Mark 15:44

44 And Pilate was surprised that he was already dead, and summoning the centurion, asked him whether he had died already.

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 And [when it] was already evening, since it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath),

43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the council who was also himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came acting courageously [and] went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate was surprised that he was already dead, and summoning the centurion, asked him whether he had died already.

45 And [when he] learned of [it] from the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph.

46 And [after] purchasing a linen cloth [and] taking him down, he wrapped [him] in the linen cloth and placed him in a tomb that had been cut from the rock. And he rolled a stone over the entrance of the tomb.