independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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Before Pilate — Barabbas released 15:1–15
vv. 1–5 — the dawn handover and the interrogation
1
Καὶ εὐθὺς πρωῒ συμβούλιον ποιήσαντες οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς μετὰ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων καὶ γραμματέων καὶ ὅλον τὸ συνέδριονparticipial — preposed circumstantial — the night verdict formalized at dawn; leans on ἀπήνεγκαν
δήσαντες τὸν Ἰησοῦνparticipial — second preposed participle — he goes to Rome already fettered
ἀπήνεγκανindependent — the transfer to the praetorium
καὶ παρέδωκαν Πιλάτῳ.independent — παραδίδωμι — the passion's keyword: the handing over to Rome
2
Καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν ὁ Πιλᾶτος·independent — the Roman interrogation opens on the political charge
Σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων;content — emphatic σύ — you, of all people? the title that will hang over the cross
ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῷparticipial — preposed pleonastic participle — leans on λέγει
λέγει·independent — historic present — the reply lands vivid
Σὺ λέγεις.content — the poised σὺ λέγεις — affirmation laid back on the asker's own words, neither yes nor no; his last word to power until the cry
3
Καὶ κατηγόρουν αὐτοῦ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς πολλά.independent — iterative imperfect — the barrage of charges
4
ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος πάλιν ἐπηρώτα αὐτὸνindependent — durative imperfect — the renewed probing
λέγων·participial — pleonastic speech-participle
Οὐκ ἀποκρίνῃ οὐδέν;content — οὐ expecting yes — have you no defense?
ἴδε πόσα σου κατηγοροῦσιν.content — ἴδε — Pilate points at the mounting accusation
5
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς οὐκέτι οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίθη,independent — piled negatives — the total silence of Isa 53:7
ὥστε θαυμάζειν τὸν Πιλᾶτον.purpose — ὥστε + infinitive — actual result (typed pur; no result key): wonder before the silent prisoner
vv. 6–11 — the Passover amnesty and Barabbas
6
Κατὰ δὲ ἑορτὴν ἀπέλυεν αὐτοῖς ἕνα δέσμιονindependent — customary imperfect — the narrator's aside on the amnesty custom
ὃν παρῃτοῦντο.relative — the people's pick — the custom that will free the murderer
7
ἦν δὲ ὁ λεγόμενος Βαραββᾶς μετὰ τῶν στασιαστῶν δεδεμένοςindependent — periphrastic — Βαραββᾶς, 'son of the father': the pointed foil introduced
οἵτινες ἐν τῇ στάσει φόνον πεποιήκεισαν.relative — qualitative οἵτινες — the crime named: sedition and blood
8
καὶ ἀναβὰς ὁ ὄχλοςparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἤρξατο
ἤρξατο αἰτεῖσθαιindependent — Markan ἤρξατο + infinitive — the crowd claims its custom
καθὼς ἐποίει αὐτοῖς.comparative — customary imperfect — the yearly precedent invoked
9
ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖςindependent — the offer — Pilate reaches for the amnesty as an exit
λέγων·participial — pleonastic speech-participle
Θέλετε ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων;content — asyndetic θέλετε + subjunctive — the loaded title dangled before the crowd
10
ἐγίνωσκεν γὰρcause — narrator's γάρ — the ground of the offer
ὅτι διὰ φθόνον παραδεδώκεισαν αὐτὸν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς.content — διὰ φθόνον — the motive diagnosed: envy, not justice
11
οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς ἀνέσεισαν τὸν ὄχλονindependent — ἀνασείω — the mob shaken into motion
ἵνα μᾶλλον τὸν Βαραββᾶν ἀπολύσῃ αὐτοῖς.purpose — μᾶλλον — the murderer chosen over the king
vv. 12–15 — 'Crucify him' and the capitulation
12
ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος πάλιν ἀποκριθεὶςparticipial — preposed pleonastic participle — leans on ἔλεγεν
ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς·independent — imperfect — the exchange held open
Τί οὖν θέλετε ποιήσωcontent — deliberative subjunctive — the fate handed to the crowd
ὃν λέγετε τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων;relative — headless relative — 'whom you call': Pilate puts the title on their own lips
13
οἱ δὲ πάλιν ἔκραξαν·independent — πάλιν — the shout now a chant
Σταύρωσον αὐτόν.content — the first cry for the cross
14
ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς·independent — the protest of innocence
Τί γὰρ ἐποίησεν κακόν;content — γάρ in a question — no crime found, and none named
οἱ δὲ περισσῶς ἔκραξαν·independent — περισσῶς — argument answered by volume
Σταύρωσον αὐτόν.content — the chant verbatim — the crowd's only reason is repetition
15
ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαιparticipial — causal participle — τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, the Latinism satis facere: expediency, not verdict
ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν,independent — the guilty freed
καὶ παρέδωκεν τὸν Ἰησοῦνindependent — παρέδωκεν again — the innocent handed on
φραγελλώσαςparticipial — φραγελλόω (Lat. flagellare) — the lashing that preceded crucifixion
ἵνα σταυρωθῇ.purpose — the sentence in a purpose clause — Rome's verb takes over
The soldiers' mockery and the way to Golgotha 15:16–22
vv. 16–20 — the mock coronation in the praetorium
16
Οἱ δὲ στρατιῶται ἀπήγαγον αὐτὸν ἔσω τῆς αὐλῆς,independent — the scene moves indoors — the king's 'court' assembles
ὅ ἐστιν πραιτώριον,phrase modifier — Mark's editorial gloss — the governor's residence, for his Roman readers
καὶ συγκαλοῦσιν ὅλην τὴν σπεῖραν.independent — historic present — the mockery quickens; hyperbolic 'whole' cohort, nominally 600
17
καὶ ἐνδιδύσκουσιν αὐτὸν πορφύρανindependent — historic present — the imperial color, a soldier's cast-off cloak
καὶ περιτιθέασιν αὐτῷindependent — historic present — the coronation continues
πλέξαντες ἀκάνθινον στέφανον·participial — the participle carries the object — στέφανος, the victor's wreath, in thorn
18
καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀσπάζεσθαι αὐτόν·independent — ἤρξαντο + infinitive — the acclamation begins
Χαῖρε, βασιλεῦ τῶν Ἰουδαίων·content — the Ave Caesar parodied — the true title in mocking vocative
19
καὶ ἔτυπτον αὐτοῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν καλάμῳindependent — iterative imperfect — the mock-scepter turned weapon
καὶ ἐνέπτυον αὐτῷ,independent — iterative imperfect — Isa 50:6, the servant spat upon
καὶ τιθέντες τὰ γόναταparticipial — preposed manner participle — leans on προσεκύνουν
προσεκύνουν αὐτῷ.independent — προσκυνέω in parody — the obeisance that is unwittingly due
20
καὶ ὅτε ἐνέπαιξαν αὐτῷ,conditional — temporal ὅτε (typed cnd; no temporal key) — the sport concluded
ἐξέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὴν πορφύρανindependent — the costume reclaimed
καὶ ἐνέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ.independent — re-clothed for the road — the garments soon to be diced for (v. 24)
καὶ ἐξάγουσιν αὐτὸνindependent — historic present — outside the city, to the place of execution
ἵνα σταυρώσωσιν αὐτόν.purpose — the purpose stated without comment
vv. 21–22 — Simon conscripted; Golgotha
21
καὶ ἀγγαρεύουσιν παράγοντά τινα Σίμωνα Κυρηναῖον ἐρχόμενον ἀπʼ ἀγροῦ,independent — historic present ἀγγαρεύω — Roman impressment; a stranger takes up the cross
τὸν πατέρα Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Ῥούφου,phrase modifier — apposition — sons evidently known to Mark's church (cf. Rom 16:13)
ἵνα ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ.purpose — αἴρω τὸν σταυρόν — the discipleship phrase of 8:34, enacted under compulsion
22
καὶ φέρουσιν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸν Γολγοθᾶν τόπον,independent — historic present φέρουσιν — 'carry,' perhaps: he can no longer walk
ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον Κρανίου Τόπος.phrase modifier — Mark's gloss-formula — the Aramaic name rendered for Greek readers
The crucifixion, the charge, and the mockery 15:23–32
vv. 23–27 — crucified between two robbers
23
καὶ ἐδίδουν αὐτῷ ἐσμυρνισμένον οἶνον·independent — conative imperfect — the condemned man's narcotic offered
ὃς δὲ οὐκ ἔλαβεν.independent — ὃς δέ near-demonstrative — death met with senses unclouded (cf. 14:25)
24
καὶ σταυροῦσιν αὐτὸνindependent — historic present — the crucifixion itself in three words, no description
καὶ διαμερίζονται τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ,independent — Ps 22:18 — the psalm's wording absorbed into the narrative, uncited
βάλλοντες κλῆρον ἐπʼ αὐτὰparticipial — manner participle — the soldiers dice beneath the cross
τίς τί ἄρῃ.content — compressed double interrogative τίς τί — indirect deliberative question
25
ἦν δὲ ὥρα τρίτηindependent — 9 a.m. — the first of the chapter's three-hour bells (vv. 33, 34)
καὶ ἐσταύρωσαν αὐτόν.independent — Semitic καί = 'when' — the hour and the act coordinated
26
καὶ ἦν ἡ ἐπιγραφὴ τῆς αἰτίας αὐτοῦ ἐπιγεγραμμένη·independent — periphrastic perfect — the titulus, the legal cause of death posted
Ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων.content — verbless titulus — the charge is, ironically, the truth
27
Καὶ σὺν αὐτῷ σταυροῦσιν δύο λῃστάς,independent — historic present — λῃσταί, the brigand-word of Barabbas' kind
ἕνα ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ ἕνα ἐξ εὐωνύμων αὐτοῦ.phrase modifier — the places James and John asked for (10:37); v. 28 (Isa 53:12) absent from the earliest text
vv. 29–32 — three waves of mockery
29
Καὶ οἱ παραπορευόμενοι ἐβλασφήμουν αὐτὸνindependent — ἐβλασφήμουν — the blasphemy charge (14:64) inverted onto the mockers
κινοῦντες τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶνparticipial — Ps 22:7 — the scorners' gesture from the psalm
καὶ λέγοντες·participial — the speech-frame for the first taunt
Οὐὰ ὁ καταλύων τὸν ναὸν καὶ οἰκοδομῶν ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις,content — verbless jeer — the garbled temple-saying of 14:58 thrown back
30
σῶσον σεαυτὸνcontent — the taunt's imperative — σῴζω, the word of his healings
καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ.participial — means participle — the descent demanded as proof
31
ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἐμπαίζοντες πρὸς ἀλλήλους μετὰ τῶν γραμματέωνparticipial — preposed circumstantial — the second wave; leans on ἔλεγον
ἔλεγον·independent — iterative imperfect — the professionals mock to one another, not to him
Ἄλλους ἔσωσεν,content — fronted Ἄλλους — an unwitting confession of his work
ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται σῶσαι·content — truer than they know — saving others is why he does not save himself (10:45)
32
ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰσραὴλ καταβάτω νῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ,content — third-person imperative — the two trial titles (14:61; 15:2) fused in scorn
ἵνα ἴδωμεν καὶ πιστεύσωμεν.purpose — sight demanded before faith — the inversion of the Gospel's order
καὶ οἱ συνεσταυρωμένοι σὺν αὐτῷ ὠνείδιζον αὐτόν.independent — the third wave — even the co-crucified; the rejection total
Darkness, the cry, the death, the confession 15:33–41
vv. 33–36 — the darkness and the cry of dereliction
33
Καὶ γενομένης ὥρας ἕκτηςparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning; noon
σκότος ἐγένετο ἐφʼ ὅλην τὴν γῆν ἕως ὥρας ἐνάτης.independent — Amos 8:9 — sun down at noon; judgment-darkness over γῆ, land or earth
34
καὶ τῇ ἐνάτῃ ὥρᾳ ἐβόησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς φωνῇ μεγάλῃ·independent — ἐβόησεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ — a shout, not a whisper; the only word from the cross in Mark
Ἐλωῒ ἐλωῒ λεμὰ σαβαχθάνι;content — Ps 22:1 in Aramaic — the psalm prayed, not merely fulfilled
ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον·phrase modifier — Mark's gloss-formula, as at Golgotha (v. 22)
