18 Then(A) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!(B) Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus,(C) addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify Him!”

22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?(D) I have found in Him no grounds(E) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have Him whipped and then release Him.”

23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices[a] won out. 24 So(F) Pilate decided to grant their demand(G) 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.(H)

The Way to the Cross

26 As(I) they led Him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian,(J) who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross(K) on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people followed Him, including women who were mourning and lamenting Him.(L) 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem,(M) do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children. 29 Look, the days are coming(N) when they will say, ‘The women without children, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed, are fortunate!’(O) 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’(P)[b] 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(Q)

Crucified between Two Criminals

32 Two others—criminals(R)—were also led away to be executed with Him. 33 When(S) they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. [34 Then Jesus said, “Father,(T) forgive(U) them, because they do not know what they are doing.”(V)][c] And they divided His clothes and cast lots.(W)

35 The(X) people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing:(Y) “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”(Z) 36 The soldiers also mocked Him. They came offering Him sour wine(AA) 37 and said, “If You are the King of the Jews,(AB) save Yourself!”

38 An inscription was above Him:[d]

THIS IS

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 Then(AC) one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at[e] Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!”

40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God,(AD) since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”(AE) 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me[f](AF) when You come into Your kingdom!”(AG)

43 And He said to him, “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.”(AH)

The Death of Jesus

44 It(AI) was now about noon,[g] and darkness came over the whole land[h] until three,[i] 45 because the sun’s light failed.[j] The curtain(AJ) of the sanctuary was split down the middle. 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.(AK)[k] Saying this, He breathed His last.

47 When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify(AL) God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” 48 All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.[l](AM) 49 But(AN) all who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance,(AO) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

50 There(AP) was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, 51 who had not agreed with their plan(AQ) and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.(AR) 52 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.[m](AS) 54 It was preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.[n] 55 The women(AT) who had come with Him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how His body was placed. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.(AU) And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.(AV)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:23 Other mss add and those of the chief priests
  2. Luke 23:30 Hs 10:8
  3. Luke 23:34 Other mss omit bracketed text
  4. Luke 23:38 Other mss add written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew letters
  5. Luke 23:39 Or began to blaspheme
  6. Luke 23:42 Other mss add Lord
  7. Luke 23:44 Lit about the sixth hour
  8. Luke 23:44 Or whole earth
  9. Luke 23:44 Lit the ninth hour
  10. Luke 23:45 Other mss read three, and the sun was darkened
  11. Luke 23:46 Ps 31:5
  12. Luke 23:48 = mourning
  13. Luke 23:53 Or interred, or laid
  14. Luke 23:54 Lit was dawning; not in the morning but at sundown Friday

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