FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Who arrested Jesus? (i.e., the make-up of the crowd)
2. How was the trial of Jesus improper, even by Jewish standards?
3. Were there one or two servant girls in 15:66-69?
4. Why was Peter so nervous in the courtyard?
5. Read the accounts of the trials in all four Gospels and make your own chronological list.
6. Describe if possible, Pilate's motivation in all this?
7. How can we explain the crowd's behavior?
8. Why did the soldiers make sport of Jesus? How many different groups made fun of Him?
9. List the different ways they mocked Jesus.
10. Where was Jesus crucified?
11. Why did Jesus feel abandoned by the Father (cf. Mar_15:34)?
12. Why is Mar_15:39 one of the key verses in Mark's Gospel?