Luke 22-23

Lexham English Bible

The Chief Priests and Scribes Plot to Kill Jesus

22 Now the feast of Unleavened Bread (which is called Passover) was drawing near. ² And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they could destroy him, because they were afraid of the people.

Judas Arranges to Betray Jesus

³ And Satan entered into Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. ⁴ And he went away and^[a] discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard how he could betray him to them. ⁵ And they were delighted, and came to an agreement with him to give him^[b] money. ⁶ And he agreed, and began looking^[c] for a favorable opportunity to betray him to them apart from the crowd.

Jesus’ Final Passover with the Disciples

⁷ And the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread came, on which it was necessary for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed. ⁸ And he sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and^[d] prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.^{[e] 9} So they said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”^{[f] 10} And he said to them, “Behold, when^[g] you have entered into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters. ¹¹ And you will say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ ¹² And he will show you a large furnished^[h] upstairs room. Make preparations there.” ¹³ So they went and^[i] found everything^[j] just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁴ And when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired^[k] to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you that I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷ And he took in hand a cup, and^[l] after^[m] giving thanks he said, “Take this and share it^[n] among yourselves. ¹⁸ For I tell you,^[o] from now on I will not drink of the product of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, and^[p] after^[q] giving thanks, he broke it^[r] and gave it^[s] to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰ And in the same way the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you.

²¹ “But behold, the hand of the one who is betraying me is with me on the table! ²² For the Son of Man is going according to what has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” ²³ And they began to debate with one another who then of them it could be who was going to do this.

A Dispute About Who Is Greatest

²⁴ And a dispute also occurred among them as to which of them was recognized as being greatest. ²⁵ So he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles^[t] lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like this! But the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am in your midst as the one who serves.

²⁸ “And you are the ones who have remained^[u] with me in my trials, ²⁹ and I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred on me, ³⁰ that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³¹ “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat, ³² but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And you, when^[v] once you have turned back,^[w] strengthen your brothers.” ³³ But he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” ³⁴ And he said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me!”

The Two Swords

³⁵ And he said to them, “When I sent you out without a money bag and a traveler’s bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?”^[x] And they said, “Nothing.” ³⁶ And he said to them, “But now the one who has a money bag must take it,^[y] and likewise a traveler’s bag. And the one who does not have a sword must sell his cloak and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you that this that is written must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was counted with the criminals.’^[z] For indeed, what is written^[aa] about me is being fulfilled.”^{[ab] 38} So they said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords!” And he said to them, “It is adequate.”

The Prayer in Gethsemane

³⁹ And he went away and^[ac] proceeded, according to his^[ad] custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰ And when^[ae] he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.” ⁴¹ And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down^[af] and^[ag] began to pray,^{[ah] 42} saying, “Father, if you are willing, take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.” [[⁴³ And an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he began praying^[ai] more fervently and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down to the ground.]]^{[aj] 45} And when he^[ak] got up from the prayer and^[al] came to the disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and^[am] pray that you will not enter into temptation!”

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

⁴⁷ While^[an] he was still speaking, behold, there came a crowd, and the one named Judas, one of the twelve, leading them. And he approached Jesus to kiss him. ⁴⁸ But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” ⁴⁹ And when^[ao] those around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” ⁵⁰ And a certain one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹ But Jesus answered and^[ap] said, “Stop! No more of this!”^[aq] And he touched his^[ar] ear and^[as] healed him. ⁵² And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come out against him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber? ⁵³ Every day when^[at] I was with you in the temple courts,^[au] you did not stretch out your^[av] hands against me! But this is your hour and the domain of darkness!”

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

⁵⁴ And they arrested him and^[aw] led him^[ax] away and brought him^[ay] into the house of the high priest. But Peter was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ And when they^[az] had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. ⁵⁶ And a certain female slave, seeing him sitting in the light and looking intently at him, said, “This man also was with him!” ⁵⁷ But he denied it,^[ba] saying, “Woman, I do not know him!” ⁵⁸ And after a short time another person saw him and^[bb] said, “You also are one of them!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” ⁵⁹ And after^[bc] about one hour had passed, someone else was insisting, saying, “In truth this man also was with him, because he is also a Galilean!” ⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” And immediately, while^[bd] he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹ And the Lord turned around and^[be] looked intently at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord,^[bf] how he said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” ⁶² And he went outside and^[bg] wept bitterly.

⁶³ And the men who were guarding him began to mock^[bh] him while^[bi] they beat him,^{[bj] 64} and after^[bk] blindfolding him they repeatedly asked^[bl] him,^[bm] saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?” ⁶⁵ And they were saying many other things against him, reviling him.^[bn]

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

⁶⁶ And when day came, the council of elders of the people gathered, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away to their Sanhedrin,^{[bo] 67} saying, “If you are the Christ, tell us!” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will never believe, ⁶⁸ and if I ask you,^[bp] you will never answer! ⁶⁹ But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” ⁷⁰ So they all said, “Are you then the Son of God?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” ⁷¹ And they said, “Why do we have need of further testimony? For we ourselves have heard it^[bq] from his mouth!”

