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In this lesson:
It's early Friday morning. Jesus had His religious trial (lesson 96), now His secular trial begins. The crowd turns against the Messiah (15:6-15). Study Tip: As you read scroll back and forth between the "King James Version" and the "New Living Translation" below. Also check the margin notes in blue and click on the links. |
Jesus stands before Pontus Pilate
By an unknown artist |
Who was:
Pilate -
Pontius Pilate was the fifth Roman procurator (governor) of Judea and Samaria who served from AD 26 to 36. He disliked his Judean assignment so far from home and was no fan of the Jews. He was routinely charged with cruelty against them, accusations he usually deserved, and Jesus was well aware of Pilate's brutal reputation (Luke 13:1). The Jewish religious leaders returned Pilate's animosity and frequently complained to Rome about him, accusing him of corruption, cruelty, insensitivity to their customs, and once of stealing money from the Temple to build an aqueduct. Pilate's headquarters was in Caesarea, but he went to Jerusalem with his wife Claudia to keep order as the Holy City filled with pilgrims over the Passover holiday. While he was in Jerusalem the Jewish high council (Sanhedrin) brought Jesus to stand trial before him. The Sanhedrin lacked the authority to condemn a prisoner to death (John 18:31). Only the Romans had that power and Pilate was the highest Roman authority in Judea. A pure politician, Pilate was more interested in political expediency than justice. Already disciplined by Rome once, Pilate wasn't willing to release Jesus and risk more Jewish complaints. He repeatedly declared Jesus innocent (Luke 23:4;
23:14; 23:22; John 18:38) yet was still willing to execute Him. In AD 36 Pilate finally lost favor with Rome after the Governor of Syria brought yet more charges of cruelty against him. He was exiled to Vienne in Gaul where he committed suicide in AD 38.
Barabbas -
A well-known-thief (Matthew 27:16; John 18:40) and murderer (Luke 23:18-19) arrested for taking part in an insurrection against Rome (Mark 15:7). As a sign of good will, the Romans usually released a prisoner during the Passover holiday. This year, Pilate gave the people a choice between releasing Barabbas or Jesus. The corrupt chief priests "persuaded" the people to call for Barabbas' release and the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:20; Mark 15:11). Jesus was punished instead of Barabbas', and us.
Ironically, the name Barabbas means "son of the father," a name more fitting for Jesus.
Pilate -
Pontius Pilate was the fifth Roman procurator (governor) of Judea and Samaria who served from AD 26 to 36. He disliked his Judean assignment so far from home and was no fan of the Jews. He was routinely charged with cruelty against them, accusations he usually deserved, and Jesus was well aware of Pilate's brutal reputation (Luke 13:1). The Jewish religious leaders returned Pilate's animosity and frequently complained to Rome about him, accusing him of corruption, cruelty, insensitivity to their customs, and once of stealing money from the Temple to build an aqueduct. Pilate's headquarters was in Caesarea, but he went to Jerusalem with his wife Claudia to keep order as the Holy City filled with pilgrims over the Passover holiday. While he was in Jerusalem the Jewish high council (Sanhedrin) brought Jesus to stand trial before him. The Sanhedrin lacked the authority to condemn a prisoner to death (John 18:31). Only the Romans had that power and Pilate was the highest Roman authority in Judea. A pure politician, Pilate was more interested in political expediency than justice. Already disciplined by Rome once, Pilate wasn't willing to release Jesus and risk more Jewish complaints. He repeatedly declared Jesus innocent (Luke 23:4;
23:14; 23:22; John 18:38) yet was still willing to execute Him. In AD 36 Pilate finally lost favor with Rome after the Governor of Syria brought yet more charges of cruelty against him. He was exiled to Vienne in Gaul where he committed suicide in AD 38.
Barabbas -
A well-known-thief (Matthew 27:16; John 18:40) and murderer (Luke 23:18-19) arrested for taking part in an insurrection against Rome (Mark 15:7). As a sign of good will, the Romans usually released a prisoner during the Passover holiday. This year, Pilate gave the people a choice between releasing Barabbas or Jesus. The corrupt chief priests "persuaded" the people to call for Barabbas' release and the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:20; Mark 15:11). Jesus was punished instead of Barabbas', and us.
Ironically, the name Barabbas means "son of the father," a name more fitting for Jesus.
