Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
Parallel translations
- WEB Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!”
- BSB “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “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 23:41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
- Acts 22:22–23And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
- Luke 23:4Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
- Matt 27:23–25And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
- Ps 69:4They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
- Acts 7:54–57When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
- John 18:38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
- Matt 27:19When 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.
- Luke 23:47Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
- Isa 53:3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
- Acts 19:34But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
- Matt 27:54Now when the centurion, 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.
- John 19:6When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
- Heb 7:26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
- 1 Pet 1:19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
- Matt 27:4Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
- Luke 23:21But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
- Luke 23:14–15Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
- John 19:12–15And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
- Luke 23:23–24And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
- Isa 53:9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
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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
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