Mark 14:66-15:20

Peter Disowns Jesus 66While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.

67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.

68But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. Some early manuscripts entryway and the rooster crowed 69When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.”

70Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

71He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” 72Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Some early manuscripts do not have the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice Some early manuscripts do not have twice. you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Jesus Before Pilate 1Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

2“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 3The chief priests accused him of many things.

4So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

5But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. 6Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.

8The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. 9“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.

11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

12“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13“Crucify him!” they shouted.

14“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus 16The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.

20And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.