Luke 23

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

1Then the whole assembly arose and led Jesus to Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting athe nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, declaring himself to be Christ, a king.” 3So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are yoʋ the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered him, “Yoʋ have said it yoʋrself.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this man.” 5But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

Jesus Brought Before Herod

6When Pilate heard bmention of Galilee, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he found out that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days. 8When Herod saw Jesus he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard cmany things about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. 9So he questioned him at great length, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10Meanwhile, the dchief priests and the scribes stood there, vehemently accusing him. 11Herod also treated him with contempt and mocked him, as did his soldiers. Then, after dressing Jesus in fine clothing, Herod sent him back to Pilate. 12That very day ePilate and Herod became friends with one another; previously they had been enemies.

The Crowd Calls For Jesus' Crucifixion

13Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And behold, after examining him before you, I have found no fault in this man with respect to the accusations you are making against him, 15and neither has Herod, for fI sent you to him. Clearly he has done nothing that deserves death. 16Therefore I will have him flogged and then release him.”

17gNow each year at the feast Pilate was obligated to release one prisoner for the people. 18So they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” 19(This was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) 20Wishing to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, 21but they kept on shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him hno grounds for death. So I will have him flogged and then release him.” 23But they continued insistently with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified, and their voices iprevailed, along with those of the chief priests. 24So Pilate rendered his decision that their demand be granted. 25He jreleased the man they had been asking for, who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he handed Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion

26As the soldiers led him away, they took hold of Simon, a Cyrenian man who was coming in from the countryside, and they laid on him the cross, forcing him to carry it behind Jesus. 27A great multitude of people followed along behind, including women who were mourning and lamenting for Jesus. 28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For behold, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not knursed!’ 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 31For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32Now two others, who were criminals, were also being led away to be put to death with Jesus. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, the soldiers crucified him there along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34lBut Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Then they cast lots to divide his garments. 35The people stood there looking on, and the rulers mwho were with them ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the nChrist, the Chosen One of God.” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up to him and offering him sour wine, 37saying, “If yoʋ are the king of the Jews, save yoʋrself!” 38There was also an inscription over him owritten in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, which read: “This is the King of the Jews.”

39One of the criminals who was hanging there reviled phim, saying, “ qIf yoʋ are the Christ, save yoʋrself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do yoʋ not even fear God, seeing that yoʋ are under the same condemnation? 41The two of us are justly condemned, for we are receiving the appropriate punishment for the things we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he rsaid to Jesus, “Remember me, Lord, when yoʋ come sin yoʋr kingdom.” 43Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to yoʋ, today yoʋ will be with me in Paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

44tNow it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth uhour. 45The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. 46Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into yoʋr hands I commit my spirit.” After saying this, he breathed his last breath. 47Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God and said, “Surely this man was righteous.” 48And when all the crowds who had gathered together for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts. 49But all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance watching these things, including the women who had followed him from Galilee.

The Burial of Jesus

50Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who was a member of the council 51but had not consented to their decision and action. He was from Arimathea, a town of the Jews, and was vhimself also waiting for the kingdom of God. 52He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb hewn in a rock, where no one had ever been laid. 54It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was approaching. 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed along behind and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. But they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.