Mark 15

“And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole…” Naming Jesus and Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.” The line’s distinctive content terms include accused, chief, nothing. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.” Naming Jesus and Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include aloud, began, crying. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.” Naming Barabbas keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And they cried out again, Crucify him.” Naming Crucify keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged…” Naming Barabbas and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Prætorium; and they call together the whole band.” The line’s distinctive content terms include band, call, hall. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,” The line’s distinctive content terms include clothed, crown, head. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!” Naming Hail and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bowing, head, knees. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to…” The line’s distinctive content terms include clothes, crucify, mocked. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.” Naming Golgotha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.” The line’s distinctive content terms include drink, gave, mingled. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.” The line’s distinctive content terms include casting, crucified, garments. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include crucified, hour, third. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” The line’s distinctive content terms include accusation, JEWS, KING. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fulfilled, numbered, scripture. Its relationship to verses 27 and 29 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Save thyself, and come down from the cross.” Naming Save keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot…” Naming Likewise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified…” Naming Christ and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hour, darkness, land. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.” Naming Elias keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bottom, rent, temple. Its relationship to verses 37 and 39 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly…” Naming Son keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of…” Naming Mary and James keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“(Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him…” Naming Galilee and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,” The line’s distinctive content terms include preparation, sabbath. Its relationship to verses 41 and 43 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly…” Naming Arimathaea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any…” Naming Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.” Naming Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn…” The line’s distinctive content terms include linen, sepulchre, bought. Its relationship to verses 45 and 47 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.” Naming Mary and Joses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.