Mark 11:27 kjv
And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
Mark 11:27 nkjv
Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.
Mark 11:27 niv
They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.
Mark 11:27 esv
And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him,
Mark 11:27 nlt
Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him.
Mark 11 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 21:23 | And when he was come into the temple... the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority... | Parallel account of authorities challenging Jesus' authority in the Temple. |
| Lk 20:1 | And it came to pass... as he taught in the temple... the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came upon him... | Parallel account of the Temple confrontation by all three groups. |
| Jn 2:18-19 | Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered... | Earlier challenge to Jesus' authority after an earlier temple action. |
| Jn 5:19 | Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do... | Jesus asserts His divine authority and origin of His works. |
| Ac 4:7 | And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? | Apostles questioned by similar authority, mirroring Jesus' experience. |
| Mk 11:15-17 | And Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought... Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. | The direct preceding event that provoked the authorities' challenge. |
| Mal 3:1 | Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple... | Prophetic expectation of the Messiah's sudden appearance in the Temple. |
| Jer 7:11 | Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. | Prophetic background for Jesus' Temple cleansing and judgment of its misuse. |
| Mk 3:6 | And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. | Early example of the religious leaders conspiring against Jesus. |
| Mk 14:1 | ...the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. | Intensified plans by the authorities to arrest and kill Jesus during Passover. |
| Jn 11:47-53 | Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council... From that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. | The Sanhedrin's formal decision to have Jesus killed. |
| Ps 2:2 | The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying... | Prophecy foretelling earthly rulers' opposition to the Lord and His Anointed One. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... and the government shall be upon his shoulder... Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end... | Prophecy of Messiah's inherent and eternal authority. |
| Ps 110:1 | The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. | Messianic psalm affirming Christ's supreme authority, later quoted by Jesus Himself. |
| Dan 7:13-14 | I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven... And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people... should serve him... | Vision of the Son of Man receiving universal and everlasting dominion and authority. |
| Mt 28:18 | And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. | Jesus' post-resurrection declaration of ultimate and universal authority. |
| Eph 1:20-21 | Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand... Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion... | Paul's affirmation of Christ's supreme authority and exaltation. |
| Heb 1:2 | Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; | Declaration of the Son's inherent authority as Creator and heir. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | Exaltation of Jesus and His supreme authority recognized universally. |
| 1 Pe 3:22 | Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. | Christ's heavenly authority over all created powers. |
Mark 11 verses
Mark 11 27 Meaning
Mark 11:27 describes Jesus' return to the Temple in Jerusalem on the Monday of Passion Week. As He teaches, the leading Jewish authorities – the chief priests, scribes, and elders – directly approach Him. This verse sets the immediate scene for a significant confrontation, signaling a formal challenge to Jesus' authority following His impactful actions in the Temple, such as its cleansing.
Mark 11 27 Context
Mark 11:27 is strategically placed within the narrative of Jesus' Passion Week. The previous day, Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem (Mk 11:1-11) and, the following morning, symbolically cursed a fig tree (Mk 11:12-14) before entering the Temple. There, He performed a provocative act of cleansing the Temple (Mk 11:15-19), overturning tables of money changers and declaring the Temple to be a "house of prayer for all nations," implicitly rebuking the religious authorities for turning it into a "den of thieves." This dramatic cleansing, an act of messianic authority, directly challenged the entrenched power and financial interests of the chief priests and other leaders. Mk 11:27 marks the response of these deeply threatened authorities, who, seeing Jesus publicly teaching in the very place He had disrupted, formally approach Him to challenge the source of His actions and claims. The setting is the sacred precinct of the Temple, the heart of Jewish religious and political life, making the confrontation public and profoundly significant.
Mark 11 27 Word analysis
- And they came again: The Greek verb ἔρχονται (erchontai), "they come," is in the present tense, used historically to create vividness and immediacy, pulling the reader into the action. The addition of "again" in English translations implies a routine return to Jerusalem from Bethany, a pattern during Passion Week, and marks Jesus' continued engagement with the center of Jewish religious life.
- to Jerusalem: The city designated by God for His dwelling and where major events, including the Passover, occurred. It's the hub of Jewish religious and political authority.
- and as he was walking: The Greek περιπατοῦντος (peripatountos) is a present participle, indicating an ongoing action. Jesus was not merely standing, but actively moving and likely teaching in public view, accessible to the crowds and thus to His opponents.
- in the temple: The Greek ἱερῷ (hierō) refers to the entire Temple complex, including the outer courts accessible to all, not just the inner sanctuary. This was Jesus' customary teaching ground and a highly public arena. His presence there was both visible and symbolic of His authority over God's house.
- there come to him: Indicates a deliberate and concerted approach by the religious leaders. This was not a chance encounter but a planned confrontation.
- the chief priests: ἀρχιερεῖς (archiereis). These were the heads of the prominent priestly families, primarily Sadducees, who controlled the Temple administration and its immense wealth. They were crucial members of the Sanhedrin and had significant political power due to their influence with the Roman authorities. Their concern was primarily their authority and revenue threatened by Jesus' actions.
- and the scribes: γραμματεῖς (grammateis). These were experts in the Mosaic Law and the oral traditions that had developed around it. Often Pharisees, they held moral and spiritual authority over the people through their teaching and interpretations. They viewed Jesus as a threat to their theological doctrines and the traditions they upheld.
- and the elders: πρεσβυτέρους (presbyterous). These were leading laymen, heads of influential families, or prominent members of local communities. They often comprised the more traditional and conservative elements of the Sanhedrin. Their presence solidified the official representation of the highest Jewish council.
- the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders: This phrase collectively represents the entire Jewish Sanhedrin, the highest religious and judicial council. Their joint approach signifies a unified and formal challenge to Jesus, representing the full weight of traditional Jewish authority against what they perceived as an unauthorized disruptor. Their collective presence underscores the gravity and official nature of the ensuing interrogation regarding Jesus' authority.
Mark 11 27 Bonus section
- The Greek uses present tense verbs for "coming" and "walking," giving a vivid, almost real-time sense of the confrontation unfolding before the reader.
- The selection of "the temple" as the setting is crucial; it underscores the spiritual and religious nature of Jesus' claim and the leaders' opposition. It was not a private argument but a public trial of legitimacy in the very heart of their religious life.
- This verse marks the initiation of the Sanhedrin's explicit, direct confrontation with Jesus that will continue through the following chapters and culminate in His arrest and trial.
- The question of authority is central to the entire Gospel of Mark, particularly from this point forward, illustrating the fundamental disagreement over Jesus' identity and mission.
Mark 11 27 Commentary
Mark 11:27 is the critical narrative hinge that transitions from Jesus' public demonstration of authority in the Temple (the cleansing) to the official challenge of that authority by the Jewish religious establishment. The presence of the chief priests, scribes, and elders together highlights the complete opposition from all factions of the Sanhedrin, emphasizing the formidable and unified power confronting Jesus. They recognized the significant implications of Jesus' actions and public teaching in their domain, seeing Him as a profound threat to their religious power, economic interests, and political stability with Rome. This verse, therefore, sets the stage for a dramatic contest between institutional, human-derived authority and the inherent, divine authority of Jesus, leading inevitably towards His condemnation and crucifixion. It is not merely an interrogation but an adversarial maneuver designed to trap Jesus, either by making Him admit to a human source of authority (which would undermine His claims) or by proclaiming divine authority, which they would deem blasphemy or sedition.