Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close TLB

Luke 23
Living Bible

23 Then the entire Council took Jesus over to Pilate, the governor.[a] 2 They began at once accusing him: “This fellow has been leading our people to ruin by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is our Messiah—a King.”

3 So Pilate asked him, “Are you their Messiah—their King?”[b]

“Yes,” Jesus replied, “it is as you say.”

4 Then Pilate turned to the chief priests and to the mob and said, “So? That isn’t a crime!”

5 Then they became desperate. “But he is causing riots against the government everywhere he goes, all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!”

6 “Is he then a Galilean?” Pilate asked.

7 When they told him yes, Pilate said to take him to King Herod, for 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, for he had heard a lot about him and had been hoping to see him perform a miracle.

9 He asked Jesus question after question, but there was no reply. 10 Meanwhile, the chief priests and the other religious leaders stood there shouting their accusations.

11 Now Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus; and putting a kingly robe on him, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate—enemies before—became fast friends.

13 Then Pilate called together the chief priests and other Jewish leaders, along with the people, 14 and announced his verdict:

“You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt against the Roman government.[c] I have examined him thoroughly on this point 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 I will therefore have him scourged with leaded thongs and release him.”

17-18 [d]But now a mighty roar rose from the crowd as with one voice they shouted. “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas was in prison for starting an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) 20 Pilate argued with them, for he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 Once more, for the third time, he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. I will therefore scourge him and let him go.” 23 But they shouted louder and louder for Jesus’ death, and their voices prevailed.

24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 And he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder, at their request. But he delivered Jesus over to them to do with as they would.

26 As the crowd led Jesus away to his death, Simon of Cyrene, who was just coming into Jerusalem from the country, was forced to follow, carrying Jesus’ cross. 27 Great crowds trailed along behind, and many grief-stricken women.

28 But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are coming when the women who have no children will be counted fortunate indeed. 30 Mankind will beg the mountains to fall on them and crush them, and the hills to bury them. 31 For if such things as this are done to me, the Living Tree, what will they do to you?”[e]

32-33 Two others, criminals, were led out to be executed with him at a place called “The Skull.” There all three were crucified—Jesus on the center cross, and the two criminals on either side.

34 “Father, forgive these people,” Jesus said, “for they don’t know what they are doing.”

And the soldiers gambled for his clothing, throwing dice for each piece. 35 The crowd watched. And the Jewish leaders laughed and scoffed. “He was so good at helping others,” they said, “let’s see him save himself if he is really God’s Chosen One, the Messiah.”

36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink—of sour wine. 37 And they called to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

38 A signboard was nailed to the cross 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!”

40-41 But the other criminal protested. “Don’t you even fear God when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done one thing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise.”

44 By now it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land[f] for three hours, until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone—and suddenly[g] the thick veil hanging in the Temple split apart.

46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I commit my spirit to you,” and with those words he died.[h]

47 When the captain of the Roman military unit handling the executions saw what had happened, he was stricken with awe before God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”[i]

48 And when the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw that Jesus was dead, they went home in deep sorrow. 49 Meanwhile, Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him down from Galilee, stood in the distance watching.

50-52 Then a man named Joseph, a member of the Jewish Supreme Court, from the city of Arimathea in Judea, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He was a godly man who had been expecting the Messiah’s coming and had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other Jewish leaders. 53 So he took down Jesus’ body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth and laid it in a new, unused tomb hewn into the rock at the side of a hill.[j] 54 This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation for the Sabbath.

