Jesus before Pilate

1Then the entire assembly of them set out and brought Him before Pilate. 2And they began to bring charges against Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is [a]Christ, a King.” 3Now Pilate asked Him, saying, “So You are the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” 4But Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds for charges in the case of this man.” 5But they kept on insisting, saying, “He is stirring up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee, as far as this place!”

6Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, [b]since he also was in Jerusalem [c]at this time.

Jesus before Herod

8Now Herod was overjoyed when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some [d]sign performed by Him. 9And he questioned Him [e]at some length; but He offered him no answer at all. 10Now the chief priests and the scribes stood there, vehemently charging Him. 11And Herod, together with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, dressing Him in a brightly shining robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12And so Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for previously, they had been enemies toward each other.

Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release

13Now Pilate summoned to himself the chief priests, the [f]rulers, and the people, 14and he said to them, “You brought this man to me on the ground that he is inciting the people to revolt; and behold, after examining Him before you, I have found no basis at all in the case of this man for the charges which you are bringing against Him. 15No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16Therefore I will [g]punish Him and release Him.” 17[[h]Now he was obligated to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

18But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!” 19(He was one who had been thrown into prison for a revolt that took place in the city, and for murder.) 20But Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21but they kept on crying out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22And he said to them a third time, “Why, what has this man done wrong? I have found [i]in His case no grounds for a sentence of death; therefore I will [j]punish Him and release Him.” 23But they were insistent, with loud voices, demanding that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24And so Pilate decided to have their demand carried out. 25And he released the man for whom they were asking, who had been thrown into prison for a revolt and murder; but he handed Jesus over to their will.

Simon Carries the Cross

26And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

27Now following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were [k]mourning and grieving for Him. 28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For behold, days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are those who cannot bear, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not nursed.’ 30Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’ 31For if they do these things [l]when the tree is green, what will happen [m]when it is dry?”

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

The Crucifixion

33And when they came to the place called [n]The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34[[o]But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”] And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves. 35And the people stood by, watching. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the [p]Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36The soldiers also ridiculed Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

39One of the criminals who were hanged there was [q]hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the [r]Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving [s]what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

44It was now about [t]the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until [u]the ninth hour, 45[v]because the sun stopped shining; and the veil of the temple was torn [w]in two. 46And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I ENTRUST MY SPIRIT.” And having said this, He [x]died. 47Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “This man was in fact [y]innocent.” 48And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, after watching what had happened, began to return home, [z]beating their chests. 49And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51(he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God— 52this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53And 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. 54It was a [aa]preparation day, and a Sabbath was about to [ab]begin. 55Now the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56And then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.

And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

[a] 2 I.e., the Messiah
[b] 7 Lit himself also being in
[c] 7 Lit in these days
[d] 8 I.e., confirming miracle
[e] 9 Lit in considerable words
[f] 13 I.e., other Jewish leaders
[g] 16 I.e., by scourging
[h] 17 Most early mss do not contain this v
[i] 22 Lit in Him no
[j] 22 I.e., by scourging
[k] 27 Lit beating their breasts
[l] 31 Lit in the green tree
[m] 31 Lit in the dry
[n] 33 Gr Kranion, Lat Calvaria (Calvary)
[o] 34 Most early mss do not contain But Jesus was saying...doing
[p] 35 I.e., Messiah
[q] 39 Or blaspheming
[r] 39 I.e., Messiah
[s] 41 Lit things worthy of what we have done
[t] 44 I.e., noon
[u] 44 I.e., 3 p.m.
[v] 45 Lit the sun failing
[w] 45 Lit in the middle
[x] 46 Lit expired
[y] 47 Lit righteous
[z] 48 I.e., as a traditional sign of mourning or contrition
[aa] 54 I.e., preparation for the Sabbath
[ab] 54 Lit dawn