Luke 23:13–34

¹³Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people. ¹⁴He said to them, “You brought me this man. You said he was turning the people against the authorities. I have questioned him in front of you. I have found no basis for your charges against him. ¹⁵Herod hasn’t either. So he sent Jesus back to us. As you can see, Jesus has done nothing that is worthy of death. ^16/17So I will just have him whipped and let him go.”

¹⁸With one voice the crowd cried out, “Kill this man! Give Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹Barabbas had been thrown into prison. He had taken part in a struggle in the city against the authorities. He had also committed murder.

²⁰Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. So he made an appeal to the crowd again. ²¹But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²²Pilate spoke to them for the third time. “Why?” he asked. “What wrong has this man done? I have found no reason to have him put to death. So I will just have him whipped and let him go.”

²³But with loud shouts they kept calling for Jesus to be crucified. The people’s shouts won out.

²⁴So Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. ²⁵He set free the man they asked for. The man had been thrown in prison for murder and for fighting against the authorities. Pilate gave Jesus over to them so they could carry out their plans.

Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross

²⁶As they led Jesus away, they took hold of Simon. Simon was from Cyrene. He was on his way in from the country. They put a wooden cross on his shoulders. Then they made him carry it behind Jesus.

²⁷A large number of people followed Jesus. Some were women whose hearts were filled with sorrow. They cried loudly because of him.

²⁸Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹The time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the women who can’t have children! Blessed are those who never gave birth or nursed babies!’ ³⁰It is written,

“ ‘The people will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”

They’ll say to the hills, “Cover us!” ’

³¹People do these things when trees are green. So what will happen when trees are dry?”

³²Two other men were also led out with Jesus to be killed. Both of them had broken the law. ³³The soldiers brought them to the place called The Skull. There they nailed Jesus to the cross. He hung between the two criminals. One was on his right and one was on his left.

³⁴Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.