Luke 23
Contemporary English Version
Pilate Questions Jesus
(Matthew 27.1,2,11-14; Mark 15.1-5; John 18.28-38)
23 Everyone in the council got up and led Jesus off to Pilate. 2 They started accusing him and said, “We caught this man trying to get our people to riot and to stop paying taxes to the Emperor. He also claims that he is the Messiah, our king.”
3 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Those are your words,” Jesus answered.
4 Pilate told the chief priests and the crowd, “I don't find him guilty of anything.”
5 But they all kept on saying, “He has been teaching and causing trouble all over Judea. He started in Galilee and has now come all the way here.”
Jesus Is Brought before Herod
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked, “Is this man from Galilee?” 7 After Pilate learned that Jesus came from the region ruled by Herod,[a] he sent him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time.
8 For a long time Herod had wanted to see Jesus and was very happy because he finally had this chance. He had heard many things about Jesus and hoped to see him work a miracle.
9 Herod asked him a lot of questions, but Jesus did not answer. 10 Then the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses stood up and accused him of all kinds of bad things.
11 Herod and his soldiers made fun of Jesus and insulted him. They put a fine robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That same day Herod and Pilate became friends, even though they had been enemies before this.
The Death Sentence
(Matthew 27.15-26; Mark 15.6-15; John 18.39—19.16)
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people. 14 He told them, “You brought Jesus to me and said he was a troublemaker. But I have questioned him here in front of you, and I have not found him guilty of anything that you say he has done. 15 Herod didn't find him guilty either and sent him back. This man doesn't deserve to be put to death! 16-17 I will just have him beaten with a whip and set free.”[b]
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Kill Jesus! Give us Barabbas!” 19 Now Barabbas was in jail because he had started a riot in the city and had murdered someone.
20 Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he spoke again to the crowds. 21 But they kept shouting, “Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!”
22 Pilate spoke to them a third time, “But what crime has he done? I have not found him guilty of anything for which he should be put to death. I will have him beaten with a whip and set free.”
23 The people kept on shouting as loud as they could for Jesus to be put to death. 24 Finally, Pilate gave in. 25 He freed the man who was in jail for rioting and murder, because he was the one the crowd wanted to be set free. Then Pilate handed Jesus over for them to do what they wanted with him.
Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross
(Matthew 27.31-44; Mark 15.21-32; John 19.17-27)
26 As Jesus was being led away, some soldiers grabbed hold of a man named Simon who was from Cyrene. He was coming in from the fields, but they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27 A large crowd was following Jesus, and in the crowd a lot of women were crying and weeping for him. 28 Jesus turned to the women and said:
Women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me! Cry for yourselves and for your children. 29 Someday people will say, “Women who never had children are really fortunate!” 30 (A) At that time everyone will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” They will say to the hills, “Hide us!” 31 If this can happen when the wood is green, what do you think will happen when it is dry?[c]
32 Two criminals were led out to be put to death with Jesus. 33 When the soldiers came to the place called “The Skull,”[d] they nailed Jesus to a cross. They also nailed the two criminals to crosses, one on each side of Jesus.
34-35 (B) Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don't know what they're doing.”[e]
While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, “He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God's chosen Messiah!”
36 (C) The soldiers made fun of Jesus and brought him some wine. 37 They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 Above him was a sign that said, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals hanging there also insulted Jesus by saying, “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us!”
40 But the other criminal told the first one off, “Don't you fear God? Aren't you getting the same punishment as this man? 41 We got what was coming to us, but he didn't do anything wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into power!”
43 Jesus replied, “I promise that today you will be with me in paradise.”[f]
The Death of Jesus
(Matthew 27.45-56; Mark 15.33-41; John 19.28-30)
44 Around noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until the middle of the afternoon. 45 (D) The sun stopped shining, and the curtain in the temple[g] split down the middle. 46 (E) Jesus shouted, “Father, I put myself in your hands!” Then he died.
47 When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Jesus must really have been a good man!”
48 A crowd had gathered to see the terrible sight. Then after they had seen it, they felt brokenhearted and went home. 49 (F) All of Jesus' close friends and the women who had come with him from Galilee stood at a distance and watched.
Jesus Is Buried
(Matthew 27.57-61; Mark 15.42-47; John 19.38-42)
50-51 There was a man named Joseph, who was from Arimathea in Judea. Joseph was a good and honest man, and he was eager for God's kingdom to come. He was also a member of the council, but he did not agree with what they had decided.
