THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK 15

1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council and bound Jesus and carried him away and delivered him to Pilate

2 And Pilate asked him Art thou the King of the Jews And he answering said unto him Thou sayest it

3 And the chief priests accused him of many things but he answered nothing

4 And Pilate asked him again saying Answerest thou nothing behold how many things they witness against thee

5 But Jesus yet answered nothing so that Pilate marvelled

6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner whomsoever they desired

7 And there was one named Barabbas which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him who had committed murder in the insurrection

8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them

9 But Pilate answered them saying Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews

10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy

11 But the chief priests moved the people that he should rather release Barabbas unto them

12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews

13 And they cried out again Crucify him

14 Then Pilate said unto them Why what evil hath he done And they cried out the more exceedingly Crucify him

15 And so Pilate willing to content the people released Barabbas unto them and delivered Jesus when he had scourged him to be crucified

16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall called Prætorium and they call together the whole band

17 And they clothed him with purple and platted a crown of thorns and put it about his head

18 And began to salute him Hail King of the Jews

19 And they smote him on the head with a reed and did spit upon him and bowing their knees worshipped him

20 And when they had mocked him they took off the purple from him and put his own clothes on him and led him out to crucify him

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian who passed by coming out of the country the father of Alexander and Rufus to bear his cross

22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha which is being interpreted The place of a skull

23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh but he received it not

24 And when they had crucified him they parted his garments casting lots upon them what every man should take

25 And it was the third hour and they crucified him

26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over THE KING OF THE JEWS

27 And with him they crucify two thieves the one on his right hand and the other on his left

28 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith And he was numbered with the transgressors

29 And they that passed by railed on him wagging their heads and saying Ah thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days

30 Save thyself and come down from the cross

31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes He saved others himself he cannot save

32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross that we may see and believe And they that were crucified with him reviled him

33 And when the sixth hour was come there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani which is being interpreted My God my God why hast thou forsaken me

35 And some of them that stood by when they heard it said Behold he calleth Elias

36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink saying Let alone let us see whether Elias will come to take him down

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up the ghost

38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom

39 And when the centurion which stood over against him saw that he so cried out and gave up the ghost he said Truly this man was the Son of God

40 There were also women looking on afar off among whom was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses and Salome

41 Who also when he was in Galilee followed him and ministered unto him and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem

42 And now when the even was come because it was the preparation that is the day before the sabbath

43 Joseph of Arimathaea an honourable counsellor which also waited for the kingdom of God came and went in boldly unto Pilate and craved the body of Jesus

44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead and calling unto him the centurion he asked him whether he had been any while dead

45 And when he knew it of the centurion he gave the body to Joseph

46 And he bought fine linen and took him down and wrapped him in the linen and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid