Chronological

23 Then all the people got up and took Jesus to Pilate.

² They began to make a complaint against him. They said, `This man is leading our people to do wrong. He says we should not pay taxes to Caesar. He says that he is Christ, a King.'

³ Then Pilate asked Jesus, `Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, `Yes, I am.'

⁴ Pilate said to the chief priests and to the people, `I find nothing wrong in this man.'

⁵ But they said all the more, `He troubles the people by his teaching. He has been teaching people in all the country of Judea. He began in Galilee and has come as far as this city.'

⁶ When Pilate heard this, he asked, `Is this man from Galilee?'

⁷ When he knew that he came from Herod's country, he sent him to Herod. Herod was in Jerusalem at that time.

⁸ He was glad to see Jesus. He had heard about him. And he had wanted to see him for a long time. He was hoping that he would see Jesus do a big work.

⁹ He asked Jesus many questions. But Jesus did not answer him.

¹⁰ The chief priests and the scribes stood near. They brought strong complaints against him.

¹¹ Then Herod and his soldiers laughed at Jesus and made fun of him. He dressed him up in very fine clothes and sent him back to Pilate.

¹² Herod and Pilate became friends that day. Before that, they had hated each other.

¹³ Pilate then called the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people.

¹⁴ He said to them, `You brought this man to me. You said he is leading your people to do wrong. I have asked questions here in front of you. I have found nothing wrong in this man.

¹⁵ Herod did the same. He sent him back to us. This man has done nothing for which he should die.

¹⁶ So I will beat him and let him go.'

¹⁷ At the feast Pilate always let one man go free.

¹⁸ But they all shouted, `Kill this man! Let Barabbas go free for us!'

¹⁹ (Barabbas had been put in prison because he led some people who had been fighting in the city. He had killed a man.)

²⁰ Pilate talked to the people again. He wanted to let Jesus go free.

²¹ But they shouted, `Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!"

²² Pilate said to them the third time, `Why, what wrong thing has he done? I have not found any wrong thing for which he should die. So I will beat him and let him go.'

²³ But they shouted all the more loudly, saying, `Nail him to a cross!' And Pilate gave in to their shouting.

²⁴ So he said they could have it their way.

²⁵ He let the other man go free. (He was the one who had been put in prison because he fought and had killed a man. He was the one the people asked Pilate to let go free.) And Pilate did to Jesus what they wanted him to do.

²⁶ They took Jesus away. On the way, they caught a man who was coming in from the farms. His name was Simon. He was born in the country of Cyrene. They made him walk behind Jesus and carry his cross.

²⁷ Many people followed him. Women cried and were sorry for him.

²⁸ But Jesus turned to them and said, `Daughters of Jerusalem, do not cry for me. But cry for yourselves and for your children.

²⁹ The time will come when people will say, "Happy are the women who have no children or who have never had a child."

³⁰ Then people will begin to say to the big hills, "Fall on us." They will say to the small hills, "Hide us."

³¹ If this is what people do when the wood is new, what will they do when it is old?'

³² Two men were also led away to be killed with Jesus. They were bad men.

³³ They came to the place called Calvary (the head bone.) There they nailed the two bad men to the crosses also. They put one man on the right side of Jesus and one man on the left side of him.

³⁴ Jesus said, `Father, forgive them! They do not know what they are doing.' The soldiers played a game to see how they should divide his clothes.

³⁵ The people stood around watching. But the rulers made fun of him. They said, `He saved other people. He should save himself if he is God's Christ, God's chosen one!'

³⁶ The soldiers made fun of him. They came and brought him wine to drink.

³⁷ They said, `If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!'

³⁸ The sign that was put above Jesus' head said, `This is the King of the Jews.'

³⁹ One of the bad men who was hanging there said wrong things against Jesus. He said `If you are the Christ, why do you not save yourself and us?'

⁴⁰ But the other bad man told him to stop. He said, `Do you not even fear God? You are being punished just as he is.

⁴¹ It is right for us to be punished because we have done wrong things. But this man has done nothing bad.'

⁴² He said to Jesus, `Lord, remember me when you become a King.'

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, `I tell you the truth. Today you will be with me in God's garden of paradise.'

⁴⁴ About noontime the whole land became dark and stayed dark for three hours.

⁴⁵ The sun did not shine. The big cloth that hung in the temple was torn into two pieces.

⁴⁶ Jesus called out loud, `Father, I put my spirit into your hands!' When he had said this, he died.

⁴⁷ The captain saw all this. Then he praised God. He said, `Surely, this was a good man!'

⁴⁸ Many people were around there to look on. When they saw what happened, they all went home beating their chests [because they were sad].

⁴⁹ All Jesus' friends and the women who had come with him from Galilee stood far away. They saw all of this.

⁵⁰ There was a man named Joseph. He was a member of the court. He was a good man who lived the right way.

⁵¹ He had not wanted the people to do what they did. He was looking for the kingdom of God. He was from a town of the Jews, called Arimathea.

