Charles Ellicott Commentary Mark 15

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Mark 15

1819–1905

Anglican

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Mark 15

1819–1905

Anglican

Verse 1

"And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate." — Mark 15:1 (ASV)

And the whole council.—The words in the Greek are in apposition with “the chief priests.” We do not know of any other elements in the Council or Sanhedrin than the priests, scribes, and elders, and it is possible that the writer may have added the words in the sense of “even the whole Council,” as giving the collective word for the body whose three constituent parts had already been named. On the whole section see Notes on Matthew 27:1-2; Matthew 27:11–23.

Verse 3

"And the chief priests accused him of many things." — Mark 15:3 (ASV)

But he answered nothing.—Many manuscripts omit these words, but the fact is implied in Pilate’s question, and in Jesus yet answered nothing, in Mark 15:5.

Verse 6

"Now at the feast he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him." — Mark 15:6 (ASV)

He released . . . whomsoever they desired.—Both verbs are in the tense which implies custom.

Verse 7

"And there was one called Barabbas, [lying] bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder." — Mark 15:7 (ASV)

Bound with them that had made insurrection.—The fact that Barabbas was a rebel as well as robber is also stated by St. Luke (Luke 23:19), but St. Mark alone records the fact that his fellow-insurgents were imprisoned with him.

Verse 8

"And the multitude went up and began to ask him [to do] as he was wont to do unto them." — Mark 15:8 (ASV)

As he had ever done to them.—More accurately, as he ever used to do to them.

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