Mark Chapter 15 verse 44 Holy Bible
And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
read chapter 15 in ASV
And Pilate was surprised that he was dead; and, sending for the captain, he put a question to see if he had been dead for long.
read chapter 15 in BBE
And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and having called to [him] the centurion, he inquired of him if he had long died.
read chapter 15 in DARBY
And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
read chapter 15 in KJV
read chapter 15 in WBT
Pilate marveled if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long.
read chapter 15 in WEB
And Pilate wondered if he were already dead, and having called near the centurion, did question him if he were long dead,
read chapter 15 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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. It must have Been somewhat early in the afternoon, probably not long after three o'clock, when Joseph went. The day being the Preparation, the Jews were anxious to satisfy the letter of the Law (Deuteronomy 21:13), and that, more especially, because the coming sabbath was a "high day." So they had gone early to Pilate to obtain permission to accelerate the deaths of the sufferers by the terrible additional punishment called σκελοκοπία. This violence was not inflicted upon our Lord, because he was already dead; and so another Scripture was fulfilled, "A bone of him shall not be broken." But it was necessary that Pilate should be assured of the fact that death had taken place before he gave up the body; and thus, in the providence of God, another evidence was given of the reality of Christ's death. Joseph asked for the body (σῶμα). Then Pilate asked the centurion "whether he had been any while dead." The verb here is in the aorist, and the adverb means "formerly" (εἰ πάλαι ἀπέθανε); literally, if he died some time ago.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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 Mark 15:39), are peculiar to St. Mark.
