Mark Chapter 15

The continuation of the history of the passion.

15:1. And straightway in the morning, the chief priests holding a consultation with the ancients and the scribes and the whole council, binding Jesus, led him away and delivered him to Pilate.

15:2. And Pilate asked him: Art thou the king of the Jews? But he answering, saith to him: Thou sayest it.

15:3. And the chief priests accused him in many things.

15:4. And Pilate again asked him, saying: Answerest thou nothing? Behold in how many things they accuse thee.

15:5. But Jesus still answered nothing: so that Pilate wondered.

15:6. Now on the festival day he was wont to release unto them one of the prisoners, whomsoever they demanded.

15:7. And there was one called Barabbas, who was put in prison with some seditious men, who in the sedition had committed murder.

15:8. And when the multitude was come up, they began to desire that he would do as he had ever done unto them.

15:9. And Pilate answered them and said: Will you that I release to you the king of the Jews?

15:10. For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him up out of envy.

15:11. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

15:12. And Pilate again answering, saith to them: What will you then that I do to the king of the Jews?

15:13. But they again cried out: Crucify him.

15:14. And Pilate saith to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more: Crucify him.

15:15. And so Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them Barabbas: and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

15:16. And the soldiers led him away into the court of the palace: and they called together the whole band.

15:17. And they clothed him with purple: and, platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon him.

15:18. And they began to salute him: Hail, king of the Jews.

15:19. And they struck his head with a reed: and they did spit on him. And bowing their knees, they adored him.

15:20. And after they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him and put his own garments on him: and they led him out to crucify him.

15:21. And they forced one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and of Rufus, to take up his cross.

15:22. And they bring him into the place called Golgotha, which being interpreted is, The place of Calvary.

15:23. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh. But he took it not.

15:24. And crucifying him, they divided his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

15:25. And it was the third hour: and they crucified him.

The third hour. . .The ancient account divided the day into four parts, which were named from the hour from which they began; the first, third, sixth, and ninth hour. Our Lord was crucified a little before noon; before the third hour had quite expired; but when the sixth hour was near at hand.

15:26. And the inscription of his cause was written over: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

15:27. And with him they crucify two thieves: the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

15:28. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith: And with the wicked he was reputed.

15:29. And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads and saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God and in three days buildest it up again:

15:30. Save thyself, coming down from the cross.

15:31. In like manner also the chief priests, mocking, said with the scribes one to another: He saved others; himself he cannot save.

15:32. Let Christ the king of Israel come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him, reviled him.

15:33. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour.

15:34. And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani? Which is, being interpreted: My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?

15:35. And some of the standers by hearing, said: Behold he calleth Elias.

15:36. And one running and filling a sponge with vinegar and putting it upon a reed, gave him to drink, saying: Stay, let us see if Elias come to take him down.

15:37. And Jesus, having cried out with a loud voice, gave up the ghost.

15:38. And the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.

15:39. And the centurion who stood over against him, seeing that crying out in this manner he had given up the ghost. said: Indeed this man was the son of God.

15:40. And there were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joseph and Salome,

15:41. Who also when he was in Galilee followed him and ministered to him, and many other women that came up with him to Jerusalem.

15:42. And when evening was now come (because it was the Parasceve, that is, the day before the sabbath),

15:43. Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus.

15:44. But Pilate wondered that he should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if he were already dead.

15:45. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

15:46. And Joseph, buying fine linen and taking him down, wrapped him up in the fine linen and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre.

15:47. And Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where he was laid.