Mark 15 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Early the next morning, the chief priest, elders, and religious teachers—the whole governing council—came to a decision. They had Jesus bound and sent him to be handed over to Pilate.
1 Καὶ εὐθέως ἐπὶ τὸ πρωῒ συμβούλιον ποιήσαντες οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς μετὰ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων καὶ γραμματέων καὶ ὅλον τὸ συνέδριον, δήσαντες τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀπήνεγκαν καὶ παρέδωκαν τῷ Πιλάτῳ.
2 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” “You said it,” Jesus replied.
2 καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν ὁ Πιλᾶτος· σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων; ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· σὺ λέγεις.
3 The chief priests kept on making many accusations against him.
3 καὶ κατηγόρουν αὐτοῦ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς πολλά, αὐτὸς δὲ οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίνατο.
4 Pilate questioned him again, “Aren't you going to answer? See how many charges they're bringing against you!”
4 ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος πάλιν ἐπηρώτα αὐτὸν λέγων· οὐκ ἀποκρίνῃ οὐδέν; ἴδε πόσα σου καταμαρτυροῦσιν.
5 But Jesus didn't give any more answers, much to Pilate's surprise.
5 ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς οὐκέτι οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίθη, ὥστε θαυμάζειν τὸν Πιλᾶτον.
6 Now it was Pilate's custom at the Passover feast to release a prisoner to the people, whoever they requested.
6 Κατὰ δὲ ἑορτὴν ἀπέλυεν αὐτοῖς ἕνα δέσμιον, ὅνπερ ᾐτοῦντο.
7 One of the prisoners was a man called Barabbas who belonged to a group of rebels who had committed murder during an uprising.
7 ἦν δὲ ὁ λεγόμενος Βαραββᾶς μετὰ τῶν συστασιαστῶν δεδεμένος, οἵτινες ἐν τῇ στάσει φόνον πεποιήκεισαν.
8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner following his usual custom.
8 καὶ ἀναβοήσας ὁ ὄχλος ἤρξατο αἰτεῖσθαι καθὼς ἀεὶ ἐποίει αὐτοῖς.
9 “Do you want me to release to you the King of Jews?” he asked them,
9 ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς λέγων· θέλετε ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων;
10 for he realized that it was because of their jealousy of Jesus that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.
10 ἐγίνωσκε γὰρ ὅτι διὰ φθόνον παραδεδώκεισαν αὐτὸν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.
11 οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς ἀνέσεισαν τὸν ὄχλον ἵνα μᾶλλον τὸν Βαραββᾶν ἀπολύσῃ αὐτοῖς.
12 “Then what should I do with the one you call the King of the Jews?” he asked them.
12 ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἀποκριθεὶς πάλιν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί οὖν θέλετε ποιήσω ὃν λέγετε τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων;
13 “Crucify him!” they shouted back.
13 οἱ δὲ πάλιν ἔκραξαν· σταύρωσον αὐτόν.
14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they shouted back even louder.
14 ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· τί γὰρ ἐποίησε κακόν; οἱ δὲ περισσοτέρως ἔκραξαν· σταύρωσον αὐτόν.
15 Wanting to please the mob, Pilate released Barabbas to them. First he had Jesus flogged and then handed him over to be crucified.
15 ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας ἵνα σταυρωθῇ.
16 The soldiers took him away into the Praetorium courtyard, where they called out the whole battalion.
16 Οἱ δὲ στρατιῶται ἀπήγαγον αὐτὸν ἔσω τῆς αὐλῆς, ὅ ἐστι πραιτώριον, καὶ συγκαλοῦσιν ὅλην τὴν σπεῖραν·
17 They put royal purple robes on him and made a crown of thorns that they placed on him.
17 καὶ ἐνδύουσιν αὐτὸν πορφύραν καὶ περιτιθέασιν αὐτῷ πλέξαντες ἀκάνθινον στέφανον,
18 Then they saluted him, saying, “Hail King of the Jews!”
18 καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀσπάζεσθαι αὐτόν. χαῖρε ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων·
19 They repeatedly beat him around the head with a rod, spat at him, and fell on their knees before him as if in worship.
19 καὶ ἔτυπτον αὐτοῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν καλάμῳ καὶ ἐνέπτυον αὐτῷ, καὶ τιθέντες τὰ γόνατα προσεκύνουν αὐτῷ.
20 After they finished mocking him, they took off the purple robes, and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to be crucified.
20 καὶ ὅτε ἐνέπαιξαν αὐτῷ, ἐξέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὴν πορφύραν καὶ ἐνέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὰ ἱμάτια τὰ ἴδια, καὶ ἐξάγουσιν αὐτὸν ἵνα σταυρώσωσιν αὐτόν.