⁵² He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

⁵³ He took the body down from the cross. He wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid it in a grave cut in a rock. No one had ever been put in this grave.

⁵⁴ It was the day before the Sabbath. And it was almost time for the Sabbath to begin.

⁵⁵ Some women had come with Jesus from Galilee. They followed and saw the grave where his body was put.

⁵⁶ Then they went back and got things ready to put on his body. These things were spices that smelled very nice, and sweet kinds of oil. On the Sabbath day they rested as the law said they should.

18 When Jesus had finished saying this, he and his disciples went through the valley called Kidron. There was a garden with trees. He and his disciples went into the garden.

² Jesus had gone to this place often with his disciples, so Judas knew where the place was. He was the one who gave Jesus over to the people who hated him.

³ The chief priests and the Pharisees sent soldiers and guards with Judas. They had lamps, and torches, and things to fight with.

⁴ Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he went out and said to them, `Who are you looking for?'

⁵ They answered, `Jesus from Nazareth.' Jesus said to them, `I am he.' Judas, who had given Jesus over to them, was standing with them.

⁶ When Jesus said to them, `I am he,' they all drew back suddenly and fell down.

⁷ So Jesus asked them again, `Who are you looking for?' And they said, `Jesus from Nazareth.'

⁸ Then Jesus answered, `I have already told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these men go.'

⁹ So his words came true. He had said, `I did not lose one of those you gave me.'

¹⁰ Simon Peter had a long knife or sword. He took it out and hit the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

¹¹ Jesus said to Peter, `Put your sword back in its place. Must I not drink the cup that my Father has given me?'

¹² Then the soldiers, and the captain, and the guards caught Jesus and tied him up.

¹³ First they took him to Annas. He was the father of Caiaphas' wife. Caiaphas was the high priest that year.

¹⁴ This was the same Caiaphas that had talked to the leaders of the Jews. He had said, `It is better for one man to die for the people.'

¹⁵ Simon Peter and one other disciple went after Jesus. The other disciple knew the high priest, so he went right in with Jesus through the gate of the high priest's large house.

¹⁶ But Peter stood by the gate outside. The other disciple who knew the high priest talked to the servant at the door and brought in Peter.

¹⁷ The servant at the door said to Peter, `Are you one of this man's disciples too?' Peter said, `No, I am not!'

¹⁸ It was cold there. The servants and the officers had made a small fire. They stood by it and warmed themselves. Peter stood by the fire also and warmed himself.

¹⁹ The high priest then asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, `I have talked so that anyone who wanted to could hear me. I have always taught in the meeting houses and in the temple. That is where the Jews always go. I have not said anything in a secret way.

²¹ Why do you ask me? The people heard me talk. Ask them what I told them. They know what I said.'

²² When he had said this, one of the officers who stood there hit Jesus. He said, `Is that the way you answer the high priest?'

²³ Jesus answered him, `If I have said anything bad, tell me plainly what wrong thing I have said. If I have told the truth, why do you hit me?'

²⁴ Jesus was still tied up. Annas sent him over to Caiaphas the high priest.

²⁵ Simon Peter stayed by the fire and stood warming himself. So the people said to him, `Are you not one of his disciples also?' He said, `No, I am not!'

²⁶ A servant was there. He was of the same family as the one whose ear Peter had cut off. He said, `Did I not see you in the garden with him? `

²⁷ Again Peter said, `No!' And just then a cock called out.

²⁸ Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the court house. It was early in the day. They themselves did not go into the court house. They did not want to become unclean. They wanted to eat the Passover Feast.

²⁹ Pilate went out to the Jewish leaders and said, `What complaint do you bring against this man?'

³⁰ They said to him, `If he were not a very bad man, then we would not have brought him to you.'

³¹ Pilate said, `Take him and judge him by your own law.' The leaders of the Jews said, `But we are not allowed to kill anyone.'

³² So this is the way the words of Jesus came true. He had said how he was going to die.

³³ Then Pilate went back into the court house again. He called for Jesus and asked him, `Are you the King of the Jews?'

³⁴ Jesus answered, `Do you ask me because you yourself think I am, or do you ask me because others said I am?'

³⁵ Pilate answered, `Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests have brought you here to me. Tell me, what have you done?'

³⁶ Jesus answered him, `I am not a king in this world. If I were, my people would fight so that I would not be given to the Jews. But I am not a king in this world.'

³⁷ So Pilate said, `So you really are a king then? ` Jesus answered, `You say that I am a king. The reason that I was born was that I should tell what is true. That is why I came into the world. Everyone who likes what is true listens to what I say.'

³⁸ Pilate said, `What is truth?' When he had said this, he went out to the Jews again. He told them, `I find nothing wrong in this man.

³⁹ But at the Passover Feast you always want me to let one prisoner go free for you. Do you want me to let the King of the Jews go free?'

⁴⁰ Then they all shouted again, `Not this man, but Barabbas!' Barabbas was a man who had stolen things.

19 Pilate took Jesus and had him beaten.

² The soldiers made a big ring of thorns like a crown and put it on Jesus' head. They put a red gown on him.

