Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 15:20

"And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments. And they lead him out to crucify him." — Mark 15:20 (ASV)

At last, tiring of their sadism, the soldiers tore the robe from Jesus’ back. The fabric had probably stuck to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds. Thus when it was callously ripped off him, it caused excruciating pain, just as when a bandage is carelessly removed. Jesus’ own clothes were now put back on him.

In John’s account Pilate makes one final appeal to the crowd by bringing the badly beaten Jesus out (see comments on Jn 19:4–5, 12–16). Perhaps he wanted to appeal to their sympathy. But Satan was controlling them. The scourging was not enough, so Pilate acquiesced to their bloodthirsty cries.