Ὁ θεός μου ὁ θεός μου, εἰς τί ἐγκατέλιπές με;content — the dereliction real, yet still 'my God' — abandonment addressed to the Abandoner
35
καί τινες τῶν παρεστηκότων ἀκούσαντεςparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἔλεγον
ἔλεγον·independent — the mishearing begins
Ἴδε Ἠλίαν φωνεῖ.content — Ἐλωΐ misheard as Ἠλίας — the rescuer-prophet (Mal 4:5) heard where God is being addressed
36
δραμὼν δέ τιςparticipial — preposed aorist participle — the first of three before the verb
καὶ γεμίσας σπόγγον ὄξουςparticipial — ὄξος — the soldiers' posca; Ps 69:21 echo
περιθεὶς καλάμῳparticipial — third preposed participle — leans on ἐπότιζεν
ἐπότιζεν αὐτόν,independent — conative imperfect — 'tried to give'
λέγων·participial — the speech-frame
Ἄφετε ἴδωμενcontent — ἄφετε + hortatory subjunctive — the deathbed made a spectacle
εἰ ἔρχεται Ἠλίας καθελεῖν αὐτόν.content — indirect question — the rescue that will not come; καθελεῖν anticipates the burial (v. 46)
vv. 37–39 — the death, the veil, the confession
37
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀφεὶς φωνὴν μεγάληνparticipial — the second great cry — strength where the crucified should have none; its force a noted crux
ἐξέπνευσεν.independent — ἐξέπνευσεν — one word; Mark's starkest sentence
38
Καὶ τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ ἐσχίσθη εἰς δύο ἀπʼ ἄνωθεν ἕως κάτω.independent — divine passive; σχίζω — the verb of the torn heavens (1:10) closes the frame; torn from the top: God's side
39
Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ κεντυρίων ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐξ ἐναντίας αὐτοῦparticipial — preposed circumstantial — the executioner watching; leans on εἶπεν
ὅτι οὕτως ἐξέπνευσενcontent — οὕτως — the manner of the dying, not a miracle, converts him
εἶπεν·independent — the confession-frame
Ἀληθῶς οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος υἱὸς θεοῦ ἦν.content — υἱὸς θεοῦ anarthrous — 'a son' on pagan lips, 'the Son' in Mark's frame (1:1; 9:7): the Gospel's climactic human confession, from a Gentile, at the cross
vv. 40–41 — the women watching from afar
40
Ἦσαν δὲ καὶ γυναῖκες ἀπὸ μακρόθεν θεωροῦσαι,independent — periphrastic imperfect — the faithful watchers where the Twelve have fled
ἐν αἷς καὶ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ Ἰακώβου τοῦ μικροῦ καὶ Ἰωσῆτος μήτηρ καὶ Σαλώμη,relative — verbless relative — the witnesses named: they anchor cross, burial, and empty tomb
41
αἳ ὅτε ἦν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ ἠκολούθουν αὐτῷ καὶ διηκόνουν αὐτῷ,relative — ἀκολουθεῖν and διακονεῖν — the discipleship verbs, held by the women
καὶ ἄλλαι πολλαὶ αἱ συναναβᾶσαι αὐτῷ εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.phrase modifier — verbless addition — the pilgrim company widened beyond the named three
The burial by Joseph of Arimathea 15:42–47
vv. 42–45 — the bold request and the granted corpse
42
Καὶ ἤδη ὀψίας γενομένης,participial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on εἰσῆλθεν (v. 43); the Sabbath presses
ἐπεὶ ἦν παρασκευή,cause — preposed causal ἐπεί — the urgency explained; leans forward with the genitive absolute
ὅ ἐστιν προσάββατον,phrase modifier — Mark's gloss — burial must be done by sundown
43
ἐλθὼν Ἰωσὴφ ὁ ἀπὸ Ἁριμαθαίας, εὐσχήμων βουλευτής,participial — preposed circumstantial — a Sanhedrist claims the Sanhedrin's victim
ὃς καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν προσδεχόμενος τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ,relative — periphrastic — a kingdom-waiter inside the council
τολμήσαςparticipial — τολμήσας — the daring named: to ask for a crucified man's body marks him
εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς τὸν Πιλᾶτονindependent — the bold entry
καὶ ᾐτήσατο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ.independent — σῶμα — the request that spares Jesus the criminals' pit
44
ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἐθαύμασενindependent — θαυμάζω again (v. 5) — crucifixion usually took days
εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκεν,content — εἰ after θαυμάζω — the object of the surprise
καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν κεντυρίωναparticipial — preposed participle — the confessor of v. 39 recalled as death's official witness
ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸνindependent — the verification
εἰ πάλαι ἀπέθανεν·content — indirect question — the death established on Roman record
45
καὶ γνοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ κεντυρίωνοςparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἐδωρήσατο
ἐδωρήσατο τὸ πτῶμα τῷ Ἰωσήφ.independent — πτῶμα — Mark's blunt 'corpse' where the request said σῶμα
vv. 46–47 — the linen, the rock tomb, the watching Marys
46
καὶ ἀγοράσας σινδόναparticipial — preposed participle — the purchase before sundown
καθελὼν αὐτὸνparticipial — καθελών — the taking-down Elijah was mockingly awaited for (v. 36)
ἐνείλησεν τῇ σινδόνιindependent — the shrouding
καὶ ἔθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν μνημείῳindependent — ἔθηκεν — answered by τέθειται (v. 47) and 'where they laid him' (16:6)
ὃ ἦν λελατομημένον ἐκ πέτρας,relative — periphrastic pluperfect — a sealed, single-entrance chamber
καὶ προσεκύλισεν λίθον ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τοῦ μνημείου.independent — the λίθος set — the stone 16:3 will find rolled away
47
ἡ δὲ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ Ἰωσῆτος ἐθεώρουνindependent — durative imperfect — the two Marys mark the spot
ποῦ τέθειται.content — indirect question, perfect τέθειται — the chain of witness runs unbroken to 16:1
Analysis. Mark 15 keeps the paratactic drumbeat of Mark 1, but the flush-left verbs now happen to Jesus rather than through him: bound, led away, handed over — παραδίδωμι, the passion's keyword, opens the chapter (v. 1), grounds Pilate's insight (v. 10), and seals the verdict (v. 15). The historic presents cluster where the horror is thickest (συγκαλοῦσιν, ἐνδιδύσκουσιν, περιτιθέασιν, ἐξάγουσιν, ἀγγαρεύουσιν, φέρουσιν, and the three-word σταυροῦσιν αὐτόν), flagged in the tags as they land. Against the purple column the usual two things indent: the preposed participles that load a clause before its verb strikes (the dawn consultation of v. 1, βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, the genitive absolutes γενομένης ὥρας ἕκτης and ὀψίας γενομένης, Joseph's bare τολμήσας), and speech, hanging blue beneath its verb of saying — nearly all of it hostile: Pilate's four questions, the twice-chanted Σταύρωσον αὐτόν, the cohort's Χαῖρε βασιλεῦ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, and the three waves of mockery at the cross, each hurling a true title back as a jeer. Beneath the narrative the Psalm 22 substructure shows without citation: the divided garments (v. 24 = Ps 22:18), the wagging heads (v. 29 = Ps 22:7), and the ninth-hour cry itself (v. 34 = Ps 22:1, in Aramaic with Mark's translation gloss), joined by the vinegar of Ps 69:21 (v. 36) and the noon darkness of Amos 8:9 (v. 33). Cruxes the layout leaves honest: Σὺ λέγεις (v. 2) keeps its studied poise — an affirmation laid back on the asker's own words, neither yes nor no, after which Jesus is silent until the cry; ἐβόησεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ (v. 34) and the second great cry of v. 37 carry startling force — the crucified die of slow suffocation, quietly, and it is seeing 'that he thus breathed his last' that moves the centurion; his υἱὸς θεοῦ (v. 39) is anarthrous — 'a son of God' is all a pagan need mean, but Mark hears the Gospel's own title (1:1; 9:7) confessed at last by a human being, a Gentile executioner, beneath the torn veil (ἐσχίσθη, the verb of the torn heavens, 1:10 — the frame closed); and v. 28 (the Isa 53:12 citation) is absent from this text as from the earliest witnesses, so the chapter runs 1–27, 29–47.