Jesus Delivered to Pilate (Mark 15:1–5)
1 UDB Very early the next morning all the chief priests and Jewish elders decided how to persuade the Romans to execute Jesus. BSB BSB: When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.
Judas Hangs Himself (Zechariah 11:10–17)
4 UDB He said, "I have sinned. I have betrayed a man who is innocent." They replied, "That means nothing to us! That is your problem!" BSB BSB: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
6 UDB The high priests picked up the coins and said, "This is money that we paid for a man to die, and our law does not allow us to put money like this into the temple treasury." BSB BSB: The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”
7 UDB So they decided to use that money to buy a field that was called the Potter's Field. They made that field a place where they buried strangers who died in Jerusalem. BSB BSB: After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.
8 UDB That is why that place is still called "The Field of Blood." BSB BSB: That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9 UDB By buying that field, they made come true these words that the prophet Jeremiah had written long ago: "They took the thirty silver coins—that was what the leaders of Israel decided that he was worth— BSB BSB: Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel,
10 UDB and with that money they bought the field of the potter. They did that as the Lord had commanded me." BSB BSB: and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.”
Jesus before Pilate (Luke 23:1–5; John 18:28–40)
11 UDB Then Jesus stood in front of the governor. The governor asked him, "Do you say you are the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you have just said." BSB BSB: Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 UDB But when the chief priests and elders accused Jesus of doing various wrong things, he did not answer. BSB BSB: And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.
13 UDB So Pilate said to him, "You hear how many things they are accusing you of; are you not going to reply?" BSB BSB: Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?”
14 UDB But Jesus did not say anything. He did not reply to any of the things about which they were accusing him. As a result, the governor was very surprised. BSB BSB: But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas (Mark 15:6–11; Luke 23:13–25)
15 UDB Now it was the governor's custom each year during the Passover Celebration to release one person who was in prison. He released whatever prisoner the people wanted. BSB BSB: Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.
16 UDB At that time there was in Jerusalem a well-known prisoner whose name was Barabbas. BSB BSB: At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.
17 UDB So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which prisoner would you like me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus whom they called the Christ?" BSB BSB: So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
18 UDB He asked that question because he realized that the chief priests had brought Jesus to him only because they were jealous of Jesus. And Pilate thought that the crowd would prefer that he release Jesus. BSB BSB: For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 UDB While Pilate was sitting in the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Early this morning I had a bad dream because of that man. So do not condemn that righteous man!" BSB BSB: While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”
20 UDB But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask Pilate to release Barabbas and to order that Jesus be executed. BSB BSB: But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.
21 UDB So when the governor asked them, "Which of the two men do you want me to release for you?" they replied, "Barabbas!" BSB BSB: “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.
22 UDB Pilate asked them, "So what should I do with Jesus, whom you called the Christ?" They all answered, "Command that your soldiers crucify him!" BSB BSB: “What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”
23 UDB Pilate replied, "Why? What crime has he committed?" But they shouted even louder, "Have him crucified!" BSB BSB: “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
Pilate Washes His Hands (Mark 15:12–15)
24 UDB Pilate realized that he was accomplishing nothing. He saw that instead, the people were starting to riot. So he took a basin of water and washed his hands as the crowd was watching. He said, "By washing my hands I am showing you that if this man dies, it is your fault, not mine!" BSB BSB: When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”
26 UDB Then he ordered the soldiers to release Barabbas for them. But he ordered that his soldiers whip Jesus. And then he turned Jesus over to the soldiers for them to nail Jesus to a cross. BSB BSB: So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus (Isaiah 50:4–11; Mark 15:16–20; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)
27 UDB Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the soldiers' barracks. The whole cohort gathered around him. BSB BSB: Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him.
28 UDB They pulled off his clothes and put a bright red robe on him, pretending he was a king. BSB BSB: They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
29 UDB They took some branches with thorns and wove them to make a crown and put it on his head. They put in his right hand a reed like a staff that a king would hold. Then they knelt in front of him and made fun of him, saying, "Greetings to the king of the Jews!" BSB BSB: And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
30 UDB They kept spitting on him. They took the staff and kept striking him on the head with it. BSB BSB: Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
31 UDB When they had finished ridiculing him, they pulled off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to the place where they would nail him to a cross. BSB BSB: After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.
The Crucifixion (Psalm 22:1–31; Mark 15:21–32; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–27)
32 UDB After Jesus carried his cross a short distance, the soldiers saw a man named Simon, who was from the city of Cyrene. They forced him to carry the cross for Jesus. BSB BSB: Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
33 UDB They came to a place called Golgotha. That name means "the place like a skull." BSB BSB: And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull,
34 UDB When they got there, they mixed with wine something that tasted very bitter. They gave it to Jesus to drink so that he would not feel so much pain when they nailed him on the cross. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. Some soldiers took his clothes. BSB BSB: they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it.
