Mark 15:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked.

NIV: Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested.

NASB: Now at the Passover Feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested.

CSB: At the festival Pilate used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested.

NLT: Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner — anyone the people requested.

KJV: Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

NKJV: Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.

The "feast" encompasses the Passover, which is this day, and the week-long celebration called the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which starts in the evening (Leviticus 23:5–8). The Passover directly commemorates the tenth plague in Egypt, during which God killed the first-borns of the Egyptians and their animals while sparing the Israelites who had covered their doorposts and lintels with a lamb's blood (Exodus 12:1–32). The Feast of Unleavened Bread further celebrates God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 13:3–10). Because the two events are right after one another, they are often referred to together.

The tradition mentioned here, of releasing a prisoner at Passover, is not well documented. There is a vague reference to it in the Mishnah Pesachim, written between AD 190 and 230, which has rules about the Passover. Section 8.6 says, "[In the case of] …one who has been promised to being released from prison…we may slaughter [a Pesach sacrifice] for them [to eat from]." It goes on to say that the lamb must not be for the soon-to-be-released prisoner alone, presumably because if he isn't released the sacrifice will be disqualified. But when deciding how many lambs to prepare, the family may account for him. This suggests that prisoners were released on Passover often enough that the Jewish leadership felt they needed a standard for their sacrifice.

"Asked for" is putting it politely. Roman rulers may release a prisoner if a mob gathers and demands strongly, usually with shouting. This is, indeed, what the crowd of Jews do. Pilate is not offering this as a gesture of mercy; he's negotiating with a mob.

Mark 15:6–15 describes history's greatest miscarriage of justice. The Sanhedrin has convicted Jesus with blasphemy, a crime in the Mosaic law (Mark 14:61–64). Such a charge won't convince the Roman authorities to execute Jesus, so they present Him to Pilate as an imminent insurrectionist (Luke 23:2, 5). Pilate interrogates Jesus and finds Him harmless (John 18:33–38). Pilate then sends Jesus to Herod Antipas, who also finds the Sanhedrin's charges baseless (Luke 23:6–15). Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate who must decide: risk rebellion by the Jewish leadership or kill an innocent man? Pilate's decision is also found in Matthew 27:15–26, Luke 23:13–25, and John 18:38—19:16.

After sham trials, Jesus is taken to the local Roman governor, Pilate. This is the only person in Jerusalem with the legal authority to have Jesus executed. Pilate is not fooled, and he attempts to arrange for Jesus' release. But the ruler's ploys fail, in part because Jesus will not defend Himself, and partly because the mob is intent on His death. Pilate offers a prisoner exchange in Barabbas, and even has Jesus brutally beaten in order to pacify the crowd. Eventually, he caves in and Jesus is crucified. Thanks to His prior abuse, Jesus survives only a few hours on the cross before dying. Jesus is then buried in a tomb belonging to a secret follower among the Jerusalem council.

After being unfairly judged, Jesus will now be unfairly sentenced and cruelly murdered. It's reasonable to say this chapter provides context for everything else contained in the Bible. From Adam and Eve until the last baby born in the millennial kingdom, every person other than Christ is stained with sin. Conscience, law, Jesus' direct leadership, even the indwelling of the Holy Spirit cannot keep us from sinning. Sinless Jesus had to die on the cross, sacrificing Himself in our place, so our sins could be forgiven and we could be reconciled to God. Beneath the violence, darkness, dishonor, and death is the love of God for all mankind (John 3:16). Jesus' crucifixion is also found in Matthew 27, Luke 23, and John 19. The next chapter describes the miracle of His resurrection.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.