The Gospel According to St. Mark
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Mark 15:1-19
Pontius Pilate 1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it. 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. 4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. 5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled. 6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. 11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. 12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. 14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. 15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. 16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. 17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. |
Margin notes:
"Straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation." (15:1) - "Immediately in the morning, the chief priests held a meeting." To read what happened in this early morning meeting, see Luke 22:66-71. "Behold how many things they witness against thee." (15:4) - "Look how many crimes they accuse you of." "But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled." (15:5) - "But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate's amazement." As prophesied seven hundred years earlier in Isaiah 53:7, Jesus also remained silent when Caiaphas questioned him (Mark 14:60-61). "That feast." (15:6) - Passover. "Them that had made insurrection." (15:7) - These prisoners were probably members of a group known as the Zealots. The Zealots were a Jewish sect who believed in total obedience to the Mosaic Law and rabbinic traditions. They refused to yield to Gentile authority and opposed paying Rome's taxes (Luke 20:22). They avoided any overt confrontation with the powerful Roman army but occasionally launched terrorist raids which included assassinating Romans or Jewish leaders who cooperated with Rome. The Zealots were a major factor in the uprising which led to the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of General Titus and the Roman army in AD 70. Interesting enough, Jesus' disciple Simon was a member of the Zealots. "The multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them." (15:8) - "The crowd cried for him to do what he usually did for them." The Roman governor usually released a prisoner of the crowds choosing every Passover. "He knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy." (15:10) - Pilate knew that Jesus was an Innocent man. The chief priests brought Jesus to him out of envy. "The chief priests moved the people." (15:11) - "The chief priests whipped up the people." 'Willing to content the people." (15:15) - "Wanting to please the people." "Scourged." (15:15) - To be stripped to the waist, tied to a post and flogged with a whip (flagellant). Roman whips were made of several leather straps. The tip of each strap was embedded with a piece of sharp bone or jagged metal designed to dig into the flesh. Careless spectators who got to close were spattered with blood, and often the victim's bones and internal organs were exposed as the whipping tore away pieces of flesh and muscle. A Roman scourging was so brutal and prolonged, many victims died before they could be crucified. Neither of the two thieves crucified with Jesus was scourged, and both survived longer on the cross. Additional note: Isaiah 50:6 and 53:5 prophesied Jesus' scourging seven hundred years earlier. "They call together the whole band." (15:16) - "They called together the whole garrison." "Purple." (15:17) - The color of royalty, they are mocking Jesus. "They smote him on the head with a reed." (15:19) - "They hit Him on the head with a cane." |
You can study additional accounts of Jesus and Pilate in Matthew 27:11-26 (lessons 58 and 59), Luke 23:1-25 and John 18:28-19:16.
New Living Translation
Mark 15:1-19
Jesus' Trial before Pilate
1 Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law-the entire high council-met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
2 Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
Jesus replied, "You have said it."
3 Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes,
4 and Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?"
5 But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate's surprise.
6 Now it was the governor's custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner-anyone the people requested.
7 One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising.
8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual.
9 "Would you like me to release to you this 'King of the Jews'?" Pilate asked.
10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.
12 Pilate asked them, "Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?"
13 They shouted back, "Crucify him!"
14 "Why?" Pilate demanded. "What crime has he committed?"
But the mob roared even louder, "Crucify him!"
15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
16 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor's headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment.
17 They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head.
18 Then they saluted him and taunted, "Hail! King of the Jews!"
19 And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Jesus' Trial before Pilate
1 Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law-the entire high council-met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
2 Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
Jesus replied, "You have said it."
3 Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes,
4 and Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?"
5 But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate's surprise.
6 Now it was the governor's custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner-anyone the people requested.
7 One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising.
8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual.
9 "Would you like me to release to you this 'King of the Jews'?" Pilate asked.
10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.
12 Pilate asked them, "Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?"
13 They shouted back, "Crucify him!"
14 "Why?" Pilate demanded. "What crime has he committed?"
But the mob roared even louder, "Crucify him!"
15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
16 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor's headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment.
17 They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head.
18 Then they saluted him and taunted, "Hail! King of the Jews!"
19 And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it." (15:1-2)
"Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them." (15:6-8)
"And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified." (15:15)
"Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them." (15:6-8)
"And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified." (15:15)
Today's Question:
1. What was Jesus accused of? (15:3)
Make God a part of your life by studying His word each day. Your Bible has more to teach than these lessons can cover.
1. What was Jesus accused of? (15:3)
Make God a part of your life by studying His word each day. Your Bible has more to teach than these lessons can cover.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. The chief priests accused Jesus of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. But they knew the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, wouldn't condemn Jesus for that alone. There were no Roman laws against maligning the Jewish God. So, they manufactured charges against Jesus hoping to outrage Pilate.
They accused Jesus of...
1) Telling people not to pay their taxes.
2) Claiming He was a King and thus a threat to Caesar.
3) Causing violence and civil unrest throughout Judea.
The chief priests hoped that Pilate would punish a tax cheating, treasonous terrorist.
Application thought for the day:
What does this passage tell us about the nature of Jesus? What spiritual applications can you take from it?
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke