And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

MARK 15:1KJV
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Mark 15:1 (KJV)

What does Mark 15:1 mean?

Mark 15:1 describes how, early in the morning, the chief priests, along with the elders, scribes, and the entire Jewish council, made a decision about Jesus. They tied him up, took him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the Roman governor.

This verse shows the formal action taken by the Jewish leaders after their nighttime trial of Jesus. The group mentioned—the chief priests, elders, scribes, and council—refers to the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court. Because they did not have the authority to execute someone under Roman rule, they brought Jesus to Pilate, seeking a Roman judgment.

The Greek behind Mark 15:1

  • "συνέδριον" (synedrion, G4892) means "council" and refers specifically to the Sanhedrin, the official Jewish ruling body. This highlights that the decision to hand Jesus over was not just from a few leaders but from the whole official council.
  • "συμβούλιον" (symboulion, G4824) is translated as "consultation" and means a formal meeting or deliberation. This word shows that the leaders carefully discussed and planned their next steps, rather than acting impulsively.
  • "παραδίδωμι" (paradidōmi, G3860) means "delivered" or "handed over." In this context, it carries the sense of formally transferring Jesus into Roman custody, which was a significant legal step.

Why Mark 15:1 matters

  • Mark 15:1 clarifies that the decision to bring Jesus to Pilate was not made by a single person but by the full Jewish leadership, showing the seriousness and unity of their action.
  • The verse marks the transition from a Jewish religious trial to a Roman legal process, which is crucial for understanding why Jesus was crucified by Roman, not Jewish, authorities.
  • This verse sets the stage for the events that follow, explaining how Jesus came under Roman control and why Pilate becomes a central figure in the rest of the chapter.

Where else these words appear

“away” Greek G667 · used in 5 verses

  • Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
  • 1 Corinthians 16:3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
  • Revelation 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

“consultation” Greek G4824 · used in 8 verses

  • Matthew 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
  • Matthew 27:1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
  • Matthew 28:12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

“morning” Greek G4404 · used in 10 verses

  • Matthew 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
  • Mark 11:20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
  • Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

“council” Greek G4892 · used in 22 verses

  • Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
  • Acts 4:15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
  • Acts 22:30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.