Luke 23
New King James Version
Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate(A)
23 Then (B)the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to (C)Pilate. 2 And they began to (D)accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow (E)perverting [a]the nation, and (F)forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying (G)that He Himself is Christ, a King.”
3 (H)Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”
4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, (I)“I find no fault in this Man.”
5 But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from (J)Galilee to this place.”
Jesus Faces Herod
6 When Pilate heard [b]of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that He belonged to (K)Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, (L)he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because (M)he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. 9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him (N)nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. 11 (O)Then Herod, with his [c]men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That very day (P)Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
Taking the Place of Barabbas(Q)
13 (R)Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 said to them, (S)“You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, (T)having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; 15 no, neither did Herod, for [d]I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. 16 (U)I will therefore chastise Him and release Him” 17 (V)(for[e] it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).
18 And (W)they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. 21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
22 Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”
23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men [f]and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 So (X)Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. 25 (Y)And he released [g]to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
The King on a Cross(Z)
26 (AA)Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 (AB)For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin (AC)‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ 31 (AD)For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”
32 (AE)There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And (AF)when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 [h]Then Jesus said, “Father, (AG)forgive them, for (AH)they do not know what they do.”
And (AI)they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And (AJ)the people stood looking on. But even the (AK)rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him (AL)sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
38 (AM)And an inscription also was [i]written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 (AN)Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, [j]“If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done (AO)nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said [k]to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in (AP)Paradise.”
Jesus Dies on the Cross(AQ)
44 (AR)Now it [l]was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was [m]darkened, and (AS)the veil of the temple was torn in [n]two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, (AT)‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” (AU)Having said this, He breathed His last.
47 (AV)So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”
48 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. 49 (AW)But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb(AX)
50 (AY)Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. 51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, (AZ)who[o] himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 (BA)Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. 54 That day was (BB)the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.
55 And the women (BC)who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and (BD)they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and (BE)prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath (BF)according to the commandment.
Footnotes
- Luke 23:2 NU our
- Luke 23:6 NU omits of Galilee
- Luke 23:11 troops
- Luke 23:15 NU he sent Him back to us
- Luke 23:17 NU omits v. 17.
- Luke 23:23 NU omits and of the chief priests
- Luke 23:25 NU, M omit to them
- Luke 23:34 NU brackets the first sentence as a later addition.
- Luke 23:38 NU omits written and in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew
- Luke 23:39 NU Are You not the Christ? Save
- Luke 23:42 NU “Jesus, remember me
- Luke 23:44 NU adds already
- Luke 23:45 NU obscured
- Luke 23:45 the middle
- Luke 23:51 NU who was waiting
Luke 23
New Living Translation
Jesus’ Trial before Pilate
23 Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. 2 They began to state their case: “This man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king.”
3 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
4 Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!”
5 Then they became insistent. “But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes—all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!”
6 “Oh, is he a Galilean?” Pilate asked. 7 When they said that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod’s jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.
8 Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. 9 He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. 10 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12 (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)
13 Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, 14 and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. 15 Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. 16 So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”[a]
18 Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”
23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.
The Crucifixion
26 As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene,[b] happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. 28 But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’[c] 31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?[d]”
32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull,[e] they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”[f] And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[g]
35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”[h] And with those words he breathed his last.
47 When the Roman officer[i] overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.[j]” 48 And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow.[k] 49 But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.
The Burial of Jesus
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. 54 This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation,[l] as the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.
Footnotes
- 23:16 Some manuscripts add verse 17, Now it was necessary for him to release one prisoner to them during the Passover celebration. Compare Matt 27:15; Mark 15:6; John 18:39.
- 23:26 Cyrene was a city in northern Africa.
- 23:30 Hos 10:8.
- 23:31 Or If these things are done to me, the living tree, what will happen to you, the dry tree?
- 23:33 Sometimes rendered Calvary, which comes from the Latin word for “skull.”
- 23:34a This sentence is not included in many ancient manuscripts.
- 23:34b Greek by casting lots. See Ps 22:18.
- 23:46 Ps 31:5.
- 23:47a Greek the centurion.
- 23:47b Or righteous.
- 23:48 Greek went home beating their breasts.
- 23:54 Greek It was the day of preparation.
Luke 23
Tree of Life Version
Brought Before Pilate
23 Then the entire assembly got up and brought Yeshua to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar and saying that He Himself is Messiah—a king.”
3 So Pilate questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
“As you say,” Yeshua replied.
