Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryMark 15

Straightway. [Day Trial Before the Sanhedrin, Mark 15:1=Matt. 27:1=Luke 22:66–71. Major comment: Luke.]

Pilate asked him. [First Trial Before Pilate, Mark 15:2–5=Matt. 27:2, 11–14=Luke 23:1–5=John 18:28–38. Major comment: Luke and John.]

He answered nothing. Textual evidence attests the omission (cf. p. 146) of these words here in Mark.

At that feast. [Second Trial Before Pilate, Mark 15:6–19=Matt. 27:15–31a=Luke 23:13–25=John 18:39 to 19:16. Major comment: Matthew and John.] He released. Or, “he used to release,” that is, it was his customary practice to do so.

Ellen G. White

Ellen G. White

Ellen G. White

Willing. Literally, “wishing.” It was more than simple willingness on Pilate’s part; he was anxious to satisfy the people, if possible, lest their uncontrolled passions lead to a riot.

Led him out. [The Crucifixion, Mark 15:20–41=Matt. 27:31b–56=Luke 23:26– 49=John 19:17–37. Major comment: Matthew and John.]

Father of. Only Mark records this.

Ellen G. White

Ellen G. White

Ellen G. White

The scripture. A citation from Isa. 53:12. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 146) for omission of this quotation from Isaiah. It is unquestioned, however, in Luke 22:37.

Ellen G. White

Ellen G. White

Gave up the ghost. Literally, “breathed out,” or “expired” (see on Matt. 27:50).

Ellen G. White

Ellen G. White

Ellen G. White

Mary the mother. Nothing further is known of this Mary than the mention made of her by the various gospel writers in connection with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Some have identified her as Mary the wife of Cleophas (see on John 19:25; cf. on Mark 3:18). Salome. Comparison with Matt. 27:56 implies that Salome was possibly the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee. It has also been suggested that she was a sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus (see on John 19:25).

Preparation. [The Burial, Mark 15:42–47=Matt. 27:57–61=Luke 23:50–56=John 19:38–42. Major comment: Matthew and Mark. See Betrayal, Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus; the Crucifixion In Relation To Passover, Passion Week , pp. 232, 233.] Gr. paraskeuē, “preparation,” a word that Jewish usage in the NT probably applies either to the day preceding a Sabbath day or to the day preceding a feast day. See p. 107. Day before the sabbath. This was the weekly Sabbath (see Additional Notes on Matthew 26, Note 1). Mark’s precise statement, taken together with the sequence of days in Luke 23:54 to 24:1, makes it certain beyond the possibility of doubt that Friday was the day of the crucifixion.

Body. Gr. ptōma, “corpse,” meaning a dead body only. This is the only occurrence of ptōma in the NT. The usual Greek word for “body” is sōma (see Matt. 27:59; Luke 23:52; John 19:40). Beheld. The Greek implies that the women observed intently the interment of Jesus, planning to embalm His body after the sacred hours of Sabbath had passed by (see Luke 23:55 to 24:1).