Mark 15:16

Listen to Mark 15:16

Jesus Is Mocked

16 1And the soldiers led him away inside 2the palace (that is, 3the governor’s headquarters), [a] and they called together the whole 4battalion. [b]

Mark 15:16 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 15:16

And the soldiers led him away into the hall
From the place called the pavement, where was the judge's bench, from which he passed sentence on Christ, to a large room,

called the praetorium,
or judgment hall; being the hall, or room, where the praetor, or Roman magistrate, kept his court of judicature; and is the same place the Jews would not go into, lest they should be defiled, and become unmeet to eat the Chagigah that day; and into which Pilate had Jesus more than once alone, ( John 18:28 John 18:33 ) ( 19:9 ) , but now he had a large company with him:

and they call together the whole band;
very likely the soldiers, into whose custody Jesus was put, and who led him away, were the four soldiers that attended his crucifixion, and parted his garments; but for greater diversion they got together the whole band to which they belonged; (See Gill on Matthew 27:27).

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Mark 15:16 In-Context

14 And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? ” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him. ”
15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion.
17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him.
18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews! ”

Cross References 4

  • 1. 15:16 For ver. 16-20, see Matt. 27:27-31; John 19:2, 3
  • 2. 15:16 See Matt. 26:3
  • 3. 15:16 John 18:28, 33; 19:9; Acts 23:35; Phil. 1:13 (Gk.)
  • 4. 15:16 See Acts 10:1

Footnotes 2

  • [a] 15:16 Greek 'the praetorium'
  • [b] 15:16 Greek 'cohort'; a tenth of a Roman legion, usually about 600 men
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025