在彼拉多面前受審

23 於是,眾人動身把耶穌押到彼拉多那裡, 指控祂說:「這人蠱惑民心,禁止百姓向凱撒納稅,又說自己是基督,是君王。」

彼拉多問耶穌:「你是猶太人的王嗎?」

耶穌回答說:「如你所言。」

彼拉多轉過身來,對祭司長和百姓宣佈:「我查不出這人有什麼罪。」 但他們堅持說:「這個人從加利利開始一直到這裡,在猶太地區四處傳道,煽動民心。」

彼拉多聽後,問道:「祂是加利利人嗎?」 他得知耶穌來自分封王希律的轄區後,便把耶穌送交希律,希律剛巧在耶路撒冷。

在希律面前受辱

希律見到耶穌,十分高興,因為他聽過耶穌的事,早就想見祂,希望看祂行神蹟。 他問了耶穌許多問題,耶穌卻一言不發。 10 祭司長和律法教師站在那裡極力地指控耶穌。

11 希律和他的衛兵嘲弄侮辱耶穌,給祂穿上華麗的袍子,把祂押回彼拉多那裡。 12 希律和彼拉多向來互相敵視,但在那一天竟化敵為友。

無辜被判死罪

13 彼拉多召來祭司長、官長和百姓, 14 對他們說:「你們帶這個人來,指控祂煽動百姓造反,我當著你們的面審問了祂,卻查不出祂有任何你們指控祂的罪。 15 希律也查不出祂有什麼罪,所以把祂送回來了。可見,這人並沒有犯什麼該死的罪。 16 因此,我要懲戒祂,然後釋放祂。」 17 每逢逾越節,總督總是按慣例給他們釋放一個囚犯。[a]

18 這時,眾人齊聲呼喊:「殺掉祂!釋放巴拉巴!」 19 巴拉巴是因在城裡叛亂殺人而被下在監裡的。

20 彼拉多想釋放耶穌,便勸解他們。 21 但他們一直喊:「把祂釘在十字架上!把祂釘在十字架上!」

22 彼拉多第三次問百姓:「為什麼?祂犯了什麼罪?我找不出該處死祂的罪證。因此,我要懲戒祂,然後釋放祂。」

23 眾人卻繼續大聲喊叫,執意要求把耶穌釘在十字架上。最後,他們的聲勢佔了上風。 24 於是,彼拉多依照他們的要求, 25 釋放了叛亂殺人的囚犯巴拉巴,並把耶穌交給他們任意處置。

釘十字架

26 他們帶耶穌出去的時候,抓住從鄉下來的古利奈人西門,讓他背著十字架跟在耶穌後面。

27 有一大群人跟在耶穌後面,其中有不少婦女為耶穌傷心痛哭。 28 耶穌轉過身來,對她們說:「耶路撒冷的女兒啊,不要為我哭,為你們自己和你們的兒女哭吧! 29 因為日子快到了,人們將說,『不曾生育、不曾懷孕、不曾哺乳的女子有福了!』 30 到時候,人們會向大山說,『倒在我們身上吧!』又會對小山說,『遮蓋我們吧!』 31 樹木青蔥的時候,他們尚且做這些事,樹木枯乾的時候,又會怎樣呢?[b]

32 當時有兩個罪犯和耶穌一同被押去受刑。 33 他們到了一個叫「髑髏」的地方,便把耶穌釘在十字架上,又將兩個罪犯分別釘在祂左右兩邊。

34 耶穌禱告說:「父啊,赦免他們!因為他們不知道自己在做什麼。」士兵抽籤分了耶穌的衣裳。

35 百姓站著觀看,官長嘲笑耶穌說:「祂救了別人,如果祂是上帝所選立的基督,讓祂救自己吧!」

36 士兵們也戲弄祂,拿了些酸酒上前給祂喝, 37 又說:「如果你是猶太人的王,救救自己呀!」

38 耶穌上方有一塊牌子,上面寫著:「這是猶太人的王」。

39 跟耶穌同釘十字架的一個罪犯也譏笑耶穌,說:「你不是基督嗎?救你自己和我們呀!」

40 另一個罪犯卻責備他說:「你同樣是受刑的,難道不怕上帝嗎? 41 我們是罪有應得,但這個人沒有犯過罪。」 42 他隨即懇求耶穌:「耶穌啊,當你來執掌王權的時候,請你記得我。」

43 耶穌對他說:「我實在告訴你,今天你要和我一起在樂園裡了。」

耶穌之死

44 那時大約是正午,黑暗籠罩著整個大地,一直到下午三點, 45 太陽黯然無光。忽然掛在聖殿裡的幔子從中間裂成兩半。 46 耶穌大聲喊著說:「父啊,我將我的靈魂交在你手中。」說完,就斷氣了。

47 百夫長見此情形,便讚美上帝,說:「這人的確是個義人。」

48 圍觀的人見狀,無不捶胸頓足黯然離去。 49 耶穌熟識的人和從加利利跟著祂來的婦女們都站在遠處觀看。

耶穌的安葬

50 有一位名叫約瑟的公會議員心地善良、為人正直, 51 住在猶太地區的亞利馬太城,一直在等候上帝國的降臨。他並不苟同公會的決定。 52 他去求見彼拉多,要求領取耶穌的遺體。 53 他把耶穌的遺體從十字架上取下來,用細麻布裹好,然後安放在一個從岩壁上鑿出的新墓穴裡。 54 當天是預備日,安息日快到了。

55 和耶穌一起從加利利來的婦女跟在約瑟後面,看到了耶穌的墳墓,並且看到祂的遺體被安放好之後, 56 便回家去預備香料和膏油。安息日到了,她們按律法的規定休息了一天。

Footnotes

  1. 23·17 有古卷無「每逢逾越節,總督總是按慣例為他們釋放一個囚犯。」
  2. 23·31 此句或譯「他們尚且如此對待青蔥的樹木,將來又會怎樣對待枯乾的樹木呢?」

Jesus before Pilate

23 Then the whole assembly got up and brought Him before Pilate. They began to accuse Jesus, asserting, “We found this Man misleading and perverting our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming that He Himself is Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), a King.”(A) So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, It is just as you say.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this Man.” But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people [to rebel], teaching throughout Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as here [in Jerusalem].”