4 Then Pilate said to the ruling kohanim and the crowds, “I find no case against this Man.”
5 But they kept insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, starting from the Galilee to as far as here.”
6 But when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the Man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that Yeshua was from Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
Brought Before Herod
8 Now Herod was overjoyed when he saw Yeshua, for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see some miracle done by Him. 9 He was questioning Yeshua on many issues, but Yeshua did not answer at all. [a] 10 And the ruling kohanim and the Torah scholars stood their ground, strongly accusing Him.
11 Now Herod together with his soldiers were treating Him with contempt and mocking Him.[b] They put splendid clothing on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with one another from that very day, for previously they had been enemies with one another.
Pilate’s Decree
13 Now Pilate called together the ruling kohanim, the leaders, and the people. 14 And he said to them, “You brought this Man to me as one who incites the people to revolt. But having examined Him in your presence, I have found no case against this Man regarding what you accuse Him of doing. 15 Nor did Herod, for he sent Him back to us. Indeed, He has done nothing that is worthy of death. 16 Therefore I will scourge Him and release Him.” (17 )[c]
18 But they shouted out all together, saying, “Take this fellow away! Release to us Bar-Abba!” [d] 19 (He was someone who had been thrown into prison for a rebellion in the city and murder.)
20 Again Pilate addressed them, wanting to release Yeshua; 21 but they kept shouting out, saying, “Execute, execute Him!”
22 And a third time he spoke to them, “Why? What evil has this One done? I have found in Him no fault deserving of death. Therefore, I will scourge and release Him.”
23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud shouts that He be executed. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decreed that their demand be put into effect. 25 And He released the one they were asking for, the one thrown in jail for insurrection and murder. But he handed over Yeshua to their will.
Executed on the Stake
26 As they led Him away, they grabbed a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the countryside. They placed on him the cross-beam,[e] to carry behind Yeshua.
27 Now a great multitude of people was following Him, including women who were mourning and singing dirges for Him. 28 But Yeshua, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but for yourselves and your children. 29 For indeed, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are barren, and the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that did not feed.’
30 ‘Then they will begin to say to the montains, ‘Fall on us!’
and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’[f]
31 “For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Others, two evildoers, were also led away to be put to death with Him. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him and the evildoers, one on His right and the other on His left.
34 But Yeshua was saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Then they cast lots, dividing up His clothing.[g]
35 The people stood there watching. And even the leaders were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Messiah of God, the Chosen One!”[h]
36 The soldiers likewise mocked Him, coming up and bringing Him sour wine, [i] 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
38 Now there was also an inscription over Him:[j] THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 One of the evildoers hanging there was jeering at Him, saying, “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself—and us!”
40 But the other one, rebuking him, replied, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? 41 We’re getting what we deserve for our actions, and rightly so—but this One has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Yeshua, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 Yeshua said to him, “Amen, I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
Temple Curtain Torn in Two
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, [k] 45 for the sun died out. And the curtain[l] of the Temple was torn in two.
46 And Yeshua, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I entrust My spirit.’”[m] When He had said this, He breathed His last.
47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began glorifying God, saying, “Truly this was a righteous Man.”
48 And all the crowds assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had happened, began to turn back, beating their breasts. 49 But all Yeshua’s acquaintances, and the women who were following Him from the Galilee, were standing at a distance, watching these things.
Buried in a Rich Man’s Tomb
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and righteous man. 51 (He had not been in agreement with the council and their action.) He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for Yeshua’s body. 53 And he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb[n] cut out of the rock, where no one had ever yet been laid.
54 Now it was the Day of Preparation, and Shabbat was approaching. 55 The women who had come with Him from the Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. But on Shabbat they rested according to the commandment.
Footnotes
- Luke 23:10 cf. Isa. 53:7.
- Luke 23:11 cf. Isa. 53:3.
- Luke 23:17 Some mss. add: Now Pilate needed to release one prisoner to them at the feast.
- Luke 23:19 Also Barabbas, Son of the Father (Aram.).
- Luke 23:26 Probably the patibulum, the horizontal piece of the execution stake, weighing about 100 lbs.
- Luke 23:30 cf. Hos. 10:8.
- Luke 23:34 cf. Ps. 22:19(18).
- Luke 23:35 cf. Ps. 22:7-9(6-8).
- Luke 23:37 cf. Ps. 69:22(21).
- Luke 23:38 Some mss. add in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew.
- Luke 23:45 From noon until 3 p.m.
- Luke 23:45 Heb. parokhet, veil or inner curtain; cf. Exod. 26:33; 2 Chr. 3:14; Heb. 9:3.
- Luke 23:46 Ps. 31:6(5), cf. Ps. 30:5 (LXX).
- Luke 23:53 cf. Isa. 53:9b.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.