Mark Chapter 15 · Verse 1
And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐπὶ
in
G1909
ἐπὶ
in
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
3 of 26
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συμβούλιον
a consultation
G4824
συμβούλιον
a consultation
Strong's:
G4824
Word #:
6 of 26
advisement; specially, a deliberative body, i.e., the provincial assessors or lay-court
ποιήσαντες
held
G4160
ποιήσαντες
held
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
7 of 26
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
G749
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
9 of 26
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
μετὰ
with
G3326
μετὰ
with
Strong's:
G3326
Word #:
10 of 26
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πρεσβυτέρων
the elders
G4245
πρεσβυτέρων
the elders
Strong's:
G4245
Word #:
12 of 26
older; as noun, a senior; specially, an israelite sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or christian "presbyter"
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
15 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὅλον
the whole
G3650
ὅλον
the whole
Strong's:
G3650
Word #:
16 of 26
"whole" or "all", i.e., complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συνέδριον
council
G4892
συνέδριον
council
Strong's:
G4892
Word #:
18 of 26
a joint session, i.e., (specially), the jewish sanhedrin; by analogy, a subordinate tribunal
δήσαντες
and bound
G1210
δήσαντες
and bound
Strong's:
G1210
Word #:
19 of 26
to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦν
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦν
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
21 of 26
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
ἀπήνεγκαν
and carried him away
G667
ἀπήνεγκαν
and carried him away
Strong's:
G667
Word #:
22 of 26
to bear off (literally or relatively)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
23 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
Acts 3:13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.Luke 22:66And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
Historical Context
The Sanhedrin lacked ius gladii (right of the sword)—Rome reserved capital punishment authority. Pilate, prefect of Judea (AD 26-36), resided in Caesarea but came to Jerusalem for major festivals to suppress potential unrest. He stayed at Herod's palace or the Antonia Fortress. The 'binding' fulfilled Isaiah 53:7 and demonstrated Jesus as a criminal defendant. Dawn consultations provided legal cover for the night trial's irregularities.
Questions for Reflection
- Why did the Sanhedrin need a morning consultation after the night trial's verdict?
- How does the verb 'delivered' (paradidōmi) connect Judas's betrayal to the Sanhedrin's actions?
- What does the binding of Jesus symbolize theologically about His willing submission to the Father's plan?
Analysis & Commentary
And straightway in the morning (Καὶ εὐθὺς πρωΐ, Kai euthys prōi)—Mark's characteristic εὐθύς (euthys, 'immediately') emphasizes urgency. The word πρωΐ (prōi) indicates early morning, the fourth watch (3-6 AM). The chief priests held a consultation (συμβούλιον ποιήσαντες, symboulion poiēsantes)—they formed a συμβούλιον (symboulion), a council or plot. This was likely a formal morning session to ratify the illegal night verdict, providing legal veneer.
And bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate (δήσαντες τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀπήνεγκαν καὶ παρέδωκαν Πιλάτῳ, dēsantes ton Iēsoun apēnenkan kai paredōkan Pilatō)—Three verbs trace Jesus's transfer: δέω (deō, bound), ἀποφέρω (apopherō, carried away), and παραδίδωμι (paradidōmi, delivered/betrayed). The last verb echoes Judas's betrayal (14:10)—now the Sanhedrin betrays Jesus to Rome. They needed Roman authority for execution (John 18:31).