Mark 15 12

Mark 15:12 kjv

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?

Mark 15:12 nkjv

Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?"

Mark 15:12 niv

"What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.

Mark 15:12 esv

And Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?"

Mark 15:12 nlt

Pilate asked them, "Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?"

Mark 15 verses

Mark 15 12 Meaning

Mark 15:12 captures Pilate's continued effort to release Jesus after the crowd, instigated by the chief priests, had already demanded Barabbas. Pilate poses a rhetorical question, appealing to the crowd's conscience by highlighting that Jesus is the "King of the Jews," a title that carries both political implications for Rome and messianic significance for the Jewish people. This query reveals Pilate's dilemma and his subtle attempt to shift responsibility back to the accusers, challenging them to justify their desire to crucify a man whom they themselves accuse of being their king.

Mark 15 12 Context

Mark chapter 15 vividly recounts the climax of Jesus' trial and His crucifixion. After being condemned by the Sanhedrin (Mk 14:64), Jesus is handed over to Pilate, the Roman governor, as only he possessed the authority to execute. Pilate questions Jesus (Mk 15:2), hears the accusations (Mk 15:3), and despite finding no fault, tries to appease the Jewish leaders and the incited crowd. Customarily, Pilate would release a prisoner at Passover (Mk 15:6). He offers to release Jesus, the "King of the Jews," expecting this option to be appealing, especially when contrasted with the notorious murderer, Barabbas (Mk 15:7-10). However, the chief priests sway the crowd to demand Barabbas instead (Mk 15:11). Verse 12 serves as Pilate's last desperate attempt to sway the volatile crowd, appealing to their sense of national identity concerning the man they claim to be their King, revealing his moral reluctance to condemn Jesus without a just cause.

Mark 15 12 Word analysis

• And Pilate (καὶ Πιλᾶτος - kai Pilatos): "Pilate" refers to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect (governor) of Judea from AD 26-36. He represents the highest worldly political and judicial authority present. His actions here underscore his wavering disposition—a desire for political expediency battling a sense of justice concerning Jesus' innocence.
• answered (ἀπεκρίθη - apekrithē): This indicates a response. While not a direct question recorded immediately before it in verse 11, it implies he is reacting to the crowd's shouting for Barabbas and for Jesus' crucifixion, or his own prior attempts to release Jesus. Pilate is trying to manage an unruly situation.
• and said to them again (καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς πάλιν - kai legei autois palin): "Again" (πάλιν - palin) emphasizes Pilate's persistence. He has tried once already to offer Jesus' release (Mk 15:9), and now he tries again. This reveals his frustration and repeated attempts to avoid condemning Jesus, either out of a measure of conscience or political caution.
• Then what shall I do (τί οὖν ποιήσω - ti oun poiēsō):
  • "Then" (οὖν - oun): A connective, implying consequence or logical flow from the preceding refusal. "If not Barabbas, then what for Jesus?"
  • "what shall I do" (τί ποιήσω - ti poiēsō): This is a deliberative question, revealing Pilate's personal perplexity and hesitation. It’s a rhetorical question posed to the crowd, inviting them to propose the specific action they want him to take, thus deflecting his responsibility.
• with the man whom you call (ὃν λέγετε - hon legete):
  • "the man" (ὃν - hon, literally "whom"): Pilate deliberately refers to Jesus impersonally as "the man" rather than "Jesus," to diminish His identity in the crowd's eyes or to indicate a neutral stance. This choice also implicitly distances Pilate from acknowledging Jesus as any significant figure, let alone "King."
  • "whom you call" (λέγετε - legete, lit. "you say"): Pilate subtly places the emphasis and ownership of the title ("King of the Jews") firmly on the Jewish accusers. He does not affirm this title himself but highlights that this is their designation or accusation. This deflects Pilate's responsibility concerning this specific charge onto the Jewish leaders and crowd.
• the King of the Jews (Βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων - Basilea tōn Ioudaion):
  • "King" (Βασιλέα - Basilea): To the Romans, this term signified political rebellion against imperial authority. To the Jewish people, it denoted the awaited Messiah. Pilate likely uses it to remind them of the political nature of their accusation, questioning how they could desire the execution of their own purported king.
  • "of the Jews" (τῶν Ἰουδαίων - tōn Ioudaion): This emphasizes a specific national kingship, which Pilate would perceive as a direct threat to Roman sovereignty if Jesus were indeed a worldly king of the Jews. The irony is profound: the Jewish leaders incite the Romans to kill the very person many of their people believed, or could have believed, was their promised king.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And Pilate answered and said to them again": This phrase emphasizes Pilate's repeated efforts and growing desperation or frustration in his interaction with the crowd. It signals a continued attempt to manage the volatile situation and perhaps salvage a degree of justice or political stability. His return to the matter of Jesus, after they have already chosen Barabbas, highlights the escalating tension.
• "Then what shall I do with the man whom you call": This entire clause indicates Pilate's strategic maneuver. He shifts the burden of decision to the crowd. It's an appeal for them to articulate a definitive course of action regarding Jesus. By emphasizing "whom you call," he subtly removes himself from complicity in their accusations, framing it as their problem and their designated "King," rather than his. This tactic is an attempt to evade direct responsibility for the coming verdict.
• "the King of the Jews": This title, the core of the political accusation against Jesus, becomes profoundly ironic here. The crowd, influenced by the chief priests, is effectively demanding the execution of the one they presented to Pilate as their "King." The Romans perceived "King of the Jews" as a title of insurrection, while many Jews understood it in Messianic terms. The crowd's rejection of this "King" signifies their denial of His spiritual reign, preferring a political liberator (Barabbas) or none at all, showcasing humanity's deep-seated spiritual blindness.

