Mark 15:32
in Mark 15Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reproached him.
KJV
Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
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This verse in Mark 15
Commentary
14 notes on this verseLet Christ the king of Israel,.... Who sets up for the Messiah, and whose followers call him the king of Israel, whom the nation expected: and if he is so, let him descend now from the cross, that we may see; see him come down, and be eyewitnesses of his power: and believe; that he is the Messiah that was prophesied of, and has been waiting for: and they that were crucified with him reviled him; that is, the thieves, at least one of them; See Gill on Mat 27:44.
This site's exposition
heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
on Mark 15:29-32
Those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads as in Psalm 22:7. The chief priests and scribes asked a sign, that the Christ come down now from the cross, while the resurrection lay three days off.
This site's exposition
so that we may see
In Luke only one of those crucified with Him berated Him, and Augustine thinks Mark speaks of both for one man. Chrysostom holds that both berated Him at first and one changed when darkness came over the land. Bede says rising from the tomb was the greater sign.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(de Con. Evan. 3. 16) How can this be, when according to Luke one only reviled Him, but was rebuked by the other who believed on God; unless we understand that Matthew and Mark, who touched but slightly on this place, put the plural for the singular number?
In the case of the robbers, one Evangelist says that the two blasphemed, another that one of them reproved him who was reviling the Lord. Yet in this again there is no contradiction. Both things took place, and at the beginning both the men behaved badly. Afterwards when signs occurred, when the earth shook and the rocks were torn apart, and the sun was darkened, one of them was penitent, became more chastened, recognized the crucified One and acknowledged his kingdom.
The Medieval Church3 voices
Or else, both at first reviled Him, then one recognising Him as innocent, rebukes the other for blaspheming Him.
Christ, King of Israel, descend now from the cross, so that we may see and believe. False promise. What is greater, to descend from the cross while still alive, or to rise from the tomb when dead? He rose, and you do not believe; therefore, …
And those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him. How were those who were crucified with Him insulting Him, when indeed one of them insulted Him, according to the testimony of Luke, the other rebuked him and believed in God? Unless we understand …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
Here all have gone out of the way, all are become abominable. (Ps. 14:4) Wherefore it goes on: And they that were crucified with him reviled.
But to say "come down from the cross" — the devil was prompting them to this. Since the prince of evil knew that salvation would be accomplished by the cross, he again tempted the Lord, so that if He descended from the cross, it would …
The foal of Judah has been tied to the vine, and his clothes dyed in the blood of the grape, and the kids tear the vine, blaspheming Christ, and wagging their heads. Wherefore it is said: "And they that passed by railed on Him, wagging their heads and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple."
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
The passage we have now read, is one of those which show us the infinite love of Christ toward sinners. The sufferings described in it would fill our minds with mingled horror and compassion, if they had been inflicted on one who was only a man like ourselves. But when we reflect that the sufferer was the eternal Son of God, we are lost in wonder and amazement.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
The passage we have now read, is one of those which show us the infinite love of Christ toward sinners. The sufferings described in it would fill our minds with mingled horror and compassion, if they had been inflicted on one who was only a man like ourselves. But when we reflect that the sufferer was the eternal Son of God, we are lost in wonder and amazement. And when we reflect further that these sufferings were voluntarily endured to deliver sinful men and women like ourselves from hell, we may see something of Paul's meaning when he says, "The love of Christ passes knowledge." "God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Ephes. 3:19; Rom. 5:8.) We shall find it useful to examine separately the several parts of our Lord's passion. Let us follow Him step by step from the moment of His condemnation by Pilate to His last hour upon the cross. There is a deep meaning in every jot and tittle of His sorrows. All were striking emblems of spiritual truths. And let us not forget as we dwell on the wondrous story, that we and our sins were the cause of all these sufferings. "Christ suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." (1 Peter 3:18.) It is the death of our own Surety and Substitute that we are reading. First of all we see Jesus delivered into the hands of the Roman soldiers, as a criminal condemned to death. He before whom the whole world will one day stand and be judged, allowed Himself to be sentenced unjustly, and given over into the hands of wicked men. And why was this? It was that we, the poor sinful children of men, believing on Him, might be delivered from the pit of destruction, and the torment of the prison of hell. It was that we might be set free from every charge in the day of judgment, and be presented faultless before God the Father with exceeding joy.
And believe - In him is added by DFGHPBHV, and upwards of sixty others; as also the Armenian, Slavonic, and four Itala.
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | The | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χριστός, | christos | Christ, | G5547 → | 523 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βασιλεὺς | basileus | King | G935 → | 114 times |
| Ἰσραήλ, | israel | of Israel, | G2474 → | |
| καταβάτω | katabato | he should descend | G2597 → | 81 times |
| νῦν | nun | now | G3568 → | 145 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σταυροῦ | staurou | cross | G4716 → | 27 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἴδωμεν | idomen | we may see | G1492 → | 374 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πιστεύσωμεν | pisteusomen | may believe | G4100 → | 237 times |
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| συνεσταυρωμένοι | sunestauromenoi | crucified | G4957 → | |
| σὺν | sun | with | G4862 → | 128 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὠνείδιζον | oneidizon | were upbraiding | G3679 → | |
| αὐτόν.¶ | auton | Him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ὁThe
hoG3588 →19766 times
χριστός,Christ,
christosG5547 →523 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
βασιλεὺςKing
basileusG935 →114 times
Ἰσραήλ,of Israel,
israelG2474 →
καταβάτωhe should descend
katabatoG2597 →81 times
νῦνnow
nunG3568 →145 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
σταυροῦcross
staurouG4716 →27 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἴδωμενwe may see
idomenG1492 →374 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πιστεύσωμενmay believe
pisteusomenG4100 →237 times
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
συνεσταυρωμένοιcrucified
sunestauromenoiG4957 →
σὺνwith
sunG4862 →128 times
αὐτῷHim
autoG846 →5565 times
ὠνείδιζονwere upbraiding
oneidizonG3679 →
αὐτόν.¶Him.
autonG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 44:6Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:4
Who has performed this and carried it out, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—the first and the last—I am He.”
- Isaiah 43:10–11
“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed,…
- Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.
- Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
- Isaiah 44:8
Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one.”
- Isaiah 41:4
Through
Zechariah 9:9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of…
it leads to
- Matthew 21:4–7
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
- Zephaniah 3:14–15
Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
- John 12:13–16
They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”
- Matthew 21:4–7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Mark

This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Mark; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Chrysostom, THE PARALYTIC LET DOWN THROUGH THE ROOF 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Pseudo-Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark.
