Jesus Delivered to Pilate

15 ^(A)And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests ^(B)held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And ^(C)they bound Jesus and ^(D)led him away and ^(E)delivered him over to ^(F)Pilate. ^2 (G)And Pilate asked him, ^(H)“Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, ^(I)“You have said so.” ³ And the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ And Pilate again asked him, ^(J)“Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” ⁵ But Jesus ^(K)made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

^6 (L)Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. ⁷ And among the rebels in prison, who had ^(M)committed murder ^(N)in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. ⁸ And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. ⁹ And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he perceived that ^(O)it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. ¹² And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with ^(P)the man you call the King of the Jews?” ¹³ And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” ¹⁴ And Pilate said to them, “Why? ^(Q)What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” ¹⁵ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having ^(R)scourged^[a] Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked

^16 (S)And the soldiers led him away inside ^(T)the palace (that is, ^(U)the governor's headquarters),^[b] and they called together the whole ^(V)battalion.^{[c] 17} And they clothed him in ^(W)a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. ¹⁸ And they began to salute him, ^(X)“Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ And they were striking his head with a reed and ^(Y)spitting on him and ^(Z)kneeling down in homage to him. ²⁰ And when they had ^(AA)mocked him, they stripped him of ^(AB)the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they ^(AC)led him out to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

^21 (AD)And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. ^22 (AE)And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). ²³ And they offered him wine mixed with ^(AF)myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified him and ^(AG)divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. ²⁵ And ^(AH)it was the third hour^[d] when they crucified him. ²⁶ And the inscription of the charge against him read, ^(AI)“The King of the Jews.” ²⁷ And with him they crucified two ^(AJ)robbers, ^(AK)one on his right and one on his left.^{[e] 29} And ^(AL)those who passed by derided him, ^(AM)wagging their heads and saying, ^(AN)“Aha! ^(AO)You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, ³⁰ save yourself, and come down from the cross!” ³¹ So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, ^(AP)“He saved others; ^(AQ)he cannot save himself. ³² Let ^(AR)the Christ, ^(AS)the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may ^(AT)see and believe.” ^(AU)Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

The Death of Jesus

³³ And when the sixth hour^[f] had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.^{[g] 34} And at the ninth hour Jesus ^(AV)cried with a loud voice, ^(AW)“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ³⁵ And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” ³⁶ And someone ran and filled a sponge with ^(AX)sour wine, put it on a reed ^(AY)and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” ³⁷ And Jesus ^(AZ)uttered a loud cry and ^(BA)breathed his last. ³⁸ And ^(BB)the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. ^39 (BC)And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he^[h] breathed his last, he said, ^(BD)“Truly this man was the Son^[i] of God!”

⁴⁰ There were also ^(BE)women looking on ^(BF)from a distance, among whom were ^(BG)Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and ^(BH)Salome. ⁴¹ When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ^(BI)ministered to him, and there were also many other women who ^(BJ)came up with him to Jerusalem.

Jesus Is Buried

^42 (BK)And when evening had come, since it was ^(BL)the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, ^(BM)a respected member of the council, who ^(BN)was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died.^[j] And summoning ^(BO)the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. ⁴⁵ And when he learned from ^(BP)the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. ⁴⁶ And Joseph^[k] bought ^(BQ)a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and ^(BR)laid him in a tomb ^(BS)that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled ^(BT)a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ^47 (BU)Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

Warning Against Neglecting Salvation

2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. ² For since ^(A)the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and ^(B)every transgression or disobedience received a just ^(C)retribution, ^3 (D)how shall we escape if we ^(E)neglect such a great salvation? It was ^(F)declared at first by the Lord, and it was ^(G)attested to us ^(H)by those who heard, ^4 (I)while God also bore witness ^(J)by signs and wonders and various miracles and by ^(K)gifts of the Holy Spirit ^(L)distributed according to his will.

The Founder of Salvation

⁵ For it was not to angels that God subjected the world ^(M)to come, of which we are speaking. ⁶ It has been testified somewhere,

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, ^(O)we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. ⁹ But we see him ^(P)who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, ^(Q)crowned with glory and honor ^(R)because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might ^(S)taste death ^(T)for everyone.

