Luke 23:44–56

The Death of Jesus

^44–45It was about twelve o’clock when the sun stopped shining and darkness covered the whole country until three o’clock; and the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two. ^46*Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” He said this and died.

⁴⁷The army officer saw what had happened, and he praised God, saying, “Certainly he was a good man!”

⁴⁸When the people who had gathered there to watch the spectacle saw what happened, they all went back home, beating their breasts in sorrow. ^49*All those who knew Jesus personally, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance to watch.

The Burial of Jesus

^50–51There was a man named Joseph from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He was a good and honourable man, who was waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Although he was a member of the Council, he had not agreed with their decision and action. ⁵²He went into the presence of Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³Then he took the body down, wrapped it in a linen sheet, and placed it in a tomb which had been dug out of solid rock and which had never been used. ⁵⁴It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

⁵⁵The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee went with Joseph and saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was placed in it. ^56*Then they went back home and prepared the spices and perfumes for the body.

On the Sabbath they rested, as the Law commanded.