Jesus before Pilate

23 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus^[a] before Pilate.^{(A) 2} They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man inciting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”^{[b](B) 3} Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.”^{(C) 4} Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.”^{(D) 5} But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began 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 was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.^{(E) 8} When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign.^{(F) 9} He questioned him at some length, but Jesus^[c] gave him no answer. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.^{(G) 12} That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.^(H)

Jesus Sentenced to Death

¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people, and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.^{(I) 15} Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”^[d](J)

¹⁸ Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!”^{(K) 19} (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city and for murder.) ²⁰ Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²² A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.”^{(L) 23} But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

²⁶ As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.^{(M) 27} A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.^{(N) 28} But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.^{(O) 29} For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ ³⁰ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’^{(P) 31} For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”^(Q)

³² Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.^{(R) 33} When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus^[e] there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]]^[f] And they cast lots to divide his clothing.^{(S) 35} And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah^[g] of God, his chosen one!”^{(T) 36} The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine^{(U) 37} and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ There was also an inscription over him,^[h] “This is the King of the Jews.”

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding^[i] him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?^[j] Save yourself and us!”^{(V) 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 have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”^{(W) 42} Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in^[k] your kingdom.” ⁴³ He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(X)

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land^[l] until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ while the sun’s light failed,^[m] and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.^{(Y) 46} Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.^{(Z) 47} When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”^{[n](AA) 48} And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹ But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.^(AB)

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁰ Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph who, though a member of the council, ⁵¹ had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.^{(AC) 52} This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. ⁵⁴ It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.^{[o](AD) 55} The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid.^{(AE) 56} Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.^(AF)