15:39 centurion. A Roman officer responsible for one hundred men. This centurion was apparently responsible for the detachment that put Jesus to death. He was well placed to observe the death of Jesus.

Son of God. The Greek could be translated “a son of God.” A Roman would not see in this term the Old Testament Messiah nor the eternal Son of the Trinity, but rather the Hellenistic idea of a human being favored by the gods. Nevertheless, the confession stands as the goal and climax of Mark’s Gospel, filled with the content of the Christian message (cf. 1:1).