Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

◄ Mark 15:15 ►

New International Version
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

New Living Translation
So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

English Standard Version
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Berean Standard Bible
And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

Berean Literal Bible
And Pilate, desiring to do that which was satisfactory to the crowd, released Barabbas to them. And having flogged Him, he delivered Jesus that He might be crucified.

King James Bible
And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

New King James Version
So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

New American Standard Bible
Intent on satisfying the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

NASB 1995
Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

NASB 1977
And wishing to satisfy the multitude, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified.

Legacy Standard Bible
And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him over to be crucified.

Amplified Bible
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, set Barabbas free for them; and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over [to his soldiers] to be crucified.

Christian Standard Bible
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

American Standard Version
And Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

Contemporary English Version
Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.

English Revised Version
And Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Pilate wanted to satisfy the people, so he freed Barabbas for them. But he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

Good News Translation
Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed him over to be crucified.

International Standard Version
So Pilate, wanting to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

Majority Standard Bible
And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

NET Bible
Because he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them. Then, after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

New Heart English Bible
Pilate, wishing to please the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.

Webster's Bible Translation
And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Weymouth New Testament
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the mob, released Barabbas for them, and after scourging Jesus handed Him over for crucifixion.

World English Bible
Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Pilate, resolving to do that which [was] satisfactory to the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and delivered up Jesus—having scourged [Him]—that He might be crucified.

Berean Literal Bible
And Pilate, desiring to do that which was satisfactory to the crowd, released Barabbas to them. And having flogged Him, he delivered Jesus that He might be crucified.

Young's Literal Translation
and Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus -- having scourged him -- that he might be crucified.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Pilate, willing to satisfy the crowd, loosed to them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, having scourged, that he might be crucified.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And so Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Pilate, wishing to satisfy the people, released Barabbas to them, and he delivered Jesus, having severely scourged him, to be crucified.

New American Bible
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified.

New Revised Standard Version
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Now Pilate wanted to do the will of the people; so he released Bar-Abbas to them, and he delivered to them Jesus, scourged, to be crucified.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But Pilate chose to do the will of the crowds and he released Barabba to them and delivered Yeshua to them, after he had been scourged, to be crucified.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And Pilate, willing to gratify the multitude, released to them Barabbas; and delivered Jesus, after he had scourged him, to be crucified.

Godbey New Testament
And Pilate, wishing to do the multitude a favor, released unto them Barabbas. And having scourged Jesus, he delivered Him up that He should be crucified.

Haweis New Testament
So Pilate, willing to do what would be satisfactory to the people, released to them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus to be scourged, in order to be crucified.

Mace New Testament
Pilate therefore willing to humour the people, released to them Barabbas, and having caused Jesus to be scourg'd, he deliver'd him to be crucified.

Weymouth New Testament
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the mob, released Barabbas for them, and after scourging Jesus handed Him over for crucifixion.

Worrell New Testament
And Pilate, wishing to satisfy the multitude, released to them Barabbas, and delivered up Jesus, after having scourged Him, to be crucified.

Worsley New Testament
So Pilate being willing to ingratiate with the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus, delivered Him up to be crucified.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Pilate Delivers up Jesus
…14“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” 15And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. 16Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the whole company together.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 27:26
So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

Luke 23:24-25
So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met. / As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over to their will.

John 19:1
Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.

Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Acts 3:13-14
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him. / You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

John 18:39-40
But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” / “Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)

1 Peter 2:24
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Psalm 22:16
For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.

Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

John 19:16
Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, and the soldiers took Him away.

Romans 4:25
He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

1 Corinthians 15:3
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Philippians 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

Treasury of Scripture

And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas to them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

willing.

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Psalm 57:11
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

Matthew 27:26
Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

when.

Mark 10:34
And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Psalm 129:3
The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

Isaiah 50:6
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Jump to Previous

Barabbas Barab'bas Content Cross Crowd Crucified Crucifixion Death Delivered Desiring Desirous Flogged Free Handed Jesus Mob Multitude Pilate Please Pleasing Released Satisfy Scourged Scourging Whipped Willing Wishing

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Mark 15

1. Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate.
6. Upon the clamor of the people, the murderer Barabbas is released,
12. and Jesus delivered up to be crucified.
16. He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked;
21. faints in bearing his cross;
27. hangs between two thieves;
29. suffers the triumphing reproaches of the crowd;
39. but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God;
42. and is honorably buried by Joseph.

Berean Study Bible

Wanting to satisfy the crowd
This phrase highlights Pilate's motivation driven by political expediency rather than justice. The Greek word for "satisfy" is "ἱκανόω" (hikanaō), which implies making sufficient or adequate. Pilate's decision reflects a common human tendency to prioritize immediate peace over righteousness. Historically, Roman governors were tasked with maintaining order, and Pilate's actions reveal his fear of unrest. This moment serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising truth for the sake of appeasement.

