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 proclaiming Himself as Christ, a King."

23:3  So Pilate asked Him, saying, "Do You proclaim yourself as the King of the Jews?" And He answered him and said, "You speak the truth."

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 came from Galilee.

23:7  And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also ruled in Jerusalem at that time.

23:8  Now Herod felt very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he heard about Him and hoped 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 stood 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 animosity toward 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, he has done nothing deserving death.

23:16  "Therefore I will punish Him and release Him."

23:17  [Now he felt 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  (The authorities threw him 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 became insistent, with loud voices asking that they crucify Him. And their voices began to prevail.

23:24  And Pilate pronounced sentence to grant their demand.

23:25  And he released the man they asked for whom they had 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 a large crowd of the people followed him, including women who mourned and lamented 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 will come when they will say, 'We consider blessed 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 still looks green, what will happen when it dries?"

23:32  They led two criminals to their execution 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 said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they do." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

23:35  And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers sneered at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He proclaims Himself as 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 proclaim yourself as the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"

23:38  Now someone had posted an inscription above Him, "HERE WE SEE THE KING OF THE JEWS."

23:39  One of the criminals who hanged there hurled abuse at Him, saying, "Do You not proclaim Yourself the Christ? Save Yourself and us!"

23:40  But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you have received the same sentence of condemnation?

23:41  "And we indeed suffer justly, for we receive what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." 42And he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"

23:42  And he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"

23:43  And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall accompany Me in Paradise."

23:44  It had now become about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour,

23:45  because the sun became obscured; and the veil of the temple ripped 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 we acknowledge as 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 stood at a distance, seeing these things.

23:50  And a man named Joseph, who belonged to 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 waited 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 had become the preparation day, and the Sabbath would soon begin.

23:55  Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how they laid His body.

23:56  Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.