Luke 23

1 And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before Pilate.2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king.3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest.4 And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man.5 But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place.6 But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.7 And when he knew that he was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him.9 And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing.10 And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.11 And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate.12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.13 And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,14 and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I having examined him before you, found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:15 no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him.16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.17 Now he must needs release unto them at the feast one prisoner.18 But they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: --19 one who for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.20 And Pilate spake unto them again, desiring to release Jesus;21 but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him.22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him.23 But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed.24 And Pilate gave sentence that what they asked for should be done.25 And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.26 And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus.27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.29 For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck.30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.31 For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?32 And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.33 And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left.34 And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots.35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen.36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him vinegar,37 and saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.38 And there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.39 And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.42 And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom.43 And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.44 And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,45 the sun’s light failing: and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.46 And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost.47 And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.48 And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts.49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things.50 And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good and righteous man51 (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was looking 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 that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain.54 And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on.55 And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid.56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Luke 23

Jesus is Brought before Pilate

(Mt 27.1–2, 11–14; Mk 15.1–5; Jn 18.28–38)

1 The whole group rose up and took Jesus before Pilate,

2 where they began to accuse him: “We caught this man misleading our people, telling them not to pay taxes to the Emperor and claiming that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”

3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“So you say,” answered Jesus.

4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no reason to condemn this man.”

5 But they insisted even more strongly, “With his teaching he is starting a riot among the people all through Judea. He began in Galilee and now has come here.”

Jesus is Sent to Herod

12 On that very day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this they had been enemies.

Jesus is Sentenced to Death

(Mt 27.15–26; Mk 15.6–15; Jn 18.39—19.16)

16 So I will have him whipped and let him go.”t
18 The whole crowd cried out, “Kill him! Set Barabbas free for us!”

19 (Barabbas had been put in prison for a riot that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
20 Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he appealed to the crowd again.

21 But they shouted back, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 Pilate said to them the third time, “But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free.”
23 But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices that Jesus should be crucified, and finally their shouting succeeded. 24 So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for.

25 He set free the man they wanted, the one who had been put in prison for riot and murder, and he handed Jesus over for them to do as they wished.

Jesus is Crucified

(Mt 27.32–44; Mk 15.21–32; Jn 19.17–27)

26 The soldiers led Jesus away, and as they were going, they met a man from Cyrene named Simon who was coming into the city from the country. They seized him, put the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27 A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some women who were weeping and wailing for him. 28 Jesus turned to them and said, “Women of Jerusalem! Don't cry for me, but for yourselves and your children. 29 For the days are coming when people will say, ‘How lucky are the women who never had children, who never bore babies, who never nursed them!’ 30 That will be the time when people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Hide us!’t

31 For if such things as these are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two other men, both of them criminals, were also led out to be put to death with Jesus. 33 When they came to the place called “The Skull”, they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.

34 Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.”tt
They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice.

35 The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders jeered at him: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!”t
36 The soldiers also mocked him: they came up to him and offered him cheap wine,t

37 and said, “Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!”

38 Above him were written these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. 41 Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.”

42 And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!”

43 Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.”

The Death of Jesus

(Mt 27.45–56; Mk 15.33–41; Jn 19.28–30)

46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” He said this and died.t

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

The Burial of Jesus

(Mt 27.57–61; Mk 15.42–47; Jn 19.38–42)

54 It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The 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.t
On the Sabbath they rested, as the Law commanded.