Mark 15:22–32

Footnotes

1. 36 Grk “him.”
2. 37 Grk “a place, Golgotha.” This is an Aramaic name; see John 19:17.
3. 38 The place called Golgotha (which is translated “Place of the Skull”). This location is north and just outside of Jerusalem. The hill on which it is located protruded much like a skull, giving the place its name. The Latin word for the Greek term κρανίον (kranion) is calvaria, from which the English word “Calvary” is derived (cf. Luke 23:33 in the ).
4. 39 It is difficult to say for certain who gave Jesus this drink of wine mixed with myrrh (e.g., the executioner, or perhaps women from Jerusalem). In any case, whoever gave it to him most likely did so in order to relieve his pain, but Jesus was unwilling to take it.
5. 40 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
6. 41 See the note on Crucify in .
7. 42 Grk “by throwing the lot” (probably by using marked pebbles or broken pieces of pottery). A modern equivalent, “throwing dice,” was chosen here because of its association with gambling. According to L&N 6.219 a term for “dice” is particularly appropriate. An allusion to Ps 22:18.
8. 43 Grk “It was the third hour.” This time would have been approximate, and could refer to the beginning of the process, some time before Jesus was lifted on the cross.
9. 44 Mention of the inscription is an important detail, because the inscription would normally give the reason for the execution. It shows that Jesus was executed for claiming to be a king. It was also probably written with irony from the executioners’ point of view.
10. 45 Most later add 15:28 “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘He was counted with the lawless ones.’ ” Verse 28 is included in L Θ 083 0250 f1, 13 33 𝔐 lat, but is lacking in important Alexandrian and Western and some others (א A B C D Ψ ). The addition of the verse with its quotation from Isa 53:12 probably represents a scribal assimilation from Luke 22:37. It was almost certainly not an original part of Mark’s Gospel. The present translation follows in omitting the verse number, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.
11. 46 There is rich irony in the statement of those who were passing by, “Save yourself and come down from the cross!” In summary, they wanted Jesus to come down from the cross and save his physical life, but it was indeed his staying on the cross and giving his physical life that led to the fact that they could experience a resurrection from death to life. There is a similar kind of irony in the statement made by the chief priests and experts in the law in 15:31.
12. 47 Or “with the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in . Only “chief priests” is in the nominative case; this sentence structure attempts to capture this emphasis.
13. 48 Grk “Mocking him, the chief priests … said among themselves.”
14. 49 Or “the Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” See the note on Christ in .
15. 50 Mark’s wording suggests that both of the criminals spoke abusively to him. If so, one of them quickly changed his attitude toward Jesus (see Luke 23:40–43).