Mark 15:15 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Willing to content the people,— Pilate had given them too much cause of disgust before, as appears from what Josephus says concerning him; and probably he was afraid of a general insurrection, therefore he was desirous to remove all cause of complaint: notwithstanding which, the complaints of this very people afterwards pursued him to his ruin. See on Matthew 27:19. Whipping or scourging was a punishment frequently used both by the Jews and Romans; the Jews commonly inflicted it by a whip of three cords, and limited the number of stripes to thirty-nine, that they might not exceed the number sentenced, Deuteronomy 25:3. But the usual way of scourging among the Romans, was with such rods or wands as the lictors carried in a bundle before the magistrates; and they were exceeding cruel in this kind of punishment, tearing with their scourges even to the veins and arteries, and laying the very bowels of the malefactors bare: and as our Saviour was scourged at Pilate's order, it was done most probably by his officers, after the Roman manner, and was therefore no less severe than disgraceful; for Pilate intended hereby to have moved the compassion of the Jews towards him, in order to his release, rather than to have him scourged preparatory to his crucifixion; as appears from Luke 23:15-16; Luke 23:22. See Matthew 27:26. Guyse, and Calmet.