路加福音 23
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
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， 2 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。」
3 彼拉多問耶穌：「你是猶太人的王嗎？」
耶穌回答說：「如你所言。」
4 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。」 5 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。」
6 彼拉多聽後，問道：「祂是加利利人嗎？」 7 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
8 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。 9 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。
路加福音 23
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
耶稣被押交彼拉多(A)
23 众人都起来，把耶稣押到彼拉多那里， 2 控告他说：“我们查出这个人煽惑我们的同胞，阻止纳税给凯撒，并且自称是基督，是王。” 3 彼拉多问他：“你是犹太人的王吗？”耶稣回答：“你已经说了（“你已经说了”或译：“这是你说的”）。” 4 彼拉多对祭司长和众人说：“我在这人身上，查不出有甚么罪。” 5 但他们极力说：“他在犹太全地教导人，煽动群众，从加利利直到这里。”
希律王藐视耶稣
6 彼拉多听见了，就问耶稣是不是加利利人。 7 既然知道他是属于希律管辖的，就把他送回希律那里；那时希律正在耶路撒冷。 8 希律看见耶稣，非常欢喜，因为他曾经听过耶稣的事，早就想要见他，希望看他行个神迹。 9 于是他问了耶稣许多话，但耶稣甚么也不回答。 10 祭司长和经学家站着，猛烈地控告他。 11 希律和他的侍卫就藐视耶稣，戏弄他，给他穿上华丽的衣服，把他送回彼拉多那里。 12 希律和彼拉多从前原是彼此为仇，在那一天就成了朋友。
彼拉多判耶稣钉十字架(B)
13 彼拉多召集了祭司长、官长和民众， 14 对他们说：“你们把这人押到我这里来，说他煽惑群众，我已经在你们面前审讯过，在他身上一点也找不到你们控告他的罪状， 15 连希律也找不到，又把他送回我这里，可见他没有作过该死的事。 16 我要责打他，然后把他释放。”（有些抄本有第17节：“每逢节期，他必须照例给他们释放一个囚犯。”也有些抄本把这句放在第19节后） 18 众人齐声喊叫：“除掉这个人，给我们释放巴拉巴！” 19 这巴拉巴是因为在城里作乱杀人而入狱的。 20 彼拉多再向他们说明，愿意释放耶稣。 21 然而他们高声呼叫：“把他钉十字架，把他钉十字架！” 22 彼拉多第三次对他们说：“这人作过甚么恶事呢？我在他身上找不出甚么该死的罪。所以我要责打他，然后把他释放。” 23 但他们大声吵闹，要他把耶稣钉十字架，他们的声音就得了胜。 24 彼拉多就宣判，照他们的要求， 25 把他们所求那作乱杀人入狱的释放了，却把耶稣交出来，随他们的意思处理。
耶稣被钉十字架(C)
26 他们把耶稣带走的时候，抓住了一个从乡下来的古利奈人西门，把十字架放在他身上，叫他背着跟在耶稣后面。 27 一大群人跟随他，有些妇女为他捶胸痛哭。 28 耶稣转过身来对她们说：“耶路撒冷的女儿啊，不要为我哭，却要为你们自己和你们的儿女哭。 29 日子将到，人必说：‘不生育的和没有怀过胎的，也没有哺养过婴儿的有福了。’
30 那时人要对大山说：
‘倒在我们身上！’
对小山说：
‘遮盖我们！’
31 他们在青绿的树上，既然这样作；在枯干的树上，又会怎样呢？”
32 他们另外带来两个犯人，和耶稣一同处死， 33 到了那名叫“髑髅”的地方，就把耶稣钉在十字架上，也钉了那两个犯人，一左一右。 34 耶稣说：“父啊，赦免他们！因为他们不知道自己所作的是甚么。”士兵抽签，分了他的衣服。 35 群众站着观看，官长们嗤笑说：“他救了别人，如果他是基督，是 神所拣选的，让他救自己吧！” 36 士兵也上前戏弄他，拿酸酒给他喝， 37 说：“如果你是犹太人的王，救你自己吧！” 38 在耶稣的头以上有一个牌子写着：“这是犹太人的王。”