³ They said, `Greetings, King of the Jews!' They beat him with their hands.

⁴ Then Pilate went out to the people again and said to them, `See, I bring the man before you. This is to show you that I find nothing wrong in him.'

⁵ Then Jesus came out. He had the crown of thorns on his head and had the red gown on him. Pilate said, `Here is the man!'

⁶ When the chief priests and the officers saw Jesus, they shouted, `Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!' Pilate said to them, `You take him and nail him to a cross. I find nothing wrong in him.'

^7-8 he leaders of the Jews answered him, `We have a law. That law says he should die, because he calls himself the Son of God.' When Pilate heard what they said, he was very much afraid.

⁹ He went into the court house again and said to Jesus, `Where do you come from?' But Jesus did not answer him.

¹⁰ Then Pilate said, `Do you not answer me? Do you not know that I have power to nail you to a cross, or to let you go free?'

¹¹ Jesus said, `You would have no power over me if God did not give you power. So then, the man who gave me up to you has done something worse than you.'

¹² After that Pilate tried to let Jesus go free. But the Jews shouted, `If you let this man free, you are not Caesar's friend! Anyone who makes himself a king is fighting against Caesar!'

¹³ When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out. Then Pilate sat on the bench where the judge sits. The place was called the Street of Stone. The Jews called it Gabbatha.

¹⁴ It was about the middle of the day before the Passover Feast. Pilate said to the Jews, `See, here is your King!'

¹⁵ But they shouted, `Take him away! Take him away! Nail him to a cross!' Pilate said to them, `Shall I nail your King to a cross?' The chief priests answered, `Caesar is the only king we have.'

¹⁶ Then Pilate gave them Jesus to be nailed to a cross.

¹⁷ They took Jesus and led him away. Jesus went out carrying his own cross. They went to a place which the Jews called Golgotha. That means `the place of the skull bone'.

¹⁸ There they nailed Jesus to the cross. Two other people were also nailed to crosses. One was put on each side of Jesus. Jesus was put in the centre.

¹⁹ Pilate wrote a sign and put it on the cross. He wrote, `Jesus from Nazareth, the King of the Jews.'

²⁰ Many of the Jews read this sign. The place where Jesus was nailed to a cross was near the city. The sign was written in the Jewish, Greek, and Latin languages.

²¹ Then the chief priests among the Jews said to Pilate, `Do not write, "The King of the Jews," but write, "This man said he is King of the Jews." '

²² Pilate answered, `What I have written I have written!'

²³ When the soldiers had nailed Jesus to the cross, they took his clothes. They divided them into four parts and gave each soldier one part. Then they took his coat. It was not sewn together but the cloth was all made in one piece from the top to the bottom.

²⁴ So the soldiers said to one another, `We will not tear this. But let us gamble for it.' What the holy writings say came true. They say, `They divided my clothes among them. They gambled for my coat.' That is what the soldiers did.

²⁵ Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

²⁶ Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near. He said to his mother, `Woman, see your son!'

²⁷ And he said to the disciple, `See your mother!' From that time on, that disciple took her to live in his own home.

²⁸ Jesus now knew that everything had happened that the holy writings said. He said, `I am thirsty.'

²⁹ A bowl of bad wine was there. They took something called a sponge and made it wet with the wine. Then they put it on a stick and put it to Jesus' mouth.

³⁰ Jesus took the wine. Then he said, `It is finished.' And he bowed his head and died.

³¹ It was the day before the Sabbath day. The Jewish leaders did not want the bodies to stay on the cross on the Sabbath day because it was a big day. So they begged Pilate to break the legs of those who had been nailed to crosses. Then they could be taken away.

³² The soldiers came and broke the legs of the one nailed to the cross on one side of Jesus. Then they broke the legs of the one on the other side of him.

³³ When they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already. So they did not break his legs.

³⁴ One of the soldiers stuck a spear into the side of Jesus' body. Right away, blood and water came out.

³⁵ The man who saw it told what he saw, so that you may believe. What he said is true and he knows that it is true.

³⁶ What the holy writings say came true. They say, `Not one of his bones shall be broken.'

³⁷ They also say, `They shall look at the one into whom they stuck the spear.'

³⁸ A man named Joseph, from the town of Arimathea, was a disciple of Jesus. But he did not say so because he was afraid of the leaders of the Jews. After all this had happened, he went to Pilate. He asked him to let him take Jesus' body away. Pilate let him. So he came and took his body.

³⁹ Nicodemus also came. He was the one who had come to Jesus at night. He brought with him a heavy bag of sweet-smelling spices called myrrh and aloes. It was mixed together.

⁴⁰ They wrapped linen cloth around the body of Jesus and put the myrrh and aloes in with the cloth. That is how Jews bury a person.

⁴¹ There was a garden at the place where Jesus was nailed to the cross. In the garden was a new grave cut in the rock. No one had ever been laid in it.

⁴² They laid Jesus' body there because it was the day before the Sabbath day, and the grave was near.