New Testament Greek

But Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released to them Barabbas; and after scourging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Mark 15:15 opens with a participial phrase describing Pilate’s inner intent: βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι — “wishing to satisfy the crowd.”

This expression is built around the idiom τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, literally “to do the sufficient [thing],” or more naturally, “to appease / satisfy.” This polite Greek formulation masks the deeper tension of political expedience, and the grammar expresses Pilate’s willing participation in injustice.… Learn Koine Greek

And Jesus answered and said to it: Let no one eat fruit from you ever again. And his disciples were listening.

The participle ἀποκριθεὶς (aorist passive participle, nominative masculine singular of ἀποκρίνομαι) introduces a typical Semitic-influenced narrative formula, often found in the Gospels: “And answering, Jesus said…” This construction is grammatically redundant in Greek but stylistically Semitic. It functions adverbially, indicating the manner or circumstance of the main verb εἶπεν.

Although ἀποκριθεὶς is morphologically passive, the verb ἀποκρίνομαι is deponent, meaning it has passive forms but active meaning: “he answered”.… Learn Koine Greek