Bible Strands
Mark 15:14
“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Pilate addresses the crowd, asking why Jesus should be executed and what evil He committed. This interrogation occurs immediately after the crowd demands crucifixion and just before Pilate yields to their pressure by releasing Barabbas and handing Jesus over.
The words — The Greek ἔλεγεν (elegen) means "was saying," indicating Pilate's ongoing questioning, while ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen) translates literally to "did He commit." These terms frame the exchange as a direct legal challenge to the crowd's accusation.
The thread — This moment echoes the unjust condemnation in Luke 23:41, where a crucified thief acknowledges the innocent man's guiltlessness, and aligns with the pattern of undeserved persecution in Psalms 69:4 and Isaiah 53:3. The narrative thread connects Jesus' trial to established accounts of righteous suffering.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge the explicit absence of legal grounds for execution before recognizing the crowd's insistence. It demands a clear-eyed assessment of how official authority yields to popular demand despite stated innocence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
Cross-references
- Luke 23:41 We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
- Psalms 69:4 Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
- Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
- Isaiah 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
- Matthew 27:4 “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
- Matthew 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”
- Matthew 27:23 “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
- Matthew 27:54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
- Luke 23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
- Luke 23:14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.