Mark 15 12 Bonus section

• Pilate's Dilemma: This verse showcases Pilate's complex position. As a Roman governor, he needed to maintain order and suppress any signs of rebellion (hence the gravity of "King of the Jews"). Yet, he also desired to appear just, as repeatedly stating Jesus' innocence would suggest. His reluctance stemmed not from a deep conviction for Christ but likely a mix of Roman legal principle and a disdain for Jewish religious politics.
• The Power of the Crowd: The verse also powerfully illustrates the volatile nature of the crowd, easily swayed by influential leaders. The shift from possibly praising Jesus to demanding His death reveals the corrupting influence of the chief priests.
• Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Rejection: Despite Pilate's attempts and the crowd's shouts, Jesus' true identity as the "King of the Jews" (and King of all creation) remains unaltered. The actions of both Pilate and the crowd, even in their rejection and mockery, inadvertently fulfill prophetic scriptures concerning the suffering and ultimate vindication of the Messiah, proving that God's plan unfolds even through human sin and political machinations.

Mark 15 12 Commentary

Mark 15:12 marks Pilate's final, desperate attempt to save Jesus from condemnation. Having offered a customary release, and witnessing the crowd choose a murderer over the accused "King of the Jews," Pilate throws the question back at them. His rhetorical query, "Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?" is laden with layers of meaning and irony. It highlights his indecision, caught between Roman law (finding Jesus innocent) and the intense political pressure from the incited Jewish crowd and their leaders.

Pilate's phrasing is strategic: he uses "whom you call the King of the Jews," deftly dissociating himself from the potentially treasonous title while simultaneously using it to appeal to the crowd's understanding of Jesus. It is a desperate challenge to their conscience: why crucify one you accuse of being your king? This title, initially an accusation, becomes tragically true and ironically displayed throughout the passion narrative. Ultimately, this verse underscores the shocking rejection of God's Messiah by His own people and Pilate's tragic moral compromise in bowing to the crowd's clamor, despite knowing Jesus' innocence. It sets the stage for Jesus' unjust condemnation and crucifixion, revealing humanity's preference for darkness over light, and a political rebel over the spiritual King of kings.