39 悬挂着的犯人中，有一个侮辱他说：“你不是基督吗？救你自己和我们吧！” 40 另一个就应声责备他说：“你是同样受刑的，还不惧怕 神吗？ 41 我们是罪有应得的。我们所受的与所作的相称，然而这个人并没有作过甚么不对的事。” 42 他又对耶稣说：“耶稣啊，你得国降临的时候，求你记念我。” 43 耶稣对他说：“我实在告诉你，今天你必定同我在乐园里了。”
耶稣死时的情形(D)
44 从大约正午直到下午三点钟，遍地都黑暗了。 45 太阳没有光，圣所的幔子从当中裂开。 46 耶稣大声呼叫：“父啊，我把我的灵魂交在你手里。”说了这话，气就断了。 47 百夫长看见所发生的事，就颂赞 神，说：“这真是个义人！” 48 聚集观看的群众，看见所发生的事，都捶着胸回去了。 49 与耶稣熟悉的人，和从加利利跟随他来的妇女，都远远地站着，看这些事。
耶稣葬在坟墓里(E)
50 有一个人名叫约瑟，是个议员，为人良善公义， 51 是犹太地亚利马太城的人，一向等候 神的国，并不附和众人的计谋和行为。 52 这人去见彼拉多，求领耶稣的身体。 53 他把身体取下来，用细麻布裹好，放在从石头凿出来的坟墓里，这坟墓是从来没有葬过人的。 54 那天是预备日，安息日就要开始， 55 那些从加利利和耶稣一起来的妇女，跟着来了。她们看见了坟墓，和他的身体怎样安葬， 56 就回去预备香料和香膏。
安息日，她们遵着诫命安息。
路加福音 23
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
在彼拉多面前受审
23 于是，众人动身把耶稣押到彼拉多那里， 2 指控祂说：“这人蛊惑民心，禁止百姓向凯撒纳税，又说自己是基督，是君王。”
3 彼拉多问耶稣：“你是犹太人的王吗？”
耶稣回答说：“如你所言。”
4 彼拉多转过身来，对祭司长和百姓宣布：“我查不出这人有什么罪。” 5 但他们坚持说：“这个人从加利利开始一直到这里，在犹太地区四处传道，煽动民心。”
6 彼拉多听后，问道：“祂是加利利人吗？” 7 他得知耶稣来自分封王希律的辖区后，便把耶稣送交希律，希律刚巧在耶路撒冷。
在希律面前受辱
8 希律见到耶稣，十分高兴，因为他听过耶稣的事，早就想见祂，希望看祂行神迹。 9 他问了耶稣许多问题，耶稣却一言不发。 10 祭司长和律法教师站在那里极力地指控耶稣。
11 希律和他的卫兵嘲弄侮辱耶稣，给祂穿上华丽的袍子，把祂押回彼拉多那里。 12 希律和彼拉多向来互相敌视，但在那一天竟化敌为友。
无辜被判死罪
13 彼拉多召来祭司长、官长和百姓， 14 对他们说：“你们带这个人来，指控祂煽动百姓造反，我当着你们的面审问了祂，却查不出祂有任何你们指控祂的罪。 15 希律也查不出祂有什么罪，所以把祂送回来了。可见，这人并没有犯什么该死的罪。 16 因此，我要惩戒祂，然后释放祂。” 17 每逢逾越节，总督总是按惯例给他们释放一个囚犯。[a]
18 这时，众人齐声呼喊：“杀掉祂！释放巴拉巴！” 19 巴拉巴是因在城里叛乱杀人而被下在监里的。
20 彼拉多想释放耶稣，便劝解他们。 21 但他们一直喊：“把祂钉在十字架上！把祂钉在十字架上！”
22 彼拉多第三次问百姓：“为什么？祂犯了什么罪？我找不出该处死祂的罪证。因此，我要惩戒祂，然后释放祂。”
23 众人却继续大声喊叫，执意要求把耶稣钉在十字架上。最后，他们的声势占了上风。 24 于是，彼拉多依照他们的要求， 25 释放了叛乱杀人的囚犯巴拉巴，并把耶稣交给他们任意处置。
钉十字架
26 他们带耶稣出去的时候，抓住从乡下来的古利奈人西门，让他背着十字架跟在耶稣后面。
27 有一大群人跟在耶稣后面，其中有不少妇女为耶稣伤心痛哭。 28 耶稣转过身来，对她们说：“耶路撒冷的女儿啊，不要为我哭，为你们自己和你们的儿女哭吧！ 29 因为日子快到了，人们将说，‘不曾生育、不曾怀孕、不曾哺乳的女子有福了！’ 30 到时候，人们会向大山说，‘倒在我们身上吧！’又会对小山说，‘遮盖我们吧！’ 31 树木青葱的时候，他们尚且做这些事，树木枯干的时候，又会怎样呢？[b]”
32 当时有两个罪犯和耶稣一同被押去受刑。 33 他们到了一个叫“髑髅”的地方，便把耶稣钉在十字架上，又将两个罪犯分别钉在祂左右两边。
34 耶稣祷告说：“父啊，赦免他们！因为他们不知道自己在做什么。”士兵抽签分了耶稣的衣裳。
