Luke 23

Jesus before Pilate

1Then the whole body of them got up and 1brought Him before Pilate. 22And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man 3misleading our nation and 4forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is 5Christ, a King.” 3So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “6It is as you say.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “7I find no guilt in this man.” 5But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, 8starting from Galilee even as far as this place.”

6When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to 9Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem 10at that time.

Jesus before Herod

8Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for 11he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some 12sign performed by Him. 9And he questioned Him 13at some length; but 14He answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 11And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, 15dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12Now 16Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.

Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release

13Pilate summoned the chief priests and the 17rulers and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who 18incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I 19have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. 15No, nor has 20Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16Therefore I will 21punish Him and release Him.” 17[22Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

18But they cried out all together, saying, “23Away 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.) 20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22And 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 24punish Him and release Him.” 23But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25And 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

2625When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of 26Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

27And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were 2728mourning and lamenting Him. 28But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘29Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30Then they will begin to 30say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31For if they do these things 31when the tree is green, what will happen 32when it is dry?”

3233Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.

The Crucifixion

3334When they came to the place called 35The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 3436But Jesus was saying, “37Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” 38And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35And the people stood by, looking on. And even the 39rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; 40let Him save Himself if this is the 41Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, 42offering Him sour wine, 37and saying, “43If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38Now there was also an inscription above Him, “44THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

3945One of the criminals who were hanged there was 46hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the 47Christ? 48Save Yourself and us!” 40But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving 49what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come 50in Your kingdom!” 43And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in 51Paradise.”

4452It was now about 5354the sixth hour, and darkness 55fell over the whole land until 56the ninth hour, 4557because the sun was obscured; and 58the veil of the temple was torn 59in two. 46And Jesus, 60crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, 61into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 4762Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began 63praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was 64innocent.” 48And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, 6566beating their breasts. 4967And all His acquaintances and 68the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

Jesus Is Buried

5069And a man named Joseph, who was a 70member 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 71waiting for the kingdom of God; 52this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53And 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. 54It was 72the 73preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to 74begin. 55Now 75the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56Then they returned and 76prepared spices and perfumes.

And 77on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.