Luke 23:8-34

English Standard Version

⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, ^(A)for he had long desired to see him, ^(B)because he had heard about him, and he was hoping ^(C)to see some sign done by him. ⁹ So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ And Herod with his soldiers ^(D)treated him with contempt and ^(E)mocked him. Then, ^(F)arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. ¹² And ^(G)Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests and ^(H)the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man ^(I)as one who was misleading the people. And ^(J)after examining him before you, behold, I ^(K)did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither did Herod, for ^(L)he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. ^16 (M)I will therefore punish and release him.”^[a]

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

^18 (N)But they all cried out together, ^(O)“Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— ¹⁹ a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and ^(P)for murder. ²⁰ Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²² A third time he said to them, “Why? ^(Q)What evil has he done? ^(R)I have found in him no guilt deserving death. ^(S)I will therefore punish and release him.” ²³ But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison ^(T)for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, ^(U)but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion

^26 (V)And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were ^(W)mourning and lamenting for 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, ^(X)the days are coming when they will say, ^(Y)‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ ^30 (Z)Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ ³¹ For ^(AA)if they do these things when ^(AB)the wood is green, what will happen ^(AC)when it is dry?”

^32 (AD)Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ^33 (AE)And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, ^(AF)one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, ^(AG)forgive them, ^(AH)for they know not what they do.”^[b] And they cast lots ^(AI)to divide his garments.