21 They forced a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the countryside, to carry his cross. Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.
21 Καὶ ἀγγαρεύουσι παράγοντά τινα Σίμωνα Κυρηναῖον, ἐρχόμενον ἀπ᾽ ἀγροῦ, τὸν πατέρα Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Ῥούφου, ἵνα ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ.
22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means “the Place of the Skull.”
22 Καὶ φέρουσιν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ Γολγοθᾶ τόπον, ὅ ἐστι μεθερμηνευόμενον κρανίου τόπος.
23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he refused it.
23 καὶ ἐδίδουν αὐτῷ πιεῖν ἐσμυρνισμένον οἶνον· ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἔλαβε.
24 Then they crucified him. They divided his clothes, and threw dice to decide who would have what.
24 καὶ σταυρώσαντες αὐτὸν διαμερίζονται τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ βάλλοντες κλῆρον ἐπ᾽ αὐτὰ τίς τί ἄρῃ.
25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.
25 ἦν δὲ ὥρα τρίτη καὶ ἐσταύρωσαν αὐτόν.
26 A sign with the written charge against him read: “The King of the Jews.”
26 καὶ ἦν ἡ ἐπιγραφὴ τῆς αἰτίας αὐτοῦ ἐπιγεγραμμένη· ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων.
27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his left and one on his right.
27 Καὶ σὺν αὐτῷ σταυροῦσι δύο λῃστάς, ἕνα ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ ἕνα ἐξ εὐωνύμων αὐτοῦ.
28 Not in this translation
28 [καὶ ἐπληρώθη ἡ γραφὴ ἡ λέγουσα· καὶ μετὰ ἀνόμων ἐλογίσθη.]
29 People passing by shouted insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying. “Aha! You who claimed you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days;
29 Καὶ οἱ παραπορευόμενοι ἐβλασφήμουν αὐτὸν κινοῦντες τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν καὶ λέγοντες· οὐά, ὁ καταλύων τὸν ναὸν καὶ ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις οἰκοδομῶν!
30 save yourself and come down from the cross!”
30 σῶσον σεαυτὸν καὶ κατάβα ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ.
31 Likewise the chief priests and the religious teachers made fun of him, saying to each other, “He saved others, but he can't save himself.
31 ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἐμπαίζοντες πρὸς ἀλλήλους μετὰ τῶν γραμματέων ἔλεγον· ἄλλους ἔσωσεν, ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται σῶσαι.
32 If he really is the Messiah, the King of Israel, then why doesn't he come down from the cross so we can see and believe!” Even those who were crucified with him insulted him.
32 ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ καταβάτω νῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἵνα ἴδωμεν καὶ πιστεύσωμεν αὐτῷ. καὶ οἱ συνεσταυρωμένοι αὐτῷ ὠνείδιζον αὐτόν.
33 At noon darkness fell over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
33 Γενομένης δὲ ὥρας ἕκτης σκότος ἐγένετο ἐφ᾽ ὅλην τὴν γῆν ἕως ὥρας ἐνάτης·
34 At three o'clock Jesus cried out, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
34 καὶ τῇ ὥρᾳ τῇ ἐνάτῃ ἐβόησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγων· Ἐλωῒ Ἐλωΐ, λιμᾶ σαβαχθανί; ὅ ἐστι μεθερμηνευόμενον, ὁ Θεός μου ὁ Θεός μου, εἰς τί με ἐγκατέλιπες;
35 Some of those standing there heard this, and said, “He's calling for Elijah.”
35 καί τινες τῶν παρεστηκότων ἀκούσαντες ἔλεγον· ἴδε Ἠλίαν φωνεῖ.
36 One man ran and filled a sponge with vinegar, put it on a stick, and tried to give it to Jesus to drink. “Leave him alone,” he said. “Let's see if Elijah will come to take him down.”
36 δραμὼν δὲ εἷς καὶ γεμίσας σπόγγον ὄξους περιθείς τε καλάμῳ ἐπότιζεν αὐτὸν λέγων· ἄφετε ἴδωμεν εἰ ἔρχεται Ἠλίας καθελεῖν αὐτόν.
37 Then Jesus groaned loudly, and died.
37 ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀφεὶς φωνὴν μεγάλην ἐξέπνευσε.
38 The Temple veil was ripped in two from top to bottom.
38 Καὶ τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ ἐσχίσθη εἰς δύο ἀπὸ ἄνωθεν ἕως κάτω.