35 百姓站着观看，官长嘲笑耶稣说：“祂救了别人，如果祂是上帝所选立的基督，让祂救自己吧！”
36 士兵们也戏弄祂，拿了些酸酒上前给祂喝， 37 又说：“如果你是犹太人的王，救救自己呀！”
38 耶稣上方有一块牌子，上面写着：“这是犹太人的王”。
39 跟耶稣同钉十字架的一个罪犯也讥笑耶稣，说：“你不是基督吗？救你自己和我们呀！”
40 另一个罪犯却责备他说：“你同样是受刑的，难道不怕上帝吗？ 41 我们是罪有应得，但这个人没有犯过罪。” 42 他随即恳求耶稣：“耶稣啊，当你来执掌王权的时候，请你记得我。”
43 耶稣对他说：“我实在告诉你，今天你要和我一起在乐园里了。”
耶稣之死
44 那时大约是正午，黑暗笼罩着整个大地，一直到下午三点， 45 太阳黯然无光。忽然挂在圣殿里的幔子从中间裂成两半。 46 耶稣大声喊着说：“父啊，我将我的灵魂交在你手中。”说完，就断气了。
47 百夫长见此情形，便赞美上帝，说：“这人的确是个义人。”
48 围观的人见状，无不捶胸顿足黯然离去。 49 耶稣熟识的人和从加利利跟着祂来的妇女们都站在远处观看。
耶稣的安葬
50 有一位名叫约瑟的公会议员心地善良、为人正直， 51 住在犹太地区的亚利马太城，一直在等候上帝国的降临。他并不苟同公会的决定。 52 他去求见彼拉多，要求领取耶稣的遗体。 53 他把耶稣的遗体从十字架上取下来，用细麻布裹好，然后安放在一个从岩壁上凿出的新墓穴里。 54 当天是预备日，安息日快到了。
55 和耶稣一起从加利利来的妇女跟在约瑟后面，看到了耶稣的坟墓，并且看到祂的遗体被安放好之后， 56 便回家去预备香料和膏油。安息日到了，她们按律法的规定休息了一天。
路 加 福 音 23
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
总督彼拉多审问耶稣
23 之后，这帮人起身把耶稣带到了彼拉多面前。 2 他们一见到彼拉多，就开始控告耶稣，他们说∶“我们抓住这个人，他使我们的民众误入歧途，他反对向凯撒交税，还说他是基督，是王。”
3 所以，彼拉多问耶稣∶“你是犹太人的王吗？”
耶稣回答道∶“正是，你说的对。”
4 然后，彼拉多对祭司长和人群说∶“我查不出这人有什么罪状。”
5 但他们坚持说∶“他在整个犹太地区，用他的教唆搅乱民众，他从加利利开始，一直蔓延到这里。”
彼拉多把耶稣交给了希律
6 听到这里，彼拉多问耶稣是不是加利利人。 7 当他得知耶稣是受希律管辖时，便把他送到了希律那里。那时，希律恰好在耶路撒冷。 8 希律看见耶稣，非常高兴，因为，很多年来，他一直很想见到耶稣。希律以前听说了有关他的事情，也一直想看耶稣施展奇迹。 9 希律向耶稣提了很多问题，可耶稣一个也没回答。 10 祭司长和律法师们站在那里，恶狠狠地控告着耶稣。 11 希律和他的手下士兵，也对耶稣十分轻漫无礼，他们捉弄着耶稣，给他穿上一件华丽的袍子，然后，又把他押回给彼拉多。 12 从那一天起，希律和彼拉多这一对仇敌居然变成了朋友。
彼拉多无法释放耶稣
13 彼拉多把祭司长、年长的犹太首领和百姓们召集在一起， 14 对他们说∶“你们把这个人带到我这里，是因为他搅乱民众，所以，我已经当着你们的面审问过他了，可是我没有发现他犯有你们控告他的那些罪状。 15 希律也没有发现，所以他把他送回来了，可见他没犯该死的罪， 16 那么，我就下令叫人鞭打他一顿，然后释放他。” 17 [a]
18 但是，所有的人都不约而同地叫喊着∶“杀掉这个人，释放巴拉巴！ 19 （巴拉巴因在城里造反和杀人被关进监狱的。）”
20 彼拉多很想释放耶稣，于是又把原来的话重复了一遍。 21 可是，那些人还是不断地叫喊着∶“把他钉死在十字架上，把他钉死在十字架上！”
22 第三次彼拉多又对他们说∶“可是，这个人犯了什么罪了呢？我并没有发现他犯了该死的罪，所以我下令叫人鞭打他一顿，然后放了他。”
23 但是，人们继续高声叫喊着，他们强烈要求把耶稣钉死在十字架上，他们的叫喊如此地强烈， 24 彼拉多只好答应了他们的要求， 25 释放了那个因造反和杀人被投进监狱的巴拉巴（他们要求释放这个人），然后，把耶稣交给了那些人，任凭他们去处置。
耶稣被钉在十字架上
26 士兵们把耶稣押走了，途中，他们抓了一个从乡下来的古利奈人，名字叫西门。他们把十字架放在西门的身上，让他背着跟在耶稣身后。
