12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends(A)—before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.(B) 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him(C) and then release him.” [17] [a]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”(D) 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”(E)

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus(F)

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,(G) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.(H) 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed(I) for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.(J) 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’(K) 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[b](L)

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(M)

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.(N) 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father,(O) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c](P) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(Q)

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.(R) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”(S)

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him.(T) They offered him wine vinegar(U) 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,(V) save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.(W)

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”(X)

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”(Y)

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d](Z)

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”(AA)

The Death of Jesus(AB)

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,(AC) 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple(AD) was torn in two.(AE) 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice,(AF) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[e](AG) When he had said this, he breathed his last.(AH)

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God(AI) and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

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12 And so (A)Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for previously, they had been enemies toward each other.

Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release

13 Now Pilate summoned to himself the chief priests, the [a](B)rulers, and the people, 14 and he said to them, “You brought this man to me on the ground that (C)he is inciting the people to revolt; and behold, after examining Him before you, I (D)have found no basis at all in the case of this man for the charges which you are bringing against Him. 15 No, nor has (E)Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16 Therefore I will [b](F)punish Him and release Him.” 17 [[c]Now he was obligated to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

18 But they cried out all together, saying, “(G)Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!” 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for a revolt that took place in the city, and for murder.) 20 But Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept on crying out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22 And he said to them a third time, “Why, what has this man done wrong? I have found [d]in His case no grounds for a sentence of death; therefore I will [e](H)punish Him and release Him.” 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices, demanding that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24 And so Pilate decided to have their demand carried out. 25 And he released the man for whom they were asking, who had been thrown into prison for a revolt and murder; but he handed Jesus over to their will.

Simon Carries the Cross

26 (I)And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of (J)Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

27 Now following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were [f](K)mourning and grieving for Him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, days are coming when they will say, ‘(L)Blessed are those who cannot bear, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to (M)say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things [g]when the tree is green, what will happen [h]when it is dry?”

32 (N)Now two others, who were criminals, were also being led away to be put to death with Him.

The Crucifixion

33 (O)And when they came to the place called [i]The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 [[j]But Jesus was saying, (P)Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”] (Q)And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, watching. And even the (R)rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; (S)let Him save Himself if this is the [k]Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also ridiculed Him, coming up to Him, (T)offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “(U)If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “(V)THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

39 (W)One of the criminals who were hanged there was [l]hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the [m]Christ? (X)Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other responded, 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 [n]what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in (Y)Paradise.”

44 (Z)It was now about [o](AA)the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until [p]the ninth hour, 45 [q]because the sun stopped shining; and (AB)the veil of the temple was torn [r]in two. 46 And Jesus, (AC)crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, (AD)into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” And having said this, He [s]died. 47 (AE)Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began (AF)praising God, saying, “This man was in fact [t]innocent.”

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