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Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

Mark 15:16-20

The soldiers led Jesus away into the hall, which is the Praetorium, and they called together the whole company. They clad him in a purple robe, and they plaited a crown of thorns and put it on him, and they began to salute him, "Hail! King of the Jews!" And they struck his head with a reed, and they spat on him, and they knelt down before him and worshipped him. And after they had made sport of him, they took off the purple robe, and clad him in his own clothes. And they led him away to crucify him.

The Roman ritual of condemnation was fixed. The judge said Illum duci ad crucem placet), "The sentence is that this man should be taken to a cross." Then he turned to the guard and said, I, miles, expedi crucem, "Go, soldier, and prepare the cross." It was when the cross was being prepared that Jesus was in the hands of the soldiers. The Praetorium was the residence of the governor, his headquarters, and the soldiers involved would be the headquarters cohort of the guard. We would do well to remember that Jesus had already undergone the agony of scourging before this horse-play of the soldiers began.

It may well be that of all that happened to him this hurt Jesus least. The actions of the Jews had been venomous with hatred. The consent of Pilate had been a cowardly evasion of responsibility. There was cruelty in the action of the soldiers but no malice. To them Jesus was only another man for a cross, and they carried out their barrack-room pantomime of royalty and worship, not with any malice, but as a coarse jest.

It was the beginning of much mockery to come. Always the Christian was liable to be regarded as a jest. Scribbled on the walls of Pompeii, whose walls are still chalked with coarse jests to-day, there is a picture of a Christian kneeling before an ass and below it is scrawled the words, "Anaximenes worships his God." If ever people make a jest of our Christianity, it will help to remember that they did it to Jesus in a way that is worse than anything likely to happen to us.

THE CROSS (Mark 15:21-28)

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See also Mark 15:16-20 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    CALLED PRAETORIUM - The hall of the “praetor,” or Roman governor, where he sat to administer justice. WHOLE BAND - See the notes at Matthew 27:27....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 15 _ 1. Before Pilate. (Mark 15:1 .Matthew 27:1; Luke 23:1; John 18:28 .)_ 2. Barabbas released and the Servant condemned. ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SOLDIERS MOCK JESUS.This narrative in its brief intensity is very poignant. Some scholars suggest that Jesus is treated like the central figure in a scene from a mime (was there a popular play, _T...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    INTO. within. THE HALL. the court. See Matthew 26:3. BAND. Greek. _speira. a_ company bound or assembled round. standard: Latin. _manipulus. a_ handful of hay or straw twisted about. pole as. standa...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Mockery of the Soldiers. The Way to the Cross 16. _the hall, called Prætorium_ "in to þe _floor of þe moot hall_," Wyclif. The building here alluded to is called by three of the Evangelists the _P...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    16–20 A. THE MOCKERY BY PILATE’S SOLDIERS Matthew 27:27-31; John 19:2-3...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΟἹ ΔῈ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩ͂ΤΑΙ. Some of the troops under the command of the Procurator, brought to Jerusalem to maintain order during the Feast. Again we have δέ to mark a change of subject; see on Mark 7:24; Mark...

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    VER 16. AND THE SOLDIERS LED HIM AWAY INTO THE HALL, CALLED PRAETORIUM; AND THEY CALLED TOGETHER THE WHOLE BAND. 17. AND THEY CLOTHED HIM WITH PURPLE, AND PLATTED A CROWN OF THORNS, AND PUT IT ABOUT H...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _JESUS WAS TRIED AND CONDEMNED -- MARK 15:1-20:_ The Jews charged Jesus with blasphemy because He called Himself the Son of God. Jesus was tried before Pilate, a weak leader that would do anything to...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΆΠΉΓΑΓΟΝ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΑΠΆΓΩ (G520) ВЫВОДИТЬ, УВОДИТЬ, ΑΎΛΉ (G804) двор суда (_см._ Mark 14:54). ΠΡΑΙΤΏΡΙΟΝ (G4232) официальная резиденция правителя. Здесь это либо дворец Ирода (ВВС), либо ба...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    5. JESUS BEFORE PILATE 15:1-20 _TEXT 15:1-20_ 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 hi...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _SUMMARY 15:16_16:20 This closing section of Mark, like the corresponding section in Matthew, contains two proofs of the divinity of Jesus. The first is found in the darkness that covered the earth du...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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. For the e...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    7 Bar-Abbas, which means son of the father, _ had _ committed the political crime against the Roman government which they tried to fasten on our Lord. He was a murderer. The Lord was a life giver. Yet...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    15:16 band. (b-21) See Note b, Matthew 27:27 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MOCKERY (Matthew 27:27). See on Mt....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PRÆTORIUM] see on John 18:28....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE. THE CRUCIFIXION 1-15. Trial before Pilate (Matthew 27:1; Matthew 27:11; Luke 23:1; Luke 23:13;...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST IN THE BIBLE: MARK’S GOSPEL _KEITH SIMONS_ This commentary HAS BEEN through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 15 JESUS AND PILATE VERSES 1-15 The *Jews did not have power over their own countr...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (15-21) AND SO PILATE, WILLING TO CONTENT THE PEOPLE. — The word which St. Mark uses for “content” appears to be the Greek equivalent for the Latin _satisfacere,_ and so takes its place in the evidenc...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    INTO THE HALL, CALLED PRÆTORIUM. — The same word is used by St. Matthew (Matthew 27:27), but is there translated the “common hall.” See Note there as to the meaning of the word. Here, again, we have a...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 15:1-20 (Mark 15:1) PILATE "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...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The soldiers in charge of the prisoner conduct Him into the barracks (ἔσω τῆς αὐλῆς, ὅ ἐστιν πραιτώριον = into the court, that is, the praetorium Weizsäcker), and call together their comrades to have...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _Mocked by the soldiers_ (Matthew 27:27-31)....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE CHOICE OF THE MULTITUDE Mark 15:1-21 The hurried consultation of the evening was followed by the more formal meeting of the early morning; and even the decision made then had no binding force ti...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This chapter is one of those that needs little explanation and must ever be read in awe and reverence. Pilate represented the Roman empire, which attempted to secure itself by its ordinary methods of...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (15) And _so_ Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged _him,_ to be crucified. (16) And the soldiers led him away into the hall, ca...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The transfiguration, as a matter of fact witnessed by the eyes of chosen witnesses, introduces naturally the great change that was about to be effected by the mighty power of God; for that wondrous sc...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _CHRIST’S HUMILIATION_ ‘Pilate … delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified. And the soldiers … did spit upon Him.’ Mark 15:15 The prophecy, ‘I gave my back to the smiters … and I h...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Before Pilate (chapter 15), He only witnesses a good confession, a testimony to the truth where the glory of God required it, and where this testimony stood opposed to the power of the adversary. To a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND THE SOLDIERS LED HIM AWAY INTO THE HALL,.... From the place called the pavement, where was the judge's bench, from which he passed sentence on Christ, to a large room, CALLED THE PRAETORIUM, or j...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And the soldiers led him away_ The soldiers, knowing that it was a Roman custom to scourge prisoners just before they were put to death, interpreted Pilate's order on this head as a declaration that...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    Christ before Pilate. Matthew 27:1-31; LUKE 23:1-25; JOHN 18:28-40; John 19:1-16....

