1And immediately, early in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and having bound Jesus, they led him away and handed him over to Pilate. [15:2] And Pilate questioned him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You yourself have said it." [15:3] And the chief priests were accusing him of many things. [15:4] And Pilate questioned him again, saying, "Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you." [15:5] But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was astonished.
MRK 15:1-5
Jesus Delivered to Pilate
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Roman province of Judea, the early morning gathering of the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the entire Council reflects the Jewish leadership’s adherence to Roman legal protocols. Binding Jesus and delivering Him to Pilate was a calculated move to shift responsibility for His execution to the Roman authorities, as the Sanhedrin lacked the authority to carry out capital punishment under Roman rule. Pilate’s question, 'Are You the King of the Jews?' , directly challenges Jesus’ identity in a political context, as 'king' was a loaded term that could imply rebellion against Rome. Jesus’ response, 'You yourself have spoken' , is a non-confrontational acknowledgment that avoids explicit claims of kingship, which would have been seen as seditious. The chief priests’ accusations likely emphasized Jesus’ perceived threat to Roman authority, aiming to pressure Pilate into action. Pilate’s astonishment at Jesus’ silence reflects Roman expectations of self-defense in legal proceedings, where silence could be interpreted as guilt or defiance.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MRK 15:1
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
- Koinōnos
- And immediately, early in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and having bound Jesus, they led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
MRK 15:2
- KJV
- And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.
- BSB
- So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
- Koinōnos
- And Pilate questioned him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You yourself have said it.
MRK 15:3
- KJV
- And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
- BSB
- And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.
- Koinōnos
- And the chief priests were accusing him of many things.
MRK 15:4
- KJV
- And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
- BSB
- Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”
- Koinōnos
- And Pilate questioned him again, saying, "Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.
MRK 15:5
- KJV
- But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
- BSB
- But to Pilateʼs amazement, Jesus made no further reply.
- Koinōnos
- But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was astonished.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3
“And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, 9 those that loved him at the first did not forsake him”
Cited to ground: Binding Jesus and delivering Him to Pilate was a calculated move to shift responsibility for His execution to the Roman authorities, as the Sanhedrin lacked the authority to carry out capital punishment under Roman rule.
Translator's notes
MRK 15:1
- <the>:The word translated 'counsel' here refers to a formal meeting or deliberative body, often with an implication of plotting or conspiracy, rather than just general advice.
- the:The term used here for 'bound' implies being tied up, often with ropes or chains, indicating a physical restraint and lack of freedom.
MRK 15:2
- You yourself:The word translated 'You yourself' is emphatic in the original, highlighting Pilate's direct and personal affirmation of the statement.
- have spoken.:The word translated 'have spoken' is a common and versatile term for speaking or saying, often used in a declarative or assertive manner.