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.