rabbas, e or Jesus, which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19 ¶ When he was set down on the judgment-seat his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered, and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why? what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands f before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the e Barabbas, a person guilty of robbery, sedition and murder. f Washing the hands was a custom among the Jews designed to declare their innocence. Christ mocked. people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them; and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.g 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him they took the robe off from him and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 And, as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to bear his cross. 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha,h that is to say, A place of a scull, g The scarlet robe was worn by kings, and in mockery was put upon our Saviour, because he said he was king of the Jews. So also the reed or cane, that in derision was put into his hand, denoted a sceptre, which was an ensign of royalty. b Golgotha or Calvary was a small Christ crucified, reviled, Chap.xxvii. giveth up the ghost, &c. 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall; and, when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture i did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down, they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him; one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests, moeking him, with the scribes and elders, said, hill west of Jerusalem. Golgotha signifies the place of a scull, so called from its resemblance to the scull of a man, or because it was the place, where malefactors were executed. i Vesture was generally the outer garment. j Accusation. The phrase " KING OF THE JEWS" was according to the Roman custom placed over the head of Jesus, showing for what crime he was executed. 42 He saved others, himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him : 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him; for he said I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. 45 Now, from the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.k 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47. Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded the ghost. up 51 And, behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; Joseph beggeth S. Matthew. and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent, 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now, when the centurion m and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. 57 When the evenn was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and a fine strong hanging, or curtain, which separated between the holy & most holy apartments. The rending of this veil at the death of our Saviour shewed that the ceremonial law, which separated between Jews and Gentiles, was, from that time, to be abolished; and that the benefits of revelation, and of the Christian religion were in future to be equally enjoyed by all nations. m Centurion, a Roman officer commanding 100 men. n Even. Evening. the body of Jesus. begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62 Now, the next day that followed the day of the preparation, o the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command, therefore, that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead; so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way; make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. CHAP. XXVIII. Christ's resurrection; 9 he appeareth to the women, 16 and • The day of preparation was our Friday. Christ appeareth to the Chap. xxviii. women and his disciples. to his disciples, 18 and send eth them to baptize. IN the end of the sabbath a as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, b came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered, and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay: 7 And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen. from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him; lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto a The Sabbath was our Saturday. b The first day, &c. Our Sunday. them, Be not afraid; go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there they shall see me. 11 ¶ Now, when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept. c 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.d 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee e The chief priests and elders, the enemies of Jesus Christ, did not consider, they were hiring the soldiers to declare what they could not pos sibly know; for if the soldiers were asleep, they could not know what took place, nor what became of Jesus; besides, they acknowledged themselves guilty of a capital crime, as it was death for a Roman soldier to be found sleeping on guard or watch. d Until this day. Until the time Matthew wrote his Gospel. e Galilee was a large and fertile territory including the northern parts of Canaan. It was on one of its mountains our Saviour was trans figured; and after his resurrection, he was here seen of five hundred of his followers. ST. MARK probably wrote his Gospel next in order of time to St. Matthew, and not many years after. He was not an Apostle of Jesus Christ, but was taught his religion by St. Peter, who made him an intimate companion, and affectionately called him his son. As St. Matthew wrote his Gospel in the common language of the Jews in that age, for the benefit and encouragement of Jewish Christians in a time of great persecution; so St. Mark wrote his in Greek, the general language of learned and polite nations, and published it at Rome, the metropolis and centre of the civilized world, for the use, confirmation, and comfort of the Christians there, and in that empire, who were suffering the same calamities, their brethren were in Judea. Nothing with certainty is known of the death of St. Mark. Some say he travelled into Egypt, and while preaching, was seized in the pulpit, and bound, and dragged through the streets, till he died. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. |