23:1 Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. |
23:2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." |
23:3 So Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews? And He answered him and said, "{It is as} you say."" |
23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man." |
23:5 But they kept on insisting, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place." |
23:6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. |
23:7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time. |
23:8 Now Herod was very glad 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 sign performed by Him. |
23:9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. |
23:10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. |
23:11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. |
23:12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other. |
23:13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, |
23:14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. |
23:15 "No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. |
23:16 "Therefore I will punish Him and release Him." |
23:17 [Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.] |
23:18 But they cried out all together, saying, "Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!" |
23:19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) |
23:20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, |
23:21 but they kept on calling out, saying, "Crucify, crucify Him!" |
23:22 And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt {demanding} death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him." |
23:23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices {began} to prevail. |
23:24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. |
23:25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will. |
23:26 When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus. |
23:27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. |
23:28 But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. |
23:29 "For behold, the days are coming when they will say, `Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' |
23:30 "Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, `FALL ON US,' AND TO THE HILLS, `COVER US.' |
23:31 "For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" |
23:32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him. |
23:33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. |
23:34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves." |
23:35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One." |
23:36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, |
23:37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" |
23:38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." |
23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged {there} was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" |
23:40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? |
23:41 "And we indeed {are suffering} justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." |
23:42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" |
23:43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." |
23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, |
23:45 because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. |
23:46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT. Having said this, He breathed His last." |
23:47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he {began} praising God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent." |
23:48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, {began} to return, beating their breasts. |
23:49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things. |
23:50 And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man |
23:51 (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; |
23:52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. |
23:53 And 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. |
23:54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. |
23:55 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. |
23:56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. |