¹⁰ For it ^(U)was fitting that he, ^(V)for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons ^(W)to glory, should make the ^(X)founder of their salvation ^(Y)perfect through suffering. ¹¹ For ^(Z)he who sanctifies and ^(AA)those who are sanctified ^(AB)all have one source.^[b] That is why he is not ashamed to call them ^(AC)brothers,^{[c] 12} saying,

¹³ And again,

And again,

¹⁴ Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise ^(AI)partook of the same things, that ^(AJ)through death he might ^(AK)destroy ^(AL)the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and deliver all those who ^(AM)through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he ^(AN)helps the offspring of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore he had ^(AO)to be made like his brothers in every respect, ^(AP)so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest ^(AQ)in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For because he himself has suffered ^(AR)when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

10 For since the law has but ^(A)a shadow ^(B)of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, ^(C)it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But ^(D)in these sacrifices ^(E)there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For ^(F)it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Consequently, ^(G)when Christ^[a] came into the world, he said,

⁸ When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in ^(I)sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), ⁹ then he added, ^(J)“Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will ^(K)we have been sanctified through the offering of ^(L)the body of Jesus Christ ^(M)once for all.

¹¹ And every priest stands ^(N)daily at his service, ^(O)offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, ^(P)which can never take away sins. ¹² But when Christ^[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he ^(Q)sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time ^(R)until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. ¹⁴ For by a single offering ^(S)he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

¹⁷ then he adds,

¹⁸ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The Full Assurance of Faith

^19 (V)Therefore, brothers,^[c] since we have confidence to enter ^(W)the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by ^(X)the new and living way that he opened for us through ^(Y)the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have ^(Z)a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts ^(AA)sprinkled clean ^(AB)from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(AC)washed with pure water. ^23 (AD)Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for ^(AE)he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And ^(AF)let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ^25 (AG)not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ^(AH)all the more as you see ^(AI)the Day drawing near.

²⁶ For ^(AJ)if we go on sinning deliberately ^(AK)after receiving the knowledge of the truth, ^(AL)there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ^27 (AM)but a fearful expectation of judgment, and ^(AN)a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ^28 (AO)Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy ^(AP)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one ^(AQ)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned ^(AR)the blood of the covenant ^(AS)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(AT)outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, ^(AU)“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, ^(AV)“The Lord will judge his people.” ^31 (AW)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But recall the former days when, after ^(AX)you were enlightened, you endured ^(AY)a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being ^(AZ)publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴ For ^(BA)you had compassion on those in prison, and ^(BB)you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had ^(BC)a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has ^(BD)a great reward. ³⁶ For ^(BE)you have need of endurance, so that ^(BF)when you have done the will of God you may ^(BG)receive what is promised. ³⁷ For,

³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

The Earthly Holy Place

9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and ^(A)an earthly place of holiness. ² For ^(B)a tent^[a] was prepared, the first section, in which were ^(C)the lampstand and ^(D)the table and ^(E)the bread of the Presence.^[b] It is called the Holy Place. ³ Behind ^(F)the second curtain was a second section^[c] called the Most Holy Place, ⁴ having the golden ^(G)altar of incense and ^(H)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(I)a golden urn holding the manna, and ^(J)Aaron's staff that budded, and ^(K)the tablets of the covenant. ⁵ Above it were ^(L)the cherubim of glory overshadowing ^(M)the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ These preparations having thus been made, ^(N)the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, ⁷ but into the second only ^(O)the high priest goes, and he but ^(P)once a year, and not without taking blood, ^(Q)which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. ⁸ By this the Holy Spirit indicates that ^(R)the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing ⁹ (which is symbolic for the present age).^[d] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered ^(S)that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, ¹⁰ but deal only with ^(T)food and drink and ^(U)various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest ^(V)of the good things that have come,^[e] then through ^(W)the greater and more perfect tent (^(X)not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹² he ^(Y)entered ^(Z)once for all into the holy places, not by means of ^(AA)the blood of goats and calves but ^(AB)by means of his own blood, ^(AC)thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(AD)the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^(AE)the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[f] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(AF)the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^(AG)offered himself without blemish to God, ^(AH)purify our^[g] conscience ^(AI)from dead works ^(AJ)to serve the living God.

¹⁵ Therefore he is ^(AK)the mediator of a new covenant, so that ^(AL)those who are called may ^(AM)receive the promised eternal inheritance, ^(AN)since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^{[h] 16} For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For ^(AO)a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated ^(AP)without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took ^(AQ)the blood of calves and goats, ^(AR)with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, ^(AS)“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” ²¹ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both ^(AT)the tent and all the vessels used in worship. ²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and ^(AU)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

²³ Thus it was necessary for ^(AV)the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has entered, not into holy places ^(AW)made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God ^(AX)on our behalf. ²⁵ Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as ^(AY)the high priest enters ^(AZ)the holy places every year with blood not his own, ²⁶ for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, ^(BA)he has appeared ^(BB)once for all ^(BC)at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as ^(BD)it is appointed for man to die once, and ^(BE)after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once ^(BF)to bear the sins of ^(BG)many, will appear ^(BH)a second time, ^(BI)not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ^(BJ)waiting for him.