Mark 15 11

Mark 15:11 kjv

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

Mark 15:11 nkjv

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

Mark 15:11 niv

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

Mark 15:11 esv

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.

Mark 15:11 nlt

But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.

Mark 15 verses

Mark 15 11 Meaning

Mark 15:11 describes the calculated instigation by the chief priests to manipulate the crowd, prompting them to choose Barabbas, a known rebel and murderer, over Jesus for release by Pilate. This act profoundly demonstrates the religious leaders' malice and the crowd's susceptibility to influence, leading directly to Jesus' crucifixion despite Pilate's inclination to release Him.

Mark 15 11 Context

Mark 15:11 is part of Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate, following His appearance before the Sanhedrin. Pilate, finding no charge warranting death, attempts to release Jesus according to the Passover custom of releasing one prisoner to the crowd. This verse reveals the immediate action taken by the chief priests in response to Pilate's proposal to release "the King of the Jews." It dramatically showcases the apex of the religious leadership's opposition to Jesus, directly manipulating the very people they were meant to guide spiritually. The context includes Pilate's personal desire to avoid condemning an innocent man and the intense pressure exerted by the powerful chief priests and elders. Historically, Roman governors had to carefully balance justice with maintaining order in a restive province, especially during large festivals like Passover. The priests leveraged this situation, understanding the volatile nature of the Jerusalem crowd during such times.

Mark 15 11 Word analysis

• But (Δὲ, De): A conjunction introducing a sharp contrast. It signals a shift from Pilate's rational proposal to the religious leaders' subversive action. This "but" emphasizes the direct opposition to righteousness.

• the chief priests (οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς, hoi archiereis): The highest-ranking members of the Jewish priestly class, leaders of the Sanhedrin. These were not common men but the spiritual and political elite, holding significant authority among the people. Their role involved upholding God's law, yet they actively worked against the embodiment of that law. Their motivation was often a fear of losing power and their established religious order.

• stirred up (ἀνέσεισαν, aneseisan): From anaseiō, meaning "to shake up," "to incite to rebellion," "to disturb violently." This is a strong verb, not simply "persuaded." It implies deliberate, intense agitation and influence, like creating a tumult or inciting a riot. It highlights their active, malevolent effort to sway the crowd's will.

• the crowd (τὸν ὄχλον, ton ochlon): Refers to the common people, often seen as fickle and easily swayed in biblical narratives. This "crowd" can represent humanity's collective susceptibility to influential falsehoods, even against clear truth.

• to ask (ἵνα αἰτήσωνται, hina aitēsōntai): A purpose clause. It indicates that the chief priests had a very specific goal: to compel the crowd to demand Barabbas' release. This was not an accidental outcome but a strategic, pre-meditated demand.

• that he should rather release (μᾶλλον ἀπολύσῃ, mallon apolysē):

  • rather (μᾶλλον, mallon): This adverb signifies a preference or alternative, emphasizing that the crowd, under the priests' influence, consciously chose Barabbas instead of Jesus. It underscores the profound rejection of Jesus' innocence and divine authority in favor of a criminal.
  • release (ἀπολύσῃ, apolysē): To let go, set free. The irony here is the freedom offered by humanity, through a corrupted process, results in the condemnation of True Freedom.

• Barabbas (Βαραββᾶν, Barabban): Literally "Son of the Father" or "Son of the Rabbi." A prisoner described in other Gospels as a notorious murderer and insurgent. His choice by the crowd, spurred by the priests, is profoundly symbolic: fallen humanity chooses a rebellious son of man (violence, insurrection) over the perfect Son of God (peace, salvation).

• to them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Denotes the direct recipients and beneficiaries of Pilate's release, making the demand personal to the crowd's will, yet fully orchestrated by the priests.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "But the chief priests stirred up the crowd": This phrase dramatically sets the stage. It highlights the agency of the religious leaders in corrupting the will of the populace, a clear spiritual and moral transgression. This act shows deliberate subversion of justice and truth.
  • "to ask that he should rather release Barabbas to them": This specifies the objective of the manipulation. It's a precise and chilling demand, underscoring the choice for sin (Barabbas, a murderer and rebel) over righteousness (Jesus). This preference illuminates the depth of spiritual blindness and rejection.

Mark 15 11 Bonus section

The choice of Barabbas, whose name may mean "Son of the Father," over Jesus, the true Son of the Father, presents a profound theological irony that often resonates in Christian thought. The people unwittingly chose a literal son of Adam (symbolic of humanity's fallen state and rebellious nature) instead of the Divine Son who offers true liberation from sin and death. This scene dramatically fulfills prophecies concerning the rejection of the Messiah (e.g., Isa 53:3) and underscores the deep spiritual blindness that prevailed among those who should have recognized Him. This incident also stands as a perennial example of how entrenched religious systems, when divorced from genuine godliness, can become the primary adversaries of God's revealed will and His Christ.

Mark 15 11 Commentary

Mark 15:11 encapsulates a crucial moment in the Passion narrative, illustrating humanity's profound moral failure in rejecting its Savior. The chief priests, representing the highest religious authority, did not merely disagree with Jesus; they actively, maliciously "stirred up" a mob to demand His crucifixion. This was a strategic and potent act of inciting populist outrage against divine truth, reflecting their spiritual darkness and fear of losing control. The choice of Barabbas—a violent insurgent—over Jesus, the "King of the Jews," profoundly reveals the human heart's inclination towards rebellion and worldly solutions rather than spiritual deliverance. This passage serves as a stark warning about leadership's capacity for manipulation and the crowd's susceptibility to such influence. It signifies a collective act of spiritual rejection, setting in motion the immediate steps to Jesus' death. It also exposes Pilate's weakness and compromise, showing how political expediency can lead to grave injustice when confronted with the calculated malice of powerful figures.