39 When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how he died, he said, “This man was truly the Son of God.”
39 Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ κεντυρίων ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐξ ἐναντίας αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτω κράξας ἐξέπνευσεν, εἶπεν· ἀληθῶς ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος υἱὸς ἦν Θεοῦ.
40 Some women were watching from a distance including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome.
40 Ἦσαν δὲ καὶ γυναῖκες ἀπὸ μακρόθεν θεωροῦσαι, ἐν αἷς ἦν καὶ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ἰακώβου τοῦ μικροῦ καὶ Ἰωσῆ μήτηρ, καὶ Σαλώμη,
41 They had followed Jesus and had taken care of him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.
41 αἳ καὶ ὅτε ἦν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ ἠκολούθουν αὐτῷ καὶ διηκόνουν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἄλλαι πολλαὶ αἱ συναναβᾶσαι αὐτῷ εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.
42 It was Friday, the day before the Sabbath. When evening came,
42 Καὶ ἤδη ὀψίας γενομένης, ἐπεὶ ἦν παρασκευή, ὅ ἐστι προσάββατον,
43 Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the governing council who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, had the courage to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus' body.
43 ἐλθὼν Ἰωσὴφ ὁ ἀπὸ Ἀριμαθαίας, εὐσχήμων βουλευτής, ὃς καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν προσδεχόμενος τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, τολμήσας εἰσῆλθε πρὸς Πιλᾶτον καὶ ᾐτήσατο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ.
44 Pilate was surprised that Jesus had died so soon, so he summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had already died.
44 ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἐθαύμασεν εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκε, καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν κεντυρίωνα ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν εἰ πάλαι ἀπέθανε·
45 Once he had confirmation from the centurion, Pilate gave permission for Joseph to take the body.
45 καὶ γνοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ κεντυρίωνος ἐδωρήσατο τὸ σῶμα τῷ Ἰωσήφ.
46 Joseph bought a linen sheet. Then he took Jesus' body down from the cross and wrapped it in the sheet, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of rock. Then he rolled a heavy stone up against the entrance.
46 καὶ ἀγοράσας σινδόνα καὶ καθελὼν αὐτὸν ἐνείλησε τῇ σινδόνι καὶ κατέθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν μνημείῳ, ὃ ἦν λελατομημένον ἐκ πέτρας, καὶ προσεκύλισε λίθον ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τοῦ μνημείου.
47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid.
47 ἡ δὲ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία Ἰωσῆ ἐθεώρουν ποῦ τίθεται.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Alexander
Named in Mark 15:21 as a son of Simon of Cyrene.
Cited in the guide: Mark 15:21
Barabbas
A notorious prisoner, an insurrectionist, whom the crowd chose to be released rather than Jesus.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:16; Matthew 27:17; Mark 15:7
James the younger
Called James the younger in Mark 15:40, the son of a Mary who watched at the crucifixion; the text does not say whether he is James son of Alphaeus or James the brother of Jesus.
Cited in the guide: Mark 15:40
Joseph of Arimathea
A rich man and member of the council from the Judean town of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus (secretly, for fear of the Jews), who asked Pilate for the body and laid it in a new…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50
Joses
Named in Mark 15:40 and 15:47 (Joses; Joseph in Matthew 27:56) as a son of the Mary who watched the crucifixion; the text does not identify him with Joses the brother of Jesus in…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40
Mary
A woman who followed Jesus from Galilee and was at the cross, called the mother of James the younger and of Joses (Joseph) and seen at the burial and at the tomb; the text does…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; Mark 15:47
Rufus
Named in Mark 15:21 as a son of Simon of Cyrene.
Cited in the guide: Mark 15:21
Salome
A woman who followed Jesus from Galilee, named at the crucifixion and with Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James who bought spices for the body; Matthew 27:56 names the…
Cited in the guide: Mark 15:40; Mark 16:1
Simon of Cyrene
A man from Cyrene coming in from the country whom the soldiers forced to carry the cross of Jesus; Mark calls him the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26
Cross references (43)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Matthew 27:1–2; Luke 22:66; Luke 23:1–5; Acts 3:13; John 18:28–38
- 2 Matthew 2:2; Matthew 27:11–14; 1 Timothy 6:13; Mark 15:26; Mark 15:18
- 3 Isaiah 53:7; John 19:12; John 19:6–7; Mark 14:60–61; Luke 23:2–5
- 4 John 19:10; Matthew 27:13; Matthew 26:62
- 5 Isaiah 53:7; Zechariah 3:8; Matthew 27:14; 1 Corinthians 4:9; Psalm 71:7
- 6 John 18:39–40; Acts 24:27; Acts 25:9; Matthew 27:15–26; Luke 23:16–25
- 7 Luke 23:18–19; Matthew 27:16; Luke 23:25
- 9 Matthew 27:17–21; John 19:14–16; John 19:4–5; John 18:39; Acts 3:13–15
- 10 Proverbs 27:4; 1 Samuel 18:8–9; Matthew 27:18; Genesis 4:4–6; Titus 3:3
- 11 Acts 3:14; Matthew 27:20; Hosea 5:1; John 18:40
- 12 Isaiah 9:6–7; Jeremiah 23:5–6; Matthew 27:22–23; Zechariah 9:9; John 19:14–16
- 14 Luke 23:41; Matthew 27:23–25; 1 Peter 1:19; Luke 23:4; Isaiah 53:3
- 15 Matthew 27:26; John 19:1; Isaiah 50:6; Mark 10:34; Psalm 129:3
- 16 Matthew 27:27–31; John 19:9; John 18:28; Matthew 26:3; Acts 10:1
- 17 Matthew 27:28–30; John 19:2–5; Luke 23:11
- 18 Matthew 27:42–43; Luke 23:36–37; Mark 15:29–32; Mark 15:2; Genesis 37:10
- 19 Mark 14:65; Isaiah 53:3–5; Psalm 35:15–17; Hebrews 12:2–3; Isaiah 50:6
- 20 John 19:16; Matthew 27:31
- 21 Matthew 27:32; Luke 23:26; Romans 16:13; Acts 13:1; Acts 11:20
- 22 Matthew 27:33–44; John 19:17–27; Luke 23:27–38
- 23 Matthew 27:34; Luke 22:18; John 19:28–30; Luke 23:36; Mark 14:25
- 24 Luke 23:34; John 19:23–24; Matthew 27:35–36; Isaiah 53:4–8; Psalm 22:16–18
- 25 John 19:14; Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44; Acts 2:15
- 26 Matthew 27:37; John 19:18–22; Luke 23:37–38; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 2:2
- 27 Luke 23:32–33; Matthew 27:38; John 19:18
- 29 Mark 14:58; Psalm 109:25; Lamentations 1:12; John 2:18–22; Lamentations 2:15
- 31 John 12:23–24; Matthew 27:41–43; Psalm 22:16–17; Psalm 2:1–4; 1 Peter 3:17–18
- 32 Matthew 27:44; Luke 23:39–43; Zephaniah 3:15; Isaiah 44:6; Matthew 1:17
- 33 Matthew 27:45; Luke 23:44–45; Amos 8:9–10; Mark 15:25; Isaiah 50:3–4
- 34 Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46; Hebrews 5:7; Psalm 27:9; Isaiah 41:17
- 35 Matthew 27:47–49; Matthew 17:11–13; Mark 9:11–13
- 36 Psalm 69:21; Mark 15:23; Luke 23:36; John 19:28–30
- 37 John 19:30; Luke 23:46; Matthew 27:50
- 38 Hebrews 10:19–23; Luke 23:45; Hebrews 9:3–12; Matthew 27:51–53; Leviticus 16:2–19
- 39 Luke 23:47–48; Matthew 27:54; Matthew 27:43; Acts 10:1; Acts 27:1–3
- 40 Matthew 27:55–56; Luke 23:49; Luke 8:2–3; Mark 16:9; Mark 15:47–16:1
- 41 Luke 8:2–3; Matthew 27:55–56
- 42 Luke 23:50–56; John 19:31; John 19:38–42; Matthew 27:57–62
- 43 Luke 2:38; Luke 2:25; Luke 23:51; John 19:38; Acts 17:12
- 44 John 19:31–37
- 45 John 19:38; Mark 15:39; Matthew 27:58
- 46 Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:59–60; John 11:38; Mark 16:3–4; Isaiah 22:16
- 47 Mark 15:40; Mark 16:1; Matthew 27:61; Luke 23:55–24:2; Matthew 28:1
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… in the person of the Jews that Isaiah said this, "We saw Him, and He had no beauty nor comeliness." When it was said, "If He be the Son of God, let Him come down from the Cross. He saved others, Himself He cannot save." And smiting Him on the head with a reed, they said, "Prophesy unto us, thou …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
"Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers; and they stripped Him, and put on Him a purple robe; and when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they bowed the knee before …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
But what sort of gall put they into My mouth? They gave Him, it says, wine mingled with myrrh.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour." The question, at what hour the Lord was crucified, because of the testimony supplied by another evangelist, who says, "And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him," we shall consider as we can, if the Lord please, when we are come to the passage itself …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
Mark at any rate saith, that "Pilate marvelled if He were already dead:" and that the centurion for this cause above all believed, because He died with power.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)