Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Mark: Chapter 15].
(\epeisan\). Effective aorist indicative. The priests and scribes
had amazing success. If one wonders why the crowd was fickle, he
may recall that this was not yet the same people who followed him
in triumphal entry and in the temple. That was the plan of Judas
to get the thing over before those Galilean sympathizers waked
up. "It was a case of regulars against an irregular, of priests
against prophet" (Gould). "But Barabbas, as described by Mark,
represented a popular passion, which was stronger than any
sympathy they might have for so unworldly a character as
Jesus--the passion for _political liberty_" (Bruce). "What
unprincipled characters they were! They accuse Jesus to Pilate of
political ambition, and they recommend Barabbas to the people for
the same reason" (Bruce). The Sanhedrin would say to the people
that Jesus had already abdicated his kingly claims while to
Pilate they went on accusing him of treason to Caesar. {Rather}
(_m•llon_). Rather than Jesus. It was a gambler's choice.
15:12 {Whom ye call the King of the Jews} (\hon legete ton
basilea t•n Ioudai•n\). Pilate rubs it in on the Jews (cf. verse
9). The "then" (\oun\) means since you have chosen Barabbas
instead of Jesus.
15:13 {Crucify him} (\Staur•son auton\). Lu 23:21 repeats the
verb. Mt 27:22 has it, "Let him be crucified." There was a
chorus and a hubbub of confused voices all demanding crucifixion
for Christ. Some of the voices beyond a doubt had joined in the
hallelujahs to the Son of David in the triumphal entry. See on
¯Mt 27:23 for discussion of Mr 15:14.
15:15 {To content the multitude} (\t•i ochl•i to hikanon
poi•sai\). A Latin idiom (_satisfacere alicui_), to do what is
sufficient to remove one's ground of complaint. This same phrase
occurs in Polybius, Appian, Diogenes Laertes, and in late papyri.
Pilate was afraid of this crowd now completely under the control
of the Sanhedrin. He knew what they would tell Caesar about him.
See on ¯Mt 27:26 for discussion of the scourging.
15:16 {The Praetorium} (\prait•rion\). In Mt 27:27 this same
word is translated "palace." That is its meaning here also, the
palace in which the Roman provincial governor resided. In Php
1:13 it means the Praetorian Guard in Rome. Mark mentions here
"the court" (\t•s aul•s\) inside of the palace into which the
people passed from the street through the vestibule. See further
on Matthew about the "band."
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MR15.RWP.html (3 of 8) [28/08/2004 09:04:44 a.m.]