35 UDB Then they nailed him to the cross. Afterwards, they divided his clothes among themselves by gambling with something like dice to decide which piece of clothing each one would get. BSB BSB: When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.
36 UDB Then the soldiers sat down there to guard him, to prevent anyone from trying to rescue him. BSB BSB: And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.
37 UDB They fastened to the cross above Jesus's head a sign on which had been written why they were nailing him to the cross. But all it said was, 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.' BSB BSB: Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 UDB They also nailed two bandits to crosses. They placed one cross on the right side of Jesus and the other on the left side. BSB BSB: Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right and the other on His left.
39 UDB The people who were passing by insulted him by shaking their heads as if he were an evil man. BSB BSB: And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
40 UDB They said, "You said you would destroy the temple and then build it again within three days! So if you can do that, you should be able to save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!" BSB BSB: and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
41 UDB Similarly, the chief priests, the men who taught the Jewish laws, and the elders made fun of him. They said things like, BSB BSB: In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying,
42 UDB "He saved others from their sicknesses, but he cannot help himself!" "He says that he is the King of Israel. So he should come down from the cross. Then we would believe him!" BSB BSB: “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.
43 UDB "He says that he trusts in God, and that he is the man who is also God. So if God is pleased with him, God should rescue him now!" BSB BSB: He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
44 UDB And the two bandits who were on crosses with him also insulted him, saying similar things. BSB BSB: In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him.
The Death of Jesus (Psalm 22:1–31; Mark 15:33–41; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30)
45 UDB At noon it became dark over the whole land. It stayed dark until three o'clock in the afternoon. BSB BSB: From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
46 UDB At about three o'clock Jesus shouted loudly, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" That means, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" BSB BSB: About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 47 UDB When some of the people standing there heard the word "Eli," they thought that he was calling for the prophet Elijah. BSB BSB: When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.”
48 UDB Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with sour wine. Then he put the sponge on the tip of a reed and held it up in order that Jesus could suck out the wine that was in it. BSB BSB: One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink.
49 UDB But the other people there said, "Wait! Let us see if Elijah comes to save him!" BSB BSB: But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.”
52 UDB Tombs opened up, and the bodies of many people who had honored God became alive again. BSB BSB: The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
53 UDB They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus became alive again, they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people there. BSB BSB: After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 UDB The officer who supervised the soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross was standing nearby. His soldiers who were guarding the crosses were also there. When they felt the earthquake and saw all the other things that happened, they were terrified. They exclaimed, "Truly he was the Son of God!" BSB BSB: When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
55 UDB Many women were there, watching from a distance. They were women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee in order to provide the things he needed. BSB BSB: And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.
56 UDB Among these women were Mary from Magdala, another Mary who was the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John. BSB BSB: Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
The Burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:9–12; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)
57 UDB When it was almost evening, a rich man named Joseph came there. He was from the town of Arimathea. He also was a disciple of Jesus. BSB BSB: When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus.
58 UDB He went to Pilate and asked Pilate to allow him to take the body of Jesus and bury it. Pilate ordered his soldiers to allow him to take the body. BSB BSB: He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
59 UDB So Joseph and others took the body and wrapped it in a clean white cloth. BSB BSB: So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 UDB Then they placed it in Joseph's own new tomb that workers had dug out of a rock cliff. They rolled a huge circular flat stone in front of the entrance to the tomb. Then they left. BSB BSB: and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.
61 UDB Mary from Magdala and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb, watching. BSB BSB: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
The Guards at the Tomb 62 UDB The next day was Saturday, the Jewish day of rest. The chief priests and some of the Pharisees went to Pilate. BSB BSB: The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate.
63 UDB They said, "Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive, he said, 'Three days after I die I will become alive again.' BSB BSB: “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
64 UDB So we ask you to order soldiers to guard the tomb for three days. If you do not do that, his disciples may come and steal the body. Then they will tell people that he has risen from the dead. If they deceive people by saying that, it will be worse than the way he deceived people before." BSB BSB: So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.”
65 UDB Pilate replied, "You can take some soldiers. Go to the tomb and make it as secure as you know how." BSB BSB: “You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”
66 UDB So they went and made the tomb secure by fastening a cord from the stone that was in front of the entrance to the rock cliff on each side and sealing it. They also left some soldiers there to guard the tomb. BSB BSB: So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.