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

23 And the whole assembly of them rose up and^[br] brought him before Pilate. ² And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us^[bs] to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying he himself is Christ, a king!” ³ And Pilate asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And he answered him and^[bt] said, “You say so.” ⁴ So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” ⁵ But they insisted, saying, “He incites the people, teaching throughout the whole of Judea and beginning from Galilee as far as here.”

Jesus Brought Before Herod

⁶ Now when^[bu] Pilate heard this,^[bv] he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷ And when he^[bw] found out that he was from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him over to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days. ⁸ And when^[bx] 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 some miracle performed by him. ⁹ So he questioned him at considerable length,^[by] but he answered nothing to him. ¹⁰ And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ And Herod with his soldiers also treated him with contempt, and after^[bz] mocking him^[ca] and^[cb] dressing him^[cc] in glistening clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. ¹² And both Herod and Pilate became friends with one another on that same day, for they had previously been enemies of one another.^[cd]

Pilate Releases Barabbas

¹³ So Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people ¹⁴ and^[ce] said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people, and behold, when I^[cf] examined him^[cg] before you, I found nothing in this man as basis for the accusation which you are making^[ch] against him. ¹⁵ But neither did Herod, because he sent him back to us. And behold, nothing deserving death has been done^[ci] by him. ¹⁶ Therefore I will punish him and^[cj] release him.”^{[ck] [cl] 18} But they all cried out in unison, saying, “Take this man away, and release for us Barabbas!” ¹⁹ (who had been thrown in prison because of a certain insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder). ²⁰ And Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them^[cm][cn] again, ²¹ but they kept crying out, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!” ²² So he said to them a third time, “Why? What wrong has this man done? I found no basis for an accusation deserving death^[co] in him. Therefore I will punish him and^[cp] release him.”^{[cq] 23} But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he be crucified. And their cries prevailed. ²⁴ And Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ And he released the one who had been thrown into prison because of insurrection and murder, whom they were asking for, but Jesus he handed over to their will.

Jesus Is Crucified

²⁶ And as they led him away, they seized Simon, a certain man of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and^[cr] placed the cross on him, to carry it^[cs] behind Jesus. ²⁷ And a great crowd of the people were following him, and of women who were mourning and lamenting 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, days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that did not give birth, and the breasts that did not nurse!’ ³⁰ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ ³¹ For if they do these things when the wood is green,^[ct] what will happen when it is dry?”^[cu]

³² And two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him. ³³ And when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,” there they crucified him, and the criminals, the one on his right and the other on his left. ³⁴ [[But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]]^[cv] And they cast lots to divide his clothes. ³⁵ And the people stood there watching, but the rulers also ridiculed him,^[cw] saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if this man is the Christ^[cx] of God, the Chosen One!” ³⁶ And the soldiers also mocked him, coming up and^[cy] offering him sour wine ³⁷ and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ And there was also an inscription over him, “This is the king of the Jews.”

³⁹ And one of the criminals who were hanged there reviled him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself—and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other answered and^[cz] rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, because you are undergoing the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve^[da] for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong!” ⁴² And he said, “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 paradise.”

Jesus Dies on the Cross

⁴⁴ And by this time it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour ⁴⁵ because^[db] the light of the sun failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn apart down the middle. ⁴⁶ And Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit!”^[dc] And after he^[dd] said this, he expired.

⁴⁷ Now when^[de] the centurion saw what had happened, he began to praise^[df] God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous!” ⁴⁸ And all the crowds that had come together for this spectacle, when they^[dg] saw the things that had happened, returned home^[dh] beating their^[di] breasts. ⁴⁹ And all his acquaintances, and the women who had followed him from Galilee who saw these things, stood at a distance.

Jesus Is Buried

⁵⁰ And behold, a man named^[dj] Joseph, who was a member of the council,^[dk] a good^[dl] and righteous man ⁵¹ (this man was not consenting to their plan and deed), from Arimathea, a Judean town,^[dm] who was looking forward to the kingdom of God. ⁵² This man approached Pilate and^[dn] asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ And he took it^[do] down and^[dp] wrapped it in a linen cloth and placed him in a tomb cut into the rock where no one had ever been placed. ⁵⁴ And it was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. ⁵⁵ And the women who had been accompanying him from Galilee followed and^[dq] saw the tomb and how his body was placed. ⁵⁶ And they returned and^[dr] prepared fragrant spices and perfumes, and on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.