Tag Archives: Mark 15:15

“ἵνα σταυρωθῇ”: Divine Passive and Purpose in Mark 15:15

Posted on January 15, 2015 by New Testament Greek
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. ἵνα σταυρωθῇ. The Purpose of Betrayal

The final words of Mark 15:15 record the intended outcome of Pilate’s decision: ἵνα σταυρωθῇ — “in order that he might be crucified.”

This is a classic ἵνα-clause, which expresses purpose or result, but what stands out is the verb form: σταυρωθῇ, an aorist passive subjunctive. In context, this passive verb is not merely grammatical—it is theological: Jesus is not just crucified by men, but according to the plan of God.

Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος… παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας· ἵνα σταυρωθῇ.… Learn Koine Greek
Posted in Grammar | Tagged | Leave a comment

“φραγελλώσας”: The Aorist Participle of Brutality and Irony in Mark 15:15

Posted on January 15, 2015 by New Testament Greek
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. ἵνα σταυρωθῇ. The King’s Coronation Begins in Scourging

Mark 15:15 records Pilate’s final act of surrender to the crowd’s demand: ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. “He released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.”

Here we focus on the participle φραγελλώσας {phragellōsas}, an aorist active participle of φραγελλόω—a loanword from Latin flagellum (whip). Though grammatically subordinate, it conveys horrific violence and serves as a transitional marker between political compromise and redemptive suffering.… Learn Koine Greek

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“ἀπέλυσεν τὸν Βαραββᾶν”: Legal Release and Narrative Irony in Mark 15:15

Posted on January 15, 2015 by New Testament Greek
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. ἵνα σταυρωθῇ. The Inversion of Justice

Mark 15:15 includes this concise but pivotal clause: ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν — “He released Barabbas to them.”

This clause marks a dramatic reversal: Barabbas, a known insurrectionist (Mark 15:7), is set free, while Yeshuʿ, the innocent one, is delivered to death. The verb ἀπέλυσεν {apelusen} is drawn from legal vocabulary, but in this context it functions with narrative irony and theological gravity.

Let us explore the phrase:

ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν — “he released Barabbas to them.”… Learn Koine Greek

Posted in Grammar | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι”: Idiom of Appeasement in Mark 15:15

Posted on January 15, 2015 by New Testament Greek
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. ἵνα σταυρωθῇ. When Justice Bows to Crowd Control

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.

Let’s examine the phrase from the beginning of Mark 15:15:

τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι — “to satisfy the crowd.”… Learn Koine Greek

Posted in Grammar, Theology | Tagged | Leave a comment