Jesus Flogged and Mocked

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers also twisted together a crown(A) of thorns, put it on His head, and threw a purple robe around Him. And they repeatedly came up to Him(B) and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were slapping His face.

Pilate went outside again and said to them, “Look, I’m bringing Him outside to you to let you know I find no grounds(C) for charging Him.”

Pilate Sentences Jesus to Death

Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.(D) Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”(E)

When the chief priests and the temple police saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

Pilate responded, “Take Him and crucify Him yourselves, for I find no grounds for charging Him.”

“We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law He must die,(F) because He made Himself[a] the Son of God.”(G)

When Pilate heard this statement, he was more afraid than ever. He went back into the headquarters(H) and asked Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus did not give him an answer.(I) 10 So Pilate said to Him, “You’re not talking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?”

11 “You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”[b](J)

12 From that moment Pilate made every effort[c] to release Him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s bench in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Hebrew Gabbatha). 14 It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about six in the morning.[d] Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!”

15 But they shouted, “Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”

“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.

16 So then, because of them, he handed Him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

Therefore they took Jesus away.[e] 17 Carrying(K) His own cross,(L) He went out to what is called Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him and two others with Him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate also had a sign lettered and put on the cross. The inscription was:

JESUS THE NAZARENE

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20 Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city,(M) and it was written in Hebrew,[f] Latin, and Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’(N) but that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’”

22 Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” They did this to fulfill(O) the Scripture(P) that says: They divided My clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for My clothing.(Q)[g] And this is what the soldiers did.

Jesus’ Provision for His Mother

25 Standing(R) by the cross(S) of Jesus were His mother,(T) His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.(U) 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved(V) standing there, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The Finished Work of Jesus

28 After(W) this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished(X) that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty!”(Y) 29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop[h](Z) and held it up to His mouth.

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!”(AA) Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.(AB)

Jesus’ Side Pierced

31 Since it was the preparation day,(AC) the Jews did not want the bodies(AD) to remain on the cross(AE) on the Sabbath(AF) (for that Sabbath was a special[i] day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away.(AG) 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with Him. 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead.(AH) 34 But one of the soldiers pierced(AI) His side(AJ) with a spear, and at once blood and water(AK) came out. 35 He who saw this has testified(AL) so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth.(AM) 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled:(AN) Not one of His bones will be broken.(AO)[j] 37 Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the One they pierced.(AP)[k]

Jesus’ Burial

38 After(AQ) this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body.(AR) Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. 39 Nicodemus(AS) (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds[l] of myrrh and aloes. 40 Then they took Jesus’ body(AT) and wrapped it in linen cloths(AU) with the aromatic spices, according to the burial(AV) custom of the Jews. 41 There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. 42 They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

Footnotes

  1. John 19:7 He claimed to be
  2. John 19:11 To have sin is an idiom that refers to guilt caused by sin.
  3. John 19:12 Lit Pilate was trying
  4. John 19:14 Lit the sixth hour; see note at Jn 1:39; an alt. time reckoning would be about noon
  5. John 19:16 Other mss add and led Him out
  6. John 19:20 Or Aramaic
  7. John 19:24 Ps 22:18
  8. John 19:29 Or with hyssop
  9. John 19:31 Lit great
  10. John 19:36 Ex 12:46; Nm 9:12; Ps 34:20
  11. John 19:37 Zch 12:10
  12. John 19:39 Lit 100 litrai; a Roman litrai = 12 ounces

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and (A)flogged him. (B)And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that (C)I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing (D)the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, (E)“Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, (F)“Take him yourselves and crucify him, for (G)I find no guilt in him.” The Jews[a] answered him, “We have a law, and (H)according to that law he ought to die because (I)he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, (J)he was even more afraid. (K)He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, (L)“Where are you from?” But (M)Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, (N)“You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore (O)he who delivered me over to you (P)has the greater sin.”

12 From then on (Q)Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. (R)Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on (S)the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic[b] Gabbatha. 14 Now it was (T)the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.[c] He said to the Jews, (U)“Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, (V)“Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 (W)So he (X)delivered him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus, 17 and (Y)he went out, (Z)bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 (AA)There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate (AB)also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for (AC)the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, (AD)“What I have written I have written.”

23 (AE)When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.[d] But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” (AF)This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

(AG)“They divided my garments among them,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, 25 (AH)but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and (AI)the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, (AJ)“Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to (AK)his own home.

The Death of Jesus

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now (AL)finished, said ((AM)to fulfill the Scripture), (AN)“I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, (AO)so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, (AP)“It is finished,” and he bowed his head and (AQ)gave up his spirit.

Jesus' Side Is Pierced

31 Since it was (AR)the day of Preparation, and (AS)so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was (AT)a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other (AU)who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out (AV)blood and water. 35 (AW)He who saw it has borne witness—(AX)his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—(AY)that you also may believe. 36 (AZ)For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: (BA)“Not one of his bones (BB)will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, (BC)“They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

38 (BD)After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly (BE)for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 (BF)Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus[e] by night, came (BG)bringing a mixture of (BH)myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds[f] in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and (BI)bound it in (BJ)linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a (BK)garden, and (BL)in the garden a new tomb (BM)in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish (BN)day of Preparation, (BO)since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Footnotes

  1. John 19:7 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 12, 14, 31, 38
  2. John 19:13 Or Hebrew; also verses 17, 20
  3. John 19:14 That is, about noon
  4. John 19:23 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
  5. John 19:39 Greek him
  6. John 19:39 Greek one hundred litras; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams

The Thorn Crown of the King

19 1-3 So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.

4-5 Pilate went back out again and said to them, “I present him to you, but I want you to know that I do not find him guilty of any crime.” Just then Jesus came out wearing the thorn crown and purple robe.

Pilate announced, “Here he is: the Man.”

When the high priests and police saw him, they shouted in a frenzy, “Crucify! Crucify!”

Pilate told them, “You take him. You crucify him. I find nothing wrong with him.”

The Jews answered, “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

8-9 When Pilate heard this, he became even more scared. He went back into the palace and said to Jesus, “Where did you come from?”

Jesus gave no answer.

10 Pilate said, “You won’t talk? Don’t you know that I have the authority to pardon you, and the authority to—crucify you?”

11 Jesus said, “You haven’t a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven. That’s why the one who betrayed me to you has committed a far greater fault.”

12 At this, Pilate tried his best to pardon him, but the Jews shouted him down: “If you pardon this man, you’re no friend of Caesar’s. Anyone setting himself up as ‘king’ defies Caesar.”

13-14 When Pilate heard those words, he led Jesus outside. He sat down at the judgment seat in the area designated Stone Court (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was the preparation day for Passover. The hour was noon. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king.”

15 They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”

Pilate said, “I am to crucify your king?”

The high priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.”

16-19 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read:

jesus the nazarene
the king of the jews.

20-21 Many of the Jews read the sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was right next to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Jewish high priests objected. “Don’t write,” they said to Pilate, “‘The King of the Jews.’ Make it, ‘This man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”

22 Pilate said, “What I’ve written, I’ve written.”

23-24 When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, “Let’s not tear it up. Let’s throw dice to see who gets it.” This confirmed the Scripture that said, “They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat.” (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!)

24-27 While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother.

28 Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, “I’m thirsty.”

29-30 A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. After he took the wine, Jesus said, “It’s done . . . complete.” Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.

31-34 Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn’t stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other. When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out.

35 The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe.

36-37 These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “They will stare at the one they pierced.”

* * *

38 After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body.

39-42 Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. They took Jesus’ body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it.