Church Fathers Commentary Mark 15:1-5

"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. And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering saith unto him, Thou sayest. And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of. But Jesus no more answered anything; insomuch that Pilate marvelled." — Mark 15:1-5 (ASV)

The Venerable Bede: The Jews had a custom of delivering the one they had condemned to death, bound, to the judge. For this reason, after the condemnation of Christ, the Evangelist adds, 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. But it must be observed that they did not bind Him for the first time then; they bound Him when they first took Him in the garden by night, as John declares. ¹

Theophylact of Ohrid: They then gave Jesus up to the Romans, but were themselves given up by God into the hands of the Romans, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled which say, Recompense them after the work of their hands (Psalm 28:5).

It goes on: And Pilate asked Him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

The Venerable Bede: Pilate asked Him about no other accusation except whether He was the King of the Jews. This convicts them of impiety, for they could not even find a false accusation against our Savior.

It goes on: And He answering said unto him, Thou sayest.

He answers in this way to both speak the truth and yet not be open to quibbling.

Theophylact of Ohrid: For His answer is ambiguous, since it could mean, "You say so, but I do not."

The Venerable Bede: And observe that He does answer Pilate at one point, who condemned Him unwillingly, but He does not choose to answer the priests and leaders, judging them unworthy of a reply.

It goes on: And the Chief Priests accused Him of many things.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Luke has also revealed the false charges which they brought against Him, for he relates it as follows: We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King (Luke 23:2). ²

There follows: And Pilate asked Him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

The Venerable Bede: Indeed, the one who condemns Jesus is a Gentile, but he attributes the cause to the Jewish people.

There follows: But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

He was unwilling to give an answer, so that He would not clear Himself of the charge and be acquitted by the judge, and so the gain resulting from the Cross would be lost.

Theophylact of Ohrid: But Pilate was amazed because, although Jesus was an eloquent teacher of the law and able to destroy their accusations with His answer, He said nothing in response. Instead, He endured their accusations courageously.

1. in Marc., 4, 44
2. de. Con. Evan., iii, 8