Mark 15

Mark 15:1

This night - The Jews in reckoning their days began with the evening, according to the Mosaic computation, which called the evening and the morning the first day, Genesis 1:5. And so that which after sunset is here called this night is, Mr 14:30, called to - day. The expression there is peculiarly significant. Verily I say to thee, that thou thyself, confident as thou art, to - day, even within four and twenty hours; yea, this night, or ever the sun be risen, nay, before the cock crow twice, before three in the morning, wilt deny me thrice. Our Lord doubtless spoke so determinately, as knowing a cock would crow once before the usual time of cock crowing. By Mark 13:35, it appears, that the third watch of the night, ending at three in the morning, was commonly styled the cock crowing. Zechariah 13:7.

Mark 15:6

Matthew 26:36.

Mark 15:7

Sore amazed - The original word imports the most shocking amazement, mingled with grief: and that word in the next verse which we render sorrowful intimates, that he was surrounded with sorrow on every side, breaking in upon him with such violence, as was ready to separate his soul from his body.

Mark 15:10

Abba, Father - St. Mark seems to add the word Father, by way of explication.

Mark 15:11

Saith to Peter - The zealous, the confident Peter.

Mark 15:17

Matthew 26:47; Lu 22:47; John 18:2.

Mark 15:18

Whomsoever I shall kiss - Probably our Lord, in great condescension, had used (according to the Jewish custom) to permit his disciples to do this, after they had been some time absent.

Mark 15:21

Matthew 26:51; Lu 22:49; John 18:10.

Mark 15:25

A young man - It does not appear, that he was one of Christ’s disciples. Probably hearing an unusual noise, he started up out of his bed, not far from the garden, and ran out with only the sheet about him, to see what was the matter. And the young men laid hold on him - Who was only suspected to be Christ’s disciple: but could not touch them who really were so.

Mark 15:27

Matthew 26:57; Lu 22:54; John 18:12.

Mark 15:29

All the council sought for witness and found none - What an amazing proof of the overruling providence of God, considering both their authority, and the rewards they could offer, that no two consistent witnesses could be procured, to charge him with any gross crime. Matthew 26:59.

Mark 15:30

Their evidences were not sufficient - The Greek words literally rendered are, Were not equal: not equal to the charge of a capital crime: it is the same word in the 59th verse.

Mark 15:32

We heard him say - It is observable, that the words which they thus misrepresented, were spoken by Christ at least three years before, John 2:19. Their going back so far to find matter for the charge, was a glorious, though silent attestation of the unexceptionable manner wherein he had behaved, through the whole course of his public ministry.

Mark 15:35

Matthew 26:63; Lu 22:67.

Mark 15:40

Matthew 26:69; Lu 22:56; John 18:25.

Mark 15:46

And he covered his head - Which was a usual custom with mourners, and was fitly expressive both of grief and shame.