Chapter 23

Jesus before Pilate

1 Then the whole body of them got up and abrought Him before Pilate.

2 aAnd they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man bmisleading our nation and cforbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is 1Christ, a King.”

3 So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “aIt is as you say.”

4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “aI find no guilt in this man.”

5 But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, astarting from Galilee even as far as this place.”

6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.

7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to aHerod, who himself also was in Jerusalem 1at that time.

Jesus before Herod

8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for ahe had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some 1sign performed by Him.

9 And he questioned Him 1at some length; but aHe answered him nothing.

10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently.

11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, adressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.

12 Now aHerod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.

Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release

13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the arulers and the people,

14 and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who aincites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I bhave found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him.

15 “No, nor has aHerod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.

16 “Therefore I will apunish Him and release Him.”

17 [1Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

18 But they cried out all together, saying, “aAway with this man, and release for us Barabbas!”

19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.)

20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,

21 but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!”

22 And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will apunish Him and release Him.”

23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.

24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.

25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Simon Bears the Cross

26 aWhen they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of bCyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were 1amourning and lamenting Him.

28 But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

29 “For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘aBlessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’

30 “Then they will begin to asay to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’

31 “For if they do these things 1when the tree is green, what will happen 2when it is dry?”

32 aTwo others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.

The Crucifixion

33 aWhen they came to the place called 1The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.

34 1But Jesus was saying, “aFather, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” bAnd they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the arulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; blet Him save Himself if this is the 1Christ of God, His Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, aoffering Him sour wine,

37 and saying, “aIf You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”

38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “aTHIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

39 aOne of the criminals who were hanged there was 1hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the 2Christ? bSave Yourself and us!”

40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

41 “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving 1what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come 1in Your kingdom!”

43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in aParadise.”

44 aIt was now about 1bthe sixth hour, and darkness 2fell over the whole land until 3the ninth hour,

45 1because the sun was obscured; and athe veil of the temple was torn 2in two.

46 And Jesus, acrying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, binto Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.

47 aNow when the centurion saw what had happened, he began bpraising God, saying, “Certainly this man was 1innocent.”

48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, 1abeating their breasts.

49 aAnd all His acquaintances and athe women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50 aAnd a man named Joseph, who was a bmember of the Council, a good and righteous man

51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was awaiting for the kingdom of God;

52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain.

54 It was athe 1preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to 2begin.

55 Now athe women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.

56 Then they returned and aprepared spices and perfumes.

And bon the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.