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“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
Mark 15:14 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!”
  • KJV Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
  • NKJV Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”
  • NASB But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!”
  • NLT “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Pilate asks what evil Jesus has done, but the crowd only shouts louder for crucifixion. Jesus' innocence is publicly acknowledged yet ignored.

Overview

Pilate's question affirms that no crime warrants such a sentence. The crowd's escalating demand shows passion overriding justice. The scene underscores that the spotless Christ is condemned not for any wrong of his own but in the place of sinners.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 21

  • Luke 23:41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
  • Acts 22:22–23The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”
  • Luke 23:4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
  • Matt 27:23–25“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
  • Ps 69:4Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
  • Acts 7:54–57On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
  • John 18:38“What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.
  • Matt 27:19While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”
  • Luke 23:47When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.”
  • Isa 53:3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
  • Acts 19:34But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
  • Matt 27:54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
  • John 19:6As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “You take Him and crucify Him,” Pilate replied, “for I find no basis for a charge against Him.”
  • Heb 7:26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
  • 1 Pet 1:19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
  • Matt 27:4“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
  • Luke 23:21but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
  • Luke 23:14–15and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.
  • John 19:12–15From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”
  • Luke 23:23–24But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed.
  • Isa 53:9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Mark videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Mark 15:14YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MarkMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

How Mark 15:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.