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    PRETORIUM; the hall where the Roman governor, or praetor, held his court....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    CONDEMNATION, CRUCIFIXION, AND DEATH OF JESUS. The sentence and the mockery by the soldiers:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND THE SOLDIERS LED HIM AWAY INTO THE HALL, CALLED PRAETORIUM; AND THEY CALL TOGETHER THE WHOLE BAND....

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    TITLE: King is crowned TEXT: Mark 15:16-20 PROPOSITION: Jesus endured cruel mocking. QUESTION: Who? KEY WORD: Mockings READING: Same INTRODUCTION: 1. Many of the recent school shootings = teasing, m...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-21 Christ met death in its greatest terror. It was the death of the vilest malefactors. Thus the cross and the shame are put together. God having been dishonoured by the sin of man, Christ made sa...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "MARK 15:10...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Mark 15:16 Then G1161 soldiers G4757 led G520 Him G846 away G520 (G5627) into G2080 hall G833 called...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And the soldiers led him away within the court which is the Praetorium, and they call together the whole band, and they clothe him with purple, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him, and...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ROMAN JUSTICE (15:1-20). Mark's concern in this narrative is to bring out that there was not really any serious political charge against Jesus, and that that was recognised by the Roman governor, with...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Mark 15:16. WITHIN THE COURT, WHICH IS THE PRETORIUM, or ‘palace.' The governor's residence....

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    THIS account is closely related to that of Matthew, but the remorse and suicide of Judas are omitted, and in the narrative of the trial before Pilate some independent details are introduced....

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THE PRAETORIUM (πραιτωριον). In Matthew 27:27 this same word is translated "palace." That is its meaning here also, the palace in which the Roman provincial governor resided. In Philippians 1:13 it...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    THE HALL Or, the court which is the judgment-hall....

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    We will read two short passages from the Gospels this evening. May the blessed Spirit, who taught the Evangelists to record the sad story of our Lord's sufferings and death, give us fully to enter int...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Let us read again what we have often read before, that saddest of all stories which, nevertheless, is the fountain of the highest gladness,-the story of our Saviour's death, as recorded by Mark. Mark...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Mark 15:15. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the hall, call...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jesus before Pilate. Barabbas set free instead of Christ. The crucifixion. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Pilate, Simon, Barabbas, Centurion, Joseph, 2 thieves, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Mark 15:1. _Straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council._ Συνεδριν, the whole sanhedrim, consisting of seventy, but which must ne...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MARK—NOTE ON MARK 15:16 On the GOVERNOR’S HEADQUARTERS, see note on John 18:28. The presence of THE WHOLE BATTALION (about 600 men at full strength) means they are assuming that J

  • The Gospels Compared

    ROMAN SOLDIERS MOCK JESUS MATTHEW 27:27-31; MARK 15:16-20; JOHN 19:1-3; MATTHEW 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesu

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER XV. 1 _Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate_. 15 _Upon the clamour of the common people, the murderer Barabbas is loosed, and Jesus delivered up to be crucified_. 17 _He is crowned w...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ Mark 15:16. See R.V. Mark 15:17. Render: _And they invest Him with “a purple_”—the official robe of gs and rulers, no matter what its colour. MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE P...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MARK 15:1 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...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn to Mark's gospel chapter 15. Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane in the evening or late night, and immediately brought before Caiaphas the high priest and some of the rulers wher...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    John 18:28; John 19:9; Matthew 27:27...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Into the hall called Pretorium. Mark, as usual, amplifies. Matthew has simply the Pretorium. The courtyard, surrounded by the buildings of the Pretorium, so that the people passing through the vestibu...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Praetorium — The inner hall, where the praetor, a Roman magistrate, used to give judgment. But St. John calls the whole palace by this name. Matthew 27:27; John 19:2....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    The next part of our Saviour's sufferings, consisted of cruel mockings; he had owned himself to be the King of the Jews; that is,. spiritual King in and over his church; but the Jews expecting that th...

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Old Testament