52 Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. 53 He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in fine cloth. Then he put it in a tomb that had been cut out of solid rock and had never been used. 54 It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin.[h]
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and watched how Jesus' body was placed in the tomb. 56 (G) Then they went to prepare some sweet-smelling spices for his burial. But on the Sabbath they rested, as the Law of Moses commands.
Footnotes
- 23.7 Herod: Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great.
- 23.16,17 set free: Some manuscripts add, “Pilate said this, because at every Passover he was supposed to set one prisoner free for the Jewish people.”
- 23.31 If this can happen when the wood is green, what do you think will happen when it is dry: This saying probably means, “If this can happen to an innocent person, what do you think will happen to one who is guilty?”
- 23.33 “The Skull”: The place was probably given this name because it was near a large rock in the shape of a human skull.
- 23.34,35 Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don't know what they're doing”: These words are not in some manuscripts.
- 23.43 paradise: In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, this word is used for the Garden of Eden. In New Testament times it was sometimes used for the place where God's people are happy and at rest, as they wait for the final judgment.
- 23.45 curtain in the temple: There were two curtains in the temple. One was at the entrance, and the other separated the holy place from the most holy place that the Jewish people thought of as God's home on earth. The second curtain is probably the one which is meant.
- 23.54 the Sabbath was about to begin: The Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday.
Luke 23
New American Standard Bible
Jesus before Pilate
23 Then the entire assembly of them set out and (A)brought Him before Pilate. 2 (B)And they began to bring charges against Him, saying, “We found this man (C)misleading our nation and (D)forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is [a]Christ, a King.” 3 Now Pilate asked Him, saying, “So You are the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “(E)It is as you say.” 4 But Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “(F)I find no grounds for charges in the case of this man.” 5 But they kept on insisting, saying, “He is stirring up the people, teaching all over Judea, (G)starting from Galilee, as far as this place!”
6 Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to (H)Herod, [b]since he also was in Jerusalem [c]at this time.
Jesus before Herod
8 Now Herod was overjoyed when he saw Jesus; for (I)he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some [d]sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him [e]at some length; but (J)He offered him no answer at all. 10 Now the chief priests and the scribes stood there, vehemently charging Him. 11 And Herod, together with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, (K)dressing Him in a brightly shining robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 And so (L)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 [f](M)rulers, and the people, 14 and he said to them, “You brought this man to me on the ground that (N)he is inciting the people to revolt; and behold, after examining Him before you, I (O)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 (P)Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16 Therefore I will [g](Q)punish Him and release Him.” 17 [[h]Now he was obligated to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]
18 But they cried out all together, saying, “(R)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 [i]in His case no grounds for a sentence of death; therefore I will [j](S)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 (T)And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of (U)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 [k](V)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, ‘(W)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 (X)say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things [l]when the tree is green, what will happen [m]when it is dry?”
32 (Y)Now two others, who were criminals, were also being led away to be put to death with Him.
The Crucifixion
33 (Z)And when they came to the place called [n]The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 [[o]But Jesus was saying, “(AA)Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”] (AB)And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, watching. And even the (AC)rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; (AD)let Him save Himself if this is the [p]Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also ridiculed Him, coming up to Him, (AE)offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “(AF)If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “(AG)THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
39 (AH)One of the criminals who were hanged there was [q]hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the [r]Christ? (AI)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 [s]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 (AJ)Paradise.”
44 (AK)It was now about [t](AL)the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until [u]the ninth hour, 45 [v]because the sun stopped shining; and (AM)the veil of the temple was torn [w]in two. 46 And Jesus, (AN)crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, (AO)into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” And having said this, He [x]died. 47 (AP)Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began (AQ)praising God, saying, “This man was in fact [y]innocent.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, after watching what had happened, began to return home, [z](AR)beating their chests. 49 (AS)And all His acquaintances and (AT)the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
Jesus Is Buried
50 (AU)And a man named Joseph, who was a (AV)member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was (AW)waiting for the kingdom of God— 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. 54 It was a [aa](AX)preparation day, and a Sabbath was about to [ab]begin. 55 Now (AY)the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 And then they returned and (AZ)prepared spices and perfumes.