27 耶稣的身后还跟了一大群人，其中包括一些妇女，她们都在为耶稣的遭遇悲伤地痛哭着。 28 耶稣转过身对她们说∶“耶路撒冷的女人们啊，不要为我痛哭，而是为你们自己和你们的孩子哭泣吧。 29 因为，那日子不久会来临，人们将说∶‘不能生育的女人有福了，从未怀孕分娩的女人有福了，从没有哺育过孩子的女人有福了！’然后，他们将会对大山说∶‘倒在我们身上吧’ 30 又会对小山说∶‘遮盖住我们吧！ [b]’ 31 因为，当树是绿色时（一片大好时光时），人们做这些事情；那么，当它干枯的时刻（艰难的日子），又会发生什么呢？”
32 还有另外两个罪犯一起被带去，将与耶稣一起被处死。 33 他们来到一个叫“骷髅”的地方，士兵把耶稣钉在了十字架上，他们还把两个强盗也钉在耶稣旁边的十字架上,一个在左边，另一个在右边。 34 此时，耶稣说道∶“天父啊，饶恕他们吧，因为他们不知道自己在做什么。” [c]
这些士兵用掷骰子的方法，瓜分了耶稣的衣服。 35 人们都站在那里观看着。犹太人首领取笑耶稣说∶“如果他是基督 [d]、上帝选中的那位，他救过别人，就让他救救自己吧。”
36 士兵们过来捉弄他。他们把酸酒递给耶稣， 37 他们说∶“如果你是犹太王，那么，就救救你自己吧。” 38 在耶稣的上方，有块牌子写着∶“这是犹太人之王。”
39 和耶稣一起钉在十字架上的那两个人，其中一个也侮辱耶稣，他说∶“你不是基督吗？救救你自己，也救救我们呀！”
40 但是，另一个罪犯立刻斥责他∶“难道你不害怕上帝吗？虽然我们受到了同样的判决， 41 但对我们是公正的，因为我们罪有应得。可这个人根本没做过任何错事！” 42 接着他又对耶稣说∶“耶稣，当你做王统治时，请记住我吧！”
43 耶稣对他说∶“实话告诉你说吧：今天，你将与我一起在乐园。”
耶稣之死
44 大约从中午，直到下午三点左右，黑暗笼罩了大地， 45 此时，日光消逝，大殿里的帘幕 [e]一裂两半。 46 耶稣高喊道∶“天父啊，我把我的生命交到您手里了！”说完后，就死去了。
47 在那里的罗马军官目睹了这一切，开始赞美上帝说∶“他肯定是个好人。”
48 所有聚集在那里观看的人看到了这一切，都捶胸痛哭地回去了。 49 所有熟悉耶稣的人，包括从加利利便一直跟随着耶稣的妇女们，都站在远远的地方，看到了这一切。
安葬耶稣
50 当时，有个名字叫约瑟的人，他是犹太议会的成员，为人善良、正直。 51 他是亚利马太的犹太城人，他不赞成议会的决定和做法。他一直等待着上帝王国的到来。 52 他去见彼拉多，向他要耶稣的遗体。 53 他把耶稣的尸体从十字架上取下来，又用亚麻布包裹好，然后，把他安放在用岩石凿成的墓穴里，那个墓穴从未埋葬过任何尸体。 54 那一天是预备日（礼拜五），安息日马上就要到了。
55 那些从加利利开始就一直跟着耶稣的女人们，也跟随着约瑟来到了这里，她们看到了墓穴，也看到了耶稣的尸体是怎样安放在里面的， 56 就回家去准备香料和香脂。
在安息日里，按照摩西律法，她们休息了一天。
Footnotes
- 路 加 福 音 23:17 有几部希腊本增有17节“每年在逾越节彼拉多都得为人们释放一个犯人。”
- 路 加 福 音 23:30 遮盖住我们吧！ 引自《何西阿书》10。
- 路 加 福 音 23:34 一些早期版本没有这些话。
- 路 加 福 音 23:35 基督： 受油膏者（弥赛亚）或上帝所挑选者。
- 路 加 福 音 23:45 帘幕： 把至圣处因大殿其它部分隔开。大殿为犹太人所崇拜的特殊建筑。
Luke 23
EasyEnglish Bible
Pilate asks Jesus questions
23 All the people at the meeting stood up to leave. They took Jesus to stand in front of Pilate.[a] 2 Then they all started to tell Pilate that Jesus had done bad things. They said, ‘We found this man when he was telling our people wrong things. He said that we must not pay taxes to the Roman government. He also said that he himself is the Messiah, that is, a king.’
