Mark 14:53-15:20

New King James Version

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin^(A)

^53 (B)And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were ^(C)assembled all the ^(D)chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. ⁵⁴ But ^(E)Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.

^55 (F)Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. ⁵⁶ For many bore ^(G)false witness against Him, but their testimonies ^[a]did not agree.

⁵⁷ Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, ⁵⁸ “We heard Him say, ^(H)‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ ” ⁵⁹ But not even then did their testimony agree.

^60 (I)And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” ⁶¹ But ^(J)He kept silent and answered nothing.

^(K)Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

⁶² Jesus said, “I am. ^(L)And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

⁶³ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? ⁶⁴ You have heard the ^(M)blasphemy! What do you think?”

And they all condemned Him to be deserving of ^(N)death.

⁶⁵ Then some began to ^(O)spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers ^[b]struck Him with the palms of their hands.

Peter Denies Jesus, and Weeps^(P)

^66 (Q)Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. ⁶⁷ And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with ^(R)Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.

^69 (S)And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it again.

^(T)And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; ^(U)for you are a Galilean, ^[c]and your ^[d]speech shows it.”

⁷¹ Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”

^72 (V)A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.

Jesus Faces Pilate^(W)

15 Immediately, ^(X)in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and ^(Y)delivered Him to Pilate. ^2 (Z)Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”

³ And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He ^(AA)answered nothing. ^4 (AB)Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things ^[e]they testify against You!” ^5 (AC)But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

Taking the Place of Barabbas^(AD)

⁶ Now ^(AE)at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. ⁷ And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. ⁸ Then the multitude, ^[f]crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. ⁹ But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

¹¹ But ^(AF)the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. ¹² Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the ^(AG)King of the Jews?”

¹³ So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”

¹⁴ Then Pilate said to them, “Why, ^(AH)what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

^15 (AI)So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be ^(AJ)crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(AK)

^16 (AL)Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called ^[g]Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. ¹⁷ And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, ¹⁸ and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ Then they ^(AM)struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. ²⁰ And when they had ^(AN)mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.