Read Scripture ad-free with Bible Gateway Plus—trusted Study Bibles and commentaries beside every verse. Try it FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Mark 15
New King James Version

### Jesus Faces Pilate(A)

15 Immediately, (B)in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and (C)delivered Him to Pilate. 2 (D)Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”

3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He (E)answered nothing. 4 (F)Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things [a]they testify against You!” 5 (G)But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

### Taking the Place of Barabbas(H)

6 Now (I)at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 Then the multitude, [b]crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

11 But (J)the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the (K)King of the Jews?”

13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”

14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, (L)what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

15 (M)So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be (N)crucified.

### The Soldiers Mock Jesus(O)

16 (P)Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called [c]Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they (Q)struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had (R)mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

### The King on a Cross(S)

21 (T)Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. 22 (U)And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 (V)Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24 And when they crucified Him, (W)they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.

25 Now (X)it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And (Y)the inscription of His [d]accusation was written above:

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 (Z)With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 [e]So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, (AA)“And He was numbered with the transgressors.”

29 And (AB)those who passed by blasphemed Him, (AC)wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! (AD)You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

31 Likewise the chief priests also, (AE)mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved (AF)others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and [f]believe.”

Even (AG)those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

### Jesus Dies on the Cross(AH)

33 Now (AI)when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, (AJ)“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then (AK)someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and (AL)offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”

37 (AM)And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

38 Then (AN)the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So (AO)when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that [g]He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

40 (AP)There were also women looking on (AQ)from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also (AR)followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

### Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb(AS)

42 (AT)Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who (AU)was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 (AV)Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

#### Footnotes

1. Mark 15:4 NU of which they accuse You
2. Mark 15:8 NU going up
3. Mark 15:16 The governor’s headquarters
4. Mark 15:26 crime
5. Mark 15:28 NU omits v. 28.
6. Mark 15:32 M believe Him
7. Mark 15:39 NU He thus breathed His last

#### Cross references

1. Mark 15:1 : Matthew 27:1, 2, 11–14; Luke 23:1–5; John 18:28–38
2. Mark 15:1 : Ps. 2:2; Matt. 27:1; Luke 22:66; 23:1; John 18:28; Acts 3:13; 4:26
3. Mark 15:1 : Luke 18:32; Acts 3:13
4. Mark 15:2 : Matt. 27:11–14; Luke 23:2, 3; John 18:29–38
5. Mark 15:3 : Is. 53:7; John 19:9; Acts 8:32
6. Mark 15:4 : Matt. 27:13
7. Mark 15:5 : Ps. 38:13, 14; Is. 53:7; John 19:9
8. Mark 15:6 : Matt. 27:15–26; Luke 23:17–25; John 18:39—19:16
9. Mark 15:6 : Matt. 27:15–26; Luke 23:18–25; John 18:39—19:16
10. Mark 15:11 : Matt. 27:20; Acts 3:14
11. Mark 15:12 : Ps. 2:6; [Is. 9:7]; Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Mic. 5:2
12. Mark 15:14 : Is. 53:9; John 8:46; 1 Pet. 2:21–23
13. Mark 15:15 : Is. 50:6; Matt. 27:26; Mark 10:34; John 19:1, 16
14. Mark 15:15 : [Is. 53:8]
15. Mark 15:16 : Matt. 27:27–31
16. Mark 15:16 : Matt. 27:27–31
17. Mark 15:19 : [Is. 50:6; 52:14; 53:5]; Mic. 5:1; Mark 14:65
18. Mark 15:20 : Ps. 35:16; 69:19; Is. 53:3; Matt. 20:19; Mark 10:34; Luke 22:63; 23:11
19. Mark 15:21 : Matt. 27:32–44; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:17–27
20. Mark 15:21 : Matt. 27:32; Luke 23:26
21. Mark 15:22 : Matt. 27:33–44; Luke 23:33–43; John 19:17–24; Heb. 13:12
22. Mark 15:23 : Ps. 69:21; Matt. 27:34
23. Mark 15:24 : Ps. 22:18; Luke 23:34; John 19:23
24. Mark 15:25 : Matt. 27:45; Luke 23:44; John 19:14
25. Mark 15:26 : Matt. 27:37; John 19:19
26. Mark 15:27 : Is. 53:9, 12; Matt. 27:38; Luke 22:37
27. Mark 15:28 : Is. 53:12; Luke 22:37
28. Mark 15:29 : Ps. 22:6, 7; 69:7
29. Mark 15:29 : Ps. 109:25
30. Mark 15:29 : Mark 14:58; John 2:19–21
31. Mark 15:31 : Luke 18:32
32. Mark 15:31 : Luke 7:14, 15; John 11:43, 44
33. Mark 15:32 : Matt. 27:44; Luke 23:39
34. Mark 15:33 : Matt. 27:45–56; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30
35. Mark 15:33 : Amos 8:9; Matt. 27:45–56; Luke 23:44–49
36. Mark 15:34 : Ps. 22:1; Matt. 27:46
37. Mark 15:36 : Matt. 27:48; John 19:29
38. Mark 15:36 : Ps. 69:21
39. Mark 15:37 : Dan. 9:26; Zech. 11:10, 11; Matt. 27:50; Mark 8:31; Luke 23:46; John 19:30
40. Mark 15:38 : Ex. 26:31–33; Matt. 27:51; Luke 23:45
41. Mark 15:39 : Matt. 27:54; Luke 23:47
42. Mark 15:40 : Matt. 27:55; Luke 23:49; John 19:25
43. Mark 15:40 : Ps. 38:11
44. Mark 15:41 : Luke 8:2, 3
45. Mark 15:42 : Matt. 27:57–61; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42
46. Mark 15:42 : Matt. 27:57–61; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42
47. Mark 15:43 : Matt. 27:57; Luke 2:25, 38; 23:51; John 19:38
48. Mark 15:46 : Is. 53:9; Matt. 27:59, 60; Luke 23:53; John 19:40

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NKJV, Gift and Award Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version
Retail: $9.99
Our Price: $6.99
Save: $3.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People
Retail: $19.98
Our Price: $13.99
Save: $5.99 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Woman's Study Bible, Red Letter, Full-Color: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, 2nd Edition, Comfort Print: Growing in Knowledge and Understanding of God Through His Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Bible Study Bible, Comfort Print: A Study Guide for Every Chapter of the Bible
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles