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Mark 15 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Mark 15 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment





5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.








13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.





"And they clothed him with purple."
What color was Jesus' robe?





"And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian ... to bear his cross."
Who carried Jesus' cross?



"They gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh."
What did the soldiers give Jesus to drink?
The soldiers gave him vinegar, but perhaps his friends wine? At least that is what John Gill suggests:

it is most likely therefore that this was prepared by his friends, as Mary Magdalene, Martha, and others, in order to cheer and refresh his spirits; and was different from what the soldiers gave him, which was vinegar mixed with gall

John Gill also suggests it might have been called wine because of the cup in which it was poured:

or the sense is, that they gave him the cup, that was so called, but not the thing; but instead of it, vinegar mingled with gall.



The third hour given here by Mark is our nine o'clock in the morning. Note that Mark gives a few more hours, the sixth hour (verse 33) and the ninth hour (verse 34), and the even (verse 42) (which is the twelfth hour). So Mark neatly divides the days into the four customary parts using Jewish reckoning. John uses the Roman reckoning (John 19:14). His six o'clock in the morning is our six o'clock.
On the date of the crucifixion, see chapter 14:12.


"The superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS."
All of the gospels give the exact words that were written over the cross, but none of them agree about the words that were used.
What did the sign over Jesus say?




30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.



"And they that were crucified with him reviled him."
Did both thieves revile Jesus?


There is outside evidence, see Matthew 27:45.







"Truly this man was the Son of God."
What did the Centurion call Jesus when he died?


"There were also women looking on afar off."
From where were the women watching?





"And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead."
Maybe he wasn't!
Our centurion, probably a combat veteran, can't see the difference between a dead and a living man? Why would Joseph of Arimathaea put him in a grave? Why would the priests have the stone sealed (Matthew 27:64) and put a guard outside it so the body couldn't be stolen? But just to make sure one of the soldiers pierced Jesus side (John 19:34) and unlike with a living person, both blood and water came forth.


