Jesus Before Pilate

1Then their whole assembly rose up and brought Him before Pilate. 2And 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.” 3So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “You yourself say it.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even 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, who himself also was in Jerusalem in those days.

Jesus Before Herod

8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he rejoiced greatly; 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. 9And he questioned Him [†]at some length, but He answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, vehemently accusing Him. 11And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a bright robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.

Pilate Grants the Crowd’s Request

13And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14and 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 in this man no guilt of what you are accusing 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 punish Him and release Him.” 17[[†]Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

18But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” 19(He had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city and for murder.) 20But again Pilate addressed them, wanting to release Jesus, 21but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22And he said to them a third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt worthy of death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” 23But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices were prevailing. 24And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25And 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.

Simon Carries the Cross

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

27And following Him was a large multitude of the people, and of women who were [†]mourning and lamenting Him. 28But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop crying for Me, but cry for yourselves and for your children. 29For 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.’ 30Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’ 31For if they do these things [†]when the tree is green, what will happen [†]when it is dry?”

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

The Crucifixion

33And 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. 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. 35And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were scoffing at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the [†]Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36And the soldiers also mocked 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.”

39And one of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming Him, saying, “Are You not the [†]Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40But the other answered, 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 [†]what we deserve for what we have done; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come [†]in Your kingdom!” 43And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

44And it was now about [†]the sixth hour, and darkness [†]fell over the whole land until [†]the ninth hour, 45[†]because the sun was obscured. And the veil of the [†]sanctuary was torn [†]in two. 46And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous.” 48And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, were returning, [†]beating their chests. 49And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, watching these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a Council member, a good and righteous man 51(he had not consented to their counsel 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 [†]Preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to [†]begin. 55Now the women, who had come with Him from Galilee, followed and beheld the tomb and how His body was laid. 56Then after they returned, they prepared spices and perfumes.

And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.