloom. The nobleness of Christ had taught them to master selfishness and despair. His form was enshrined in the "amber of memory." They who had been all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 15:42-47

The burial of Christ. The reality of the death of our Lord Jesus has been questioned, at various times and upon various grounds. Some have denied the possibility of a resurrection from the dead, and have absurdly supposed that Jesus only fainted or swooned, and that his recovery from a swoon was reputed among his followers to be a resurrection. Against all such unreasonable and incredible assumptions the record of the evangelists, who relate his burial, and that in the most minute and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 15:42-47

The burial of the Crucified. I. PROVIDED FOR BY GOD . There are several striking proofs of providential arrangement in the burying of the Savior. He never stipulated as to where or how he should be buried; his mind was too much occupied as to how he should die. Yet were great things to turn upon the manner, the time, and the place of his burial. He whose angels hid the grave of Moses, was equally careful to make known the place where his Son lay. The sepulcher was new, and in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 15:42-47

The entombment. The sabbath hurried on—the day of rest. Joseph of Arimathaea, " a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God," begged permission of Pilate to have the body of Jesus for interment. Pilate, being satisfied of the death of Jesus, "granted the corpse to Joseph." Then with tender hands he wrapped the body in a linen cloth and laid it in a tomb; "and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb." Now the work is complete. The human... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 15:42-47

Parallel passages: Matthew 27:57-61 ; Luke 23:50-56 .— The burial. I. SECRET DISCIPLES . Among secret disciples of our Lord were Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus. The residence of the former was Ramah, or Ramathaim, the name signifying a hill; while some identify it with Ramleh in Dan, others with Ramathaim in Ephraim, and others, again, with Ramah in Benjamin. But the character of the man is of much more importance to us than his place of abode. Accordingly, one evangelist... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 15:44

And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. It must have Been somewhat early in the afternoon, probably not long after three o'clock, when Joseph went. The day being the Preparation, the Jews were anxious to satisfy the letter of the Law ( Deuteronomy 21:13 ), and that, more especially, because the coming sabbath was a "high day." So they had gone early to Pilate to obtain permission to accelerate the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 15:44

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

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