And (BA)on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Footnotes
- Luke 23:2 I.e., the Messiah
- Luke 23:7 Lit himself also being in
- Luke 23:7 Lit in these days
- Luke 23:8 I.e., confirming miracle
- Luke 23:9 Lit in considerable words
- Luke 23:13 I.e., other Jewish leaders
- Luke 23:16 I.e., by scourging
- Luke 23:17 Most early mss do not contain this v
- Luke 23:22 Lit in Him no
- Luke 23:22 I.e., by scourging
- Luke 23:27 Lit beating their breasts
- Luke 23:31 Lit in the green tree
- Luke 23:31 Lit in the dry
- Luke 23:33 Gr Kranion, Lat Calvaria (Calvary)
- Luke 23:34 Most early mss do not contain But Jesus was saying...doing
- Luke 23:35 I.e., Messiah
- Luke 23:39 Or blaspheming
- Luke 23:39 I.e., Messiah
- Luke 23:41 Lit things worthy of what we have done
- Luke 23:44 I.e., noon
- Luke 23:44 I.e., 3 p.m.
- Luke 23:45 Lit the sun failing
- Luke 23:45 Lit in the middle
- Luke 23:46 Lit expired
- Luke 23:47 Lit righteous
- Luke 23:48 I.e., as a traditional sign of mourning or contrition
- Luke 23:54 I.e., preparation for the Sabbath
- Luke 23:54 Lit dawn
Luke 23
English Standard Version
Jesus Before Pilate
23 (A)Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man (B)misleading our nation and (C)forbidding us to give tribute to (D)Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, (E)a king.” 3 (F)And Pilate asked him, (G)“Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, (H)“You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, (I)“I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, (J)from Galilee even to this place.”
Jesus Before Herod
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to (K)Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, (L)for he had long desired to see him, (M)because he had heard about him, and he was hoping (N)to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers (O)treated him with contempt and (P)mocked him. Then, (Q)arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And (R)Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and (S)the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man (T)as one who was misleading the people. And (U)after examining him before you, behold, I (V)did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for (W)he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 (X)I will therefore punish and release him.”[a]
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
18 (Y)But they all cried out together, (Z)“Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and (AA)for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? (AB)What evil has he done? (AC)I have found in him no guilt deserving death. (AD)I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison (AE)for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, (AF)but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
The Crucifixion
26 (AG)And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were (AH)mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, (AI)the days are coming when they will say, (AJ)‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 (AK)Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For (AL)if they do these things when (AM)the wood is green, what will happen (AN)when it is dry?”
32 (AO)Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 (AP)And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, (AQ)one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, (AR)forgive them, (AS)for they know not what they do.”[b] And they cast lots (AT)to divide his garments. 35 And (AU)the people stood by, watching, (AV)but (AW)the rulers (AX)scoffed at him, saying, (AY)“He saved others; (AZ)let him save himself, (BA)if he is (BB)the Christ of God, (BC)his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and (BD)offering him sour wine 37 and saying, (BE)“If you are (BF)the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 (BG)There was also an inscription over him,[c] “This is (BH)the King of the Jews.”
39 (BI)One of the criminals who were hanged (BJ)railed at him,[d] saying, “Are you not (BK)the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me (BL)when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in (BM)paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
44 (BN)It was now about the sixth hour,[e] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,[f] 45 while the sun's light failed. And (BO)the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, (BP)calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, (BQ)into your hands I (BR)commit my spirit!” And having said this (BS)he breathed his last. 47 Now (BT)when the centurion saw what had taken place, (BU)he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home (BV)beating their breasts. 49 And all (BW)his acquaintances and (BX)the women who had followed him from Galilee (BY)stood at a distance watching these things.
Jesus Is Buried
50 (BZ)Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he (CA)was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and (CB)laid him in a tomb cut in stone, (CC)where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of (CD)Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.[g] 55 (CE)The women (CF)who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and (CG)prepared spices and ointments.
On the Sabbath they rested (CH)according to the commandment.
Footnotes
- Luke 23:16 Here, or after verse 19, some manuscripts add verse 17: Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the festival
- Luke 23:34 Some manuscripts omit the sentence And Jesus… what they do
- Luke 23:38 Some manuscripts add in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew
- Luke 23:39 Or blasphemed him
- Luke 23:44 That is, noon
- Luke 23:44 That is, 3 p.m.
- Luke 23:54 Greek was dawning
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