55 As the body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw it carried into the tomb. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to embalm him; but by the time they were finished it was the Sabbath, so they rested all that day as required by the Jewish law.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:1 the governor, implied.
  2. Luke 23:3 Are you their Messiah—their King? literally, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
  3. Luke 23:14 of leading a revolt against the Roman government, literally, “as one who perverts the people.”
  4. Luke 23:17 Some ancient authorities add v. 17, “For it was necessary for him to release unto them at the feast one [prisoner].”
  5. Luke 23:31 For if such things as this are done to me, the Living Tree, what will they do to you? literally, “For if they do this when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
  6. Luke 23:44 the whole land, or “the whole world.”
  7. Luke 23:45 and suddenly, implied.
  8. Luke 23:46 he died, literally, “he yielded up the spirit.”
  9. Luke 23:47 innocent, literally, “righteous.”
  10. Luke 23:53 at the side of a hill, implied.
Close LSB

Luke 23
Legacy Standard Bible

Jesus Before Pilate

23 Then their whole assembly rose up and (A)brought Him before Pilate. 2 (B)And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man (C)misleading our nation and (D)forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is [a]Christ, a King.” 3 So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “(E)You yourself say it.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “(F)I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, (G)starting from Galilee even 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, who himself also was in Jerusalem in those days.

Jesus Before Herod

8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he rejoiced greatly; 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 [b]sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him [c]at some length, but (J)He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, vehemently accusing Him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, (K)dressed Him in a bright robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 Now (L)Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been at enmity with each other.

Pilate Grants the Crowd’s Request

13 And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the (M)rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who [d](N)incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I (O)have found in this man no guilt of what you are accusing 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 (Q)punish Him and release Him.” 17 [e][Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

18 But they cried out all together, saying, “(R)Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city and for murder.) 20 But again Pilate addressed them, wanting to release Jesus, 21 but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22 And he said to them a third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt worthy of death; therefore I will (S)punish Him and release Him.” 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices were prevailing. 24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Simon Carries the Cross

26 (T)And when they led Him away, they took hold of a man, Simon of (U)Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

27 And following Him was a large multitude of the people, and of women who were [f](V)mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop crying for Me, but cry for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘(W)Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never 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 [g]when the tree is green, what will happen [h]when it is dry?”

32 (Y)Now two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.

The Crucifixion

33 (Z)And when they came to the place called [i]The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 [j]But Jesus was saying, “(AA)Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (AB)And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the (AC)rulers were scoffing at Him, saying, “He saved others; (AD)let Him save Himself if this is the [k]Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 And the soldiers also mocked 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)And one of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming Him, saying, “Are You not the [l]Christ? (AI)Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, 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 [m]what we deserve for what we have done; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come [n]in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in (AJ)Paradise.”

44 (AK)And it was now about [o](AL)the sixth hour, and darkness [p]fell over the whole land until [q]the ninth hour, 45 [r]because the sun was obscured. And (AM)the veil of the [s]sanctuary was torn [t]in two. 46 And Jesus, (AN)crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, (AO)into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 (AP)Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began (AQ)praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, were returning, [u](AR)beating their chests. 49 (AS)And all His acquaintances and (AT)the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, watching these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50 (AU)And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a (AV)Council member, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their counsel 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 [v](AX)Preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to [w]begin. 55 Now (AY)the women, who had come with Him from Galilee, followed and beheld the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then after they returned, they (AZ)prepared spices and perfumes.

And (BA)on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:2 Messiah
  2. Luke 23:8 Or attesting miracle
  3. Luke 23:9 Lit in many words
  4. Luke 23:14 Lit turns away
  5. Luke 23:17 Early mss omit this v
  6. Luke 23:27 Lit beating the breast
  7. Luke 23:31 Lit in the green tree
  8. Luke 23:31 Lit in the dry
  9. Luke 23:33 In Lat Calvarius; or Calvary
  10. Luke 23:34 Some early mss omit But Jesus was saying...doing
  11. Luke 23:35 Messiah
  12. Luke 23:39 Messiah
  13. Luke 23:41 Lit things worthy of
  14. Luke 23:42 Or into
  15. Luke 23:44 Noon
  16. Luke 23:44 Or occurred
  17. Luke 23:44 3 p.m.
  18. Luke 23:45 Lit the sun failing
  19. Luke 23:45 The inner part of the temple
  20. Luke 23:45 Lit in the middle
  21. Luke 23:48 A traditional sign of mourning or contrition
  22. Luke 23:54 Preparation for the Sabbath
  23. Luke 23:54 Lit dawn
Next
Luke 22
Luke 24
Next
dropdown
Living Bible (TLB)

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.