Pilate
Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea from AD 26-36. His role in the trial of Jesus is pivotal, as he represents the secular authority that ultimately condemns Jesus. Archaeological evidence, such as the Pilate Stone discovered in Caesarea, confirms his historical existence. Pilate's interactions with Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels, show a man caught between his understanding of Jesus' innocence and the political pressures of his position.

released Barabbas to them
Barabbas, whose name means "son of the father" in Aramaic, was a prisoner involved in insurrection and murder (Mark 15:7). The choice between Jesus and Barabbas symbolizes the rejection of the true Son of the Father for a false one. This release is a profound illustration of substitutionary atonement, where the guilty is set free while the innocent is condemned, prefiguring the spiritual exchange at the heart of the Gospel.

But he had Jesus flogged
Flogging, or scourging, was a brutal Roman punishment intended to weaken a prisoner before crucifixion. The Greek word "φραγελλόω" (phragelloo) describes this severe beating. Historically, this act was so violent that it sometimes resulted in death. This suffering fulfills Isaiah 53:5, which prophesies that the Messiah would be "wounded for our transgressions." It underscores the physical and spiritual suffering Jesus endured for humanity's redemption.

and handed Him over to be crucified
The phrase "handed Him over" uses the Greek "παραδίδωμι" (paradidomi), meaning to deliver or betray. This term is significant in the Passion narrative, as it reflects both human betrayal and divine sovereignty. Crucifixion was a Roman method of execution reserved for the worst criminals, emphasizing the depth of Jesus' humiliation and suffering. Scripturally, this act fulfills Jesus' own predictions of His death (Mark 10:33-34) and highlights the sacrificial nature of His mission.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15-21) And so Pilate, willing to content the people.--The word which St. Mark uses for "content" appears to be the Greek equivalent for the Latin satisfacere, and so takes its place in the evidence for St. Mark's connection with Rome and the Roman Church.

Scourged him.--The word, like that in St. Matthew, is formed from the Latin flagellum, and forms another link in the chain of evidence just referred to.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - And Pilate, wishing βべーたοおみくろんυうぷしろんλらむだόμενος to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. St. Luke and St. John are more full in details here. From their narratives it appears that when Pilate found that his attempt to rescue our Lord, by putting Barabbas in contrast with him, had failed, he next hoped to move the multitude to pity by the terrible punishment of scourging, after which he trusted that they would relent. Scourging was a vile punishment, inflicted on slaves. But it was also inflicted upon those who were condemned to death, even though freemen This scourging, which was a part of the punishment of crucifixion, was of frightful severity. Horace ('Sat.' 1:3, 119) speaks of it as "horrible flagellum." But it appears from St. John (John 21:1) that the scourging of Jesus took place before his formal condemnation to be crucified; we may therefore suppose that it was not a part of the ordinary punishment of crucifixion. At all events, there is nothing, upon a careful comparison of the narratives, to lead us to the conclusion that our blessed Lord was scourged twice. In fact, Pilate anticipated the time of the scourging, in the vain hope that he might by this means save our Lord from the capital punishment. A comparison of the narratives of St. Matthew and St. Mark with that of St. John will make this clear; for they all three refer to one and the same scourging. Recent investigations at Jerusalem have disclosed what may probably have been the place of the punishment. In a subterranean chamber, discovered by Captain Warren, on what Mr. Fergusson holds to be the site of Antonia, Pilate's praetorium, stands a truncated column, no part of the structure itself, but just such a dwarf pillar as criminals would be tied to to be scourged. The chamber cannot be later than the time of Herod (see Professor Westcott on St. John 19.).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

And
δでるたὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

wishing
βουλόμενος (boulomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1014: To will, intend, desire, wish. Middle voice of a primary verb; to 'will, ' i.e. be willing.

to
πぱいοおみくろんιいおたῆσしぐまαあるふぁιいおた (poiēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

satisfy
ἱκかっぱαあるふぁνにゅーὸνにゅー (hikanon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2425: From hiko; competent, i.e. Ample or fit.

the
τたうῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

crowd,
ὄχかいλらむだῳ (ochlō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.

Pilate
Πぱいιいおたλらむだᾶτος (Pilatos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4091: Pilate. Of Latin origin; close-pressed, i.e. Firm; Pilatus, a Roman.

released
ἀπέλυσεν (apelysen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 630: From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce.

Barabbas
Βαραββᾶνにゅー (Barabban)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 912: Barabbas. Of Chaldee origin; son of Abba; Bar-abbas, an Israelite.

to them.
αあるふぁὐτたうοおみくろんῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

But
κかっぱαあるふぁὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

{he had} Jesus
Ἰησοῦνにゅー (Iēsoun)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

flogged,
φραγελλώσας (phragellōsas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5417: To flagellate, scourge. From a presumed equivalent of the Latin flagellum; to whip, i.e. Lash as a public punishment.

[and] handed Him over
παρέδωκεν (paredōken)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3860: From para and didomi; to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit.

to
ἵνにゅーαあるふぁ (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

be crucified.
σταυρωθῇ (staurōthē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4717: From stauros; to impale on the cross; figuratively, to extinguish passion or selfishness.

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NT Gospels: Mark 15:15 Pilate wishing to please the multitude released (Mar Mk Mr)