Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 15:44
And Pilate marveled if he were already dead: and calling [unto him] the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
44. And Pilate marvelled ] Death by crucifixion did not generally supervene even for three days, and thirty-six hours is said to be the earliest period when it would be thus brought about. Pilate, therefore, marveled at the request of Joseph, and required the evidence of the centurion to assure himself of the fact.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And Pilate marveled if – Wondered if he was dead, or wondered that he was so soon dead. It was not common for persons crucified to expire under two or three days, sometimes not until the sixth or seventh. Joseph had asked for the body, implying that he was dead. That he was, had been ascertained by the soldiers. See Joh 19:33.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead,…. For death, by crucifixion, was a slow lingering death; persons that were in their full strength hung a great while before they expired; and the two thieves, which were crucified with Christ, were not dead when he was:
and calling unto him the centurion; who was set to watch him:
he asked him, whether he had been any while dead; he inquired of him, whether he was dead, and how long he had been dead.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
If he were already dead ( ). Perfect active indicative with after a verb of wondering, a classical idiom, a kind of indirect question just as we say “I wonder if.” Usually death by crucifixion was lingering. This item is only in Mark.
Whether he had been any while dead ( ). B D read (already) again here instead of (a long time). Mark does not tell the request of the Jews to Pilate that the legs of the three might be broken (Joh 19:31-37). Pilate wanted to make sure that Jesus was actually dead by official report.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Wondered. This query and the asking the centurion are peculiar to Mark.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And Pilate marvelled if He were already dead” (ho de Pilatos ethaumasen ei ded tethneken) “Then Pilate marvelled, doubted if He were already (now) dead,” for death by crucifixion normally took seventy-two hours, and seldom occurred in less than thirty six hours.
2) “And calling to him the centurion,” (kai proskalesamenos ton kenturion) “And calling the centurion to him,” for information, the captain of the Roman Guard who had overseen the crucifixion, who had become convinced already that Jesus was “The Son of God,” Mar 15:39; Luk 23:47; Mat 27:54.
3) “He asked him whether He had been any while dead.” (eperotesen auton ei palai apethanen) “He quizzed, inquired of (or ascertained from) him, if He died, and if so, how long ago?” If He was actually dead, already dead? He was, Mar 15:37.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(44) And Pilate marvelled.The wonder of Pilate, and his calling the centurion (the article points to his being the same that had been mentioned in Mar. 15:39), are peculiar to St. Mark.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 15:44. Marvelled if he were Or, That he was, &c.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
Ver. 44. See Trapp on “ Mat 27:58 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
44. ] There is no inconsistency, or but a very trifling one, with the order in Joh 19:31 , to break their legs and take them down . The circumstances related there had taken place , but no report of them had been made to Pilate. And the Body of the Lord had not been taken down, for some reason which does not appear, but which we can easily guess; if Joseph had declared to the soldiers his intention of begging the Body, nay, had immediately gone (perhaps with them) to Pilate for that purpose, and . looks like a sudden and unannounced application, they would have left the Body for him to take down.
he wondered at the fact thus announced to him of His death having already taken place. See Khner, Gram. ii. p. 481, and the examples there adduced, which make this clear, e.g. Demosth. p. 24. 23, , , .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 15:44 . Omitted by Mt., whose narrative throughout is colourless compared with Mk.’s. : = , after a verb of wonder ( vide Burton, M. and T., 277, and Winer, lx., 6). : has reference to the present of the speaker, to the moment of death. : opposed to , and not implying a considerable time before, but only bare priority to the present. Pilate’s question to the centurion was, did He die before now? = is He actually dead?
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
marvelled = wondered. This verse and the next are a Divine supplement, peculiar to Mark.
if He were, &c. Implying a hypothesis which he did not yet expect. App-118.
any while = long.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
44.] There is no inconsistency, or but a very trifling one, with the order in Joh 19:31, to break their legs and take them down. The circumstances related there had taken place, but no report of them had been made to Pilate. And the Body of the Lord had not been taken down, for some reason which does not appear, but which we can easily guess;-if Joseph had declared to the soldiers his intention of begging the Body, nay, had immediately gone (perhaps with them) to Pilate for that purpose,-and . looks like a sudden and unannounced application,-they would have left the Body for him to take down.
-he wondered at the fact thus announced to him of His death having already taken place. See Khner, Gram. ii. p. 481, and the examples there adduced, which make this clear, e.g. Demosth. p. 24. 23,-, , .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 15:44. , marvelled) In fact, it was not the mere cross that deprived Jesus of life. [Those crucified sometimes used to protract life for a considerably longer time. Pilate had permitted the breaking of the legs; but the fact, that Jesus had died before the breaking of the legs (of the other two), came to Pilates knowledge through Joseph, and not until then.-V. g.]-) Eustathius has showed that this word is used of even a rather short interval of time.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 19:31-37
Reciprocal: Mat 27:36 – General Mat 27:58 – General Mar 15:39 – the centurion Luk 8:53 – knowing
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Pilate was surprised that Jesus was dead. Crucifixion causes a slow death and the victim usually has to suffer on and on for hours until late in the night, and this was the cause of Pilate’s surprise. To make sure that Joseph was not planning to recover Jesus alive, the governor sent the centurion to see if Jesus had died.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 15:44. And Pilate marvelled. Not at the request, but: if he were already dead. This shows there was something unusual in this case of crucifixion. Pilate had already given orders to have the legs of the crucified broken and the bodies taken down. The first part of the order had been carried out, but our Lord was already dead. The two other bodies were probably taken down at once, but Joseph, appearing at Golgotha (as Matthew and Mark state) made known to the soldiers his purpose; hence they left the body of Jesus on the cross, perhaps going with Joseph to Pilate, in the expectation that his request (as that of a rich and influential man) would be granted. The sudden announcement of the rapid death of this Person, in whom he had been so interested that day, amazed him, and led to his inquiry of the centurion.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
It was unusual that a crucified person died so quickly. So Pilate verified Jesus’ death. Mark noted that a Roman centurion confirmed Jesus’ death to prove to his Roman readers that Jesus really had died. Perhaps some Romans who had observed crucifixions would have had trouble believing that Jesus was dead since they knew of crucified criminals who had lingered for days.
It was also unusual to give the corpse of a person condemned for treason to anyone but a near relative. [Note: Wessel, p. 785.] Consequently Pilate’s willingness to give Jesus’ body to Joseph shows that he really did not believe that Jesus was guilty of treason (cf. Mar 15:14-15). This is the only place in the New Testament where someone referred to Jesus’ dead body as a corpse (Gr. ptoma). Mark’s use of the word further stressed the reality of Jesus’ death. [Note: Cf. Nineham, p. 435.]