Mark 15:44

44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead, so he summoned the officer and asked him if he had been dead awhile.

Mark 15:44 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 15:44

And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead
For death, by crucifixion, was a slow lingering death; persons that were in their full strength hung a great while before they expired; and the two thieves, which were crucified with Christ, were not dead when he was:

and calling unto him the centurion;
who was set to watch him:

he asked him, whether he had been any while dead;
he inquired of him, whether he was dead, and how long he had been dead.

Mark 15:44 In-Context

42 Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before a Shabbat), as evening approached,

43 Yosef of Ramatayim, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who himself was also looking forward to the Kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Yeshua's body.

44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead, so he summoned the officer and asked him if he had been dead awhile.

45 After he had gotten confirmation from the officer that Yeshua was dead, he granted Yosef the corpse.

46 Yosef purchased a linen sheet; and after taking Yeshua down, he wrapped him in the linen sheet, laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.