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
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jesus Faces Pilate
23 Then(A) their whole assembly rose up and brought Him before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, opposing payment of taxes(B) to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is the Messiah, a King.”
3 So Pilate asked Him,(C) “Are You the King of the Jews?”(D)
He answered him, “You have said it.”[a]
4 Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds(E) for charging this man.”
5 But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people,(F) teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee(G) where He started even to here.”
Jesus Faces Herod Antipas
6 When Pilate(H) heard this,[b] he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 Finding that He was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod,(I) who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see Him because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see some miracle[c] performed by Him. 9 So he kept asking Him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.(J) 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Him. 11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt, mocked(K) Him, dressed Him in a brilliant robe,(L) and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.[d](M) Previously, they had been hostile toward each other.
Jesus or Barabbas
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,(N) 14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who subverts the people.(O) But in fact, after examining Him in your presence, I have found no grounds(P) to charge this man with those things you accuse Him of. 15 Neither has Herod, because he sent Him back to us. Clearly, He has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will have Him whipped[e](Q) and then release Him.” [17 For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.][f](R)
18 Then(S) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!(T) Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus,(U) addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify Him!”
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?(V) I have found in Him no grounds(W) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have Him whipped and then release Him.”
23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices[g] won out. 24 So(X) Pilate decided to grant their demand(Y) 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.(Z)
The Way to the Cross
26 As(AA) they led Him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian,(AB) who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross(AC) on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people followed Him, including women who were mourning and lamenting Him.(AD) 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem,(AE) do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children. 29 Look, the days are coming(AF) when they will say, ‘The women without children, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed, are fortunate!’(AG) 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’(AH)[h] 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(AI)
Crucified between Two Criminals
32 Two others—criminals(AJ)—were also led away to be executed with Him. 33 When(AK) they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. [34 Then Jesus said, “Father,(AL) forgive(AM) them, because they do not know what they are doing.”(AN)][i] And they divided His clothes and cast lots.(AO)
35 The(AP) people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing:(AQ) “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”(AR) 36 The soldiers also mocked Him. They came offering Him sour wine(AS) 37 and said, “If You are the King of the Jews,(AT) save Yourself!”
38 An inscription was above Him:[j]
THIS IS
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 Then(AU) one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at[k] Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!”
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God,(AV) since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”(AW) 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me[l](AX) when You come into Your kingdom!”(AY)
43 And He said to him, “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.”(AZ)
The Death of Jesus
44 It(BA) was now about noon,[m] and darkness came over the whole land[n] until three,[o] 45 because the sun’s light failed.[p] The curtain(BB) of the sanctuary was split down the middle. 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.”(BC)[q] Saying this, He breathed His last.
47 When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify(BD) God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” 48 All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.[r](BE) 49 But(BF) all who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance,(BG) watching these things.
The Burial of Jesus
50 There(BH) was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, 51 who had not agreed with their plan(BI) and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.(BJ) 52 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.[s](BK) 54 It was preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.[t] 55 The women(BL) who had come with Him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how His body was placed. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.(BM) And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.(BN)
Footnotes
- Luke 23:3 Or That is true; an affirmative oath
- Luke 23:6 Other mss read heard “Galilee”
- Luke 23:8 Or sign
- Luke 23:12 Lit friends with one another
- Luke 23:16 Gk paideuo; to discipline or “teach a lesson”; 1Kg 12:11,14 LXX; 2Ch 10:11,14; perhaps a way of referring to the Roman scourging; Lat flagellatio
- Luke 23:17 Other mss omit bracketed text
- Luke 23:23 Other mss add and those of the chief priests
- Luke 23:30 Hs 10:8
- Luke 23:34 Other mss omit bracketed text
- Luke 23:38 Other mss add written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew letters
- Luke 23:39 Or began to blaspheme
- Luke 23:42 Other mss add Lord
- Luke 23:44 Lit about the sixth hour
- Luke 23:44 Or whole earth
- Luke 23:44 Lit the ninth hour
- Luke 23:45 Other mss read three, and the sun was darkened
- Luke 23:46 Ps 31:5
- Luke 23:48 = mourning
- Luke 23:53 Or interred, or laid
- Luke 23:54 Lit was dawning; not in the morning but at sundown Friday
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