3 Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘You have said it.’
4 Pilate then said to the leaders of the priests and to all the crowd of people, ‘I cannot find any reason to say that this man is guilty.’ 5 But they continued to speak strongly to him. They said, ‘He makes the people angry and ready to fight against the government. He has taught these bad things everywhere in Judea. He started in Galilee and now he has come to Jerusalem.’
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked if Jesus came from Galilee. 7 He discovered that he was from the country where Herod ruled. So Pilate sent Jesus to stand in front of Herod. Herod was also in Jerusalem at that time.[b]
Herod asks Jesus questions
8 Herod was very happy to see Jesus. He had heard about him and he had wanted to meet him for a long time. He wanted to see Jesus do something to show God's power. 9 He asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not answer any of them. 10 The leaders of the priests and the teachers of God's Law stood there. They were shouting out that Jesus had done many bad things. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers started to laugh at Jesus. They were saying things to make him feel bad. They put a beautiful coat on him. Then they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That same day, Herod and Pilate became friends. Until then, they had not liked each other.
Pilate and the Jewish leaders argue about Jesus
13 Pilate then told the leaders of the priests, the leaders of the Jews and the people to come back to him. 14 He said to them, ‘You brought this man to me. You said that he was causing the people to fight against their rulers. Listen! I have asked him some questions in front of you. But I have not found that he has done anything wrong. 15 Herod also did not find that he had done anything wrong. That is why he has sent him back to me. You can see this. He has not done anything bad that means he ought to die. 16 So I will just punish him. I will command a soldier to hit him with whips. Then I will let him go.’
17 [Pilate usually let one person go free out of the prison at Passover time.][c]
18 But the crowd all shouted together, ‘Take this man away and kill him! We want Barabbas to go free.’
19 Barabbas had fought against the Roman rulers in Jerusalem. He had also killed somebody. That is why the rulers had put him in prison. 20 But Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go. So he spoke to the crowd again. 21 But they continued to shout. They were shouting, ‘Kill him on a cross, kill him on a cross.’[d]
22 Pilate asked them the same question for the third time. ‘Why should I kill him? What wrong things has he done? You want me to say that he should die. But I have not found anything wrong that would cause me to say that. So I will punish him. I will command my soldiers to hit him with a whip. Then I will let him go.’
23 But they continued to shout at Pilate, ‘Kill him on a cross.’ They continued to shout very much. So, in the end, 24 Pilate did what they wanted. 25 They had asked Pilate to let Barabbas go free out of the prison. He was the man that had caused the Jewish people to fight against the Roman rulers. He had also killed somebody. He was the man that Pilate let go free. As for Jesus, Pilate commanded the soldiers to take him away. He let the people do to him what they wanted.
They kill Jesus on a cross
26 So the soldiers took Jesus away, to go to the place where they would kill him. On the way, they took hold of a man called Simon. This man was from the town of Cyrene. He was coming in from outside the city. The soldiers took the cross that Jesus was carrying on his shoulders. They made Simon carry it instead as he walked behind Jesus.
