Mark 15:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At first light the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole council finish their deliberation, bind Jesus, and hand him over to Pilate, the Roman governor.
What Does Mark 15:1 Mean?
The night hearing before the high priest ends at daybreak with a final consultation. Under Roman rule the council could not carry out a death sentence, so the leaders of Israel bind Jesus and deliver him to Pontius Pilate, the governor who alone holds the power of execution.
Mark's quiet verb carries the weight of the scene: delivered, handed over. Judas handed him to the priests; the priests hand him to Pilate; Pilate will hand him over to the cross. Yet behind every handing over stands the Son who said he came to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). The bound prisoner is the freest man in Jerusalem, walking willingly into the morning he had three times foretold.
Mark 15:1 in the Original Language
paradidomi (παραδίδωμι), 'delivered' -- to hand over, the verb that sounds again and again through the passion story.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 15:1
What does Mark 15:1 mean?
At first light the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole council finish their deliberation, bind Jesus, and hand him over to Pilate, the Roman governor.