When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that He belonged to the jurisdiction of [a]Herod [Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee], he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Jesus before Herod

When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time because of what he had heard about Him, and was hoping to see some [miraculous] sign [even something spectacular] done by Him. And he questioned Him at some length, but Jesus made no reply.(B) 10 The chief priests and the scribes were standing there, continually accusing Him heatedly. 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking and ridiculing Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.(C) 12 Now that very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other—before this they had been enemies.

Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release

13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought this man before me as one who corrupts and incites the people to rebellion. After examining Him before you, I have found no guilt in this Man regarding the charges which you make against Him. 15 No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and indeed, He has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore I will punish Him [to teach Him a lesson] and release Him.” 17 [b][Now he was obligated to release to them one prisoner at the Feast.]

18 But they [loudly] shouted out all together, saying, “Away with this Man, and release Barabbas to us!”(D) 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection that happened in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate addressed them again, wanting to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting out, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what wrong has He done? I have found no guilt [no crime, no offense] in Him demanding death; therefore I will punish Him [to teach Him a lesson] and release Him.” 23 But they were insistent and unrelenting, demanding with loud voices that Jesus be crucified. And their voices began to prevail and accomplish their purpose. 24 Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he handed over Jesus to their will.

Simon Bears the Cross

26 When they led Him away, they seized a man, [c]Simon of [d]Cyrene, who was coming in [to the city] from the country, and [e]placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.(E)

27 Following Him was a large crowd of the people, including women who were mourning and wailing for Him. 28 But Jesus, turning toward them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’(F) 31 [f]For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be executed with Him.(G)

The Crucifixion

33 When they came to the place called [g]The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.(H) 34 [h]And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves.(I) 35 Now the people stood by, watching; but even the rulers ridiculed and sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others [from death]; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him and [cruelly] offering Him sour wine,(J) 37 and sarcastically saying, “If you are [really] the King of the Jews, save Yourself [from death]!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

39 One of the criminals who had been hanged [on a cross beside Him] kept hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us [from death]!” 40 But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 We are suffering justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, [please] remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 Jesus said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, today you will be with Me in [i]Paradise.”(K)

44 It was now about the sixth hour (noon), and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.),(L) 45 because the sun was [j]obscured; and the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was [k]torn in two [from top to bottom].(M) 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” Having said this, He breathed His last.(N) 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he began praising and honoring God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent.” 48 All the crowds who had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had happened, began to return [to their homes], beating their breasts [as a sign of mourning or repentance]. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who had accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, watching these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50 A man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), a good and honorable man(O) 51 (he had not consented to the Council’s plan and action) a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for and expecting the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And [after receiving permission] he took it down and wrapped it in a linen [burial] cloth and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. 54 It was the day of preparation [for the Sabbath], and the Sabbath was dawning. 55 Now the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed [closely], and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they went back and prepared spices and ointments and sweet-smelling herbs.

And on the Sabbath they rested in accordance with the commandment [forbidding work].(P)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:7 See note Matt 22:17.
  2. Luke 23:17 Most early mss do not contain this verse.
  3. Luke 23:26 The father of Alexander and Rufus, disciples in Rome.
  4. Luke 23:26 A port city in north Africa.
  5. Luke 23:26 The crossbeam was usually placed on the nape of the neck like a yoke.
  6. Luke 23:31 A proverb meaning if the innocent has to suffer what will happen to the guilty.
  7. Luke 23:33 Latin: Calvarius; or Calvary; Aram: Golgotha; Greek: Kranion.
  8. Luke 23:34 Some early mss do not contain the words “And Jesus was saying...doing.”
  9. Luke 23:43 I.e. possibly the third heaven, the special place or “garden” (Gen 2:8-10) between death and resurrection.
  10. Luke 23:45 Lit failing. The language that Luke uses is found elsewhere in Greek literature to describe an eclipse.
  11. Luke 23:45 The tearing of the veil established the institution of a new, direct way of communication between God and mankind. The sacrificial death of Christ nullified the need for priestly intervention between God and man, and abolished the need for animal sacrifice.

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.(A) And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation.(B) He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar(C) and claims to be Messiah, a king.”(D)

So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”(E)

But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee(F) and has come all the way here.”

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.(G) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,(H) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.(I) From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.(J) 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,(K) they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends(L)—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.(M) 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(N) and then release him.” [17] [a]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”(O) 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.”(P)

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(Q)

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,(R) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.(S) 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed(T) for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.(U) 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!’(V) 30 Then

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

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

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.(Y) 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,(Z) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c](AA) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(AB)

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

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

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

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

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.”(AJ)

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

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

The Death of Jesus(AM)

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

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God(AT) and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts(AU) and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,(AV) stood at a distance,(AW) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus(AX)

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.(AY) 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day,(AZ) and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee(BA) followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.(BB) But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.(BC)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:17 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 27:15 and Mark 15:6.
  2. Luke 23:30 Hosea 10:8
  3. Luke 23:34 Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.
  4. Luke 23:42 Some manuscripts come with your kingly power
  5. Luke 23:46 Psalm 31:5