Luke 23

1 And the whole company of them rose and led him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man turning our nation aside, and forbidding the giving of tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate questioned him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And he answered him and said, “You say it.” [a] 4 And Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no ground for a charge in this man.” 5 But they kept insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching through the whole of Judea — and he began from Galilee and has come as far as here.”

6 But when Pilate heard it he asked whether the man was a Galilean; 7 and finding out that he was from Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him up to Herod, who was himself also in Jerusalem in those days. 8 And when Herod saw Jesus he was very glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time because of what he heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 And he questioned him at some length; but he answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes stood there, accusing him vehemently. 11 And Herod, with his soldiers, treated him as nothing and mocked him; and putting bright clothing on him he sent him back up to Pilate. [b] 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that same day; for before that they had been at enmity between themselves.

13 And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one turning the people away; and look — I examined him in front of you and found in this man no ground for the charges you bring against him. 15 No, nor did Herod; for he sent him back up to us. And look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 So I will have him beaten and release him.” [c]

18 But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release Barabbas to us!” 19 This was a man who had been thrown into prison for a certain uprising that had happened in the city, and for murder. 20 And Pilate called out to them again, wanting to release Jesus. 21 But they were shouting back, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 And a third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has this man done? I found in him no ground for death. So I will have him beaten and release him.” [d] 23 But they pressed on with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified; and their voices were winning. 24 And Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 And he released the man who had been thrown into prison for uprising and murder, the one they were asking for; and Jesus he handed over to their will.

26 And as they led him away they took hold of Simon, a Cyrenian, coming in from the country, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 And a great crowd of the people was following him, and of women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For look, days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ [e] 31 For if they do these things in the green wood, what will happen in the dry?” [f]

32 And two others also, criminals, were being led away with him to be put to death. 33 And when they came to the place called Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. [g] 34 And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And dividing his clothes among themselves they cast lots. [h] † †

35 And the people stood watching. And the rulers too were sneering, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, the chosen one.” [i] 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar [j] 37 and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 And there was also an inscription over him: This is the King of the Jews. [k]

39 And one of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered and rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? 41 And we justly, for we are getting back what our deeds deserve; but this man has done nothing out of place.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Amen I tell you, today you will be with me in the garden.” [l] †

44 And it was already about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 the sun failing; and the curtain of the sanctuary was torn down the middle. [m] 46 And calling out with a loud voice Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” And having said this he breathed his last. [n] 47 And when the commander of a hundred saw what had happened he was giving glory to God, saying, “Truly this man was righteous.” [o] 48 And all the crowds that had come together for this spectacle, when they had seen what happened, went back beating their breasts. 49 And all those known to him stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, watching these things.

50 And look — a man named Joseph, a member of the council, a good and righteous man 51 (this man had not agreed with their plan and their action), from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God: 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, 53 and taking it down he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a tomb cut in rock, where no one had yet been laid. [p] 54 And it was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning to shine. [q]

55 And the women who had come with him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how his body was laid; 56 and they went back and prepared spices and perfumed oils. And on the Sabbath they rested, according to the command. [r]