27 A very large crowd of people were following Jesus. There were many women among them. They were crying with loud voices. They were weeping and crying because they were very sad. 28 So Jesus turned round and he said to them, ‘You women that live in Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Instead, cry for yourselves and for your children. 29 Listen! Days will come when people will say, “It is better for those women that could not have babies. Those women that never had babies to feed are the happy ones!” 30 People will begin to say, “It would be better if we were dead.” They will ask the mountains to fall on top of them. They will ask the hills to cover them up. 31 There is much trouble and pain now. But much worse things will happen! Now the fire burns slowly. But soon it will be like a fire that quickly burns dry wood!’[e]
32 The soldiers also took two other men out of the prison. These men had done bad things. The soldiers would kill them and Jesus together. 33 They took them to the place that is called ‘The Skull’. There they fixed Jesus to a cross to die. They also fixed the two bad men to crosses. One of these men was on the right side of Jesus. The other was on his left side.
34 Jesus said, ‘Father, these people do not know what they are doing. So please forgive them.’
The soldiers then picked up Jesus' clothes for themselves. They played a game to decide who would receive each piece of his clothes. 35 The people stood there and they were watching. The Jewish leaders were laughing at Jesus. They said, ‘He saved other people, did he? Then he should save his own life! Then we will know that he is really the Messiah, the man that God has chosen.’
36 The soldiers also laughed at him. They came up to him and they offered him cheap wine to drink. 37 They said, ‘If you are really the King of the Jews, save your own life.’
38 There was also a notice fixed at the top of the cross. It said, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’
39 One of the bad men on a cross at the side of Jesus started to insult him. He shouted, ‘You say that you are the Messiah, don't you? Then save your own life and save our lives too!’
40 But the bad man on the other cross told him that he should be quiet. He said, ‘You should be more afraid of God. We will die here, as well as him. 41 We two men have done very bad things. So it is right that we should die. But this man has not done anything wrong.’ 42 Then the man said to Jesus, ‘Remember me, Jesus, when you start to rule in your kingdom.’ 43 Jesus replied, ‘I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.’
Jesus dies
44 It was now about midday. The whole country became dark for three hours. 45 The sun did not give any light. Then the curtain inside the temple tore into two parts. 46 Then Jesus shouted loudly, ‘Father, I give my spirit to you.’ After he shouted this, he died.
47 There was a captain of the soldiers there. When he saw what had happened, he praised God. He said. ‘I am sure that this man had not done anything wrong.’
48 A very big crowd had come together to watch the men die. They saw what had happened. Then they began to go home. They were very sad, and they were hitting their own bodies with their hands. 49 The friends of Jesus were there. The women that had come with him from Galilee were also there. They were all standing a long way away. They also saw what happened to him.
Joseph buries Jesus
50 A man called Joseph was also there. He was one of a special group of important Jewish leaders.[f] He was a good man that wanted to do right things. 51 He was from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He had not agreed with the other leaders that Jesus should die. He was waiting for God to begin to rule his people in his kingdom.
52 So Joseph went to see Pilate. He asked Pilate for the dead body of Jesus. Pilate agreed to this. 53 Joseph then went to the place where Jesus died. He took the dead body down from the cross. He put a piece of linen cloth around the body. Then he put the body into a large hole in the rock. People had made that hole to put dead bodies in, but it was the first time that anyone had used it.[g]
54 This all happened on the day before the Jewish day of rest. It was nearly time for the Jewish day of rest to begin.[h]
Jesus becomes alive again
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the place where the hole in the rock was. They also saw Joseph put Jesus' body into the empty hole. 56 Then they returned to the house where they were staying in Jerusalem. They prepared spices and oil that had a beautiful smell. On the Jewish day of rest they obeyed God's Law and they did not work.
Footnotes
- 23:1 Pontius Pilate ruled over this part of the land that the Romans ruled. He ruled over Jerusalem.
- 23:7 Herod was a king and he ruled over the whole of Galilee. It was Herod that had killed John the Baptist.
- 23:17 Verse 17 is not in many copies of Luke.
- 23:21 Roman rulers fixed bad people to a big cross made from wood, to kill them.
- 23:31 Again, Jesus is telling the people that enemies will soon destroy Jerusalem. Jesus is like a tree that is alive. He has not done anything wrong. But still the Romans will kill him on a cross. The bad people in Jerusalem are like dry wood. They have done many wrong things. The Romans will do worse things to them.
- 23:50 This was the same group that asked Jesus questions. They had wanted Pilate to kill Jesus.
- 23:53 At that time, they put dead bodies in a hole in a rock. Then the family and friends closed the front with a big stone.
- 23:54 For the Jews, the end of a day was when the sun went down, at about six o'clock in the evening. Then the next day began.
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