Jesus Brought Before Pilate

1Then the whole group of them rose up and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar and claiming that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 5But they persisted in saying, “He incites the people by teaching throughout all Judea. It started in Galilee and ended up here!”

Jesus Brought Before Herod

6Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that he was from Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who also happened to be in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some miraculous sign. 9So Herod questioned him at considerable length; Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the experts in the law were there, vehemently accusing him. 11Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, dressing him in elegant clothes, Herod sent him back to Pilate. 12That very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other, for prior to this they had been enemies.

Jesus Brought Before the Crowd

13Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. When I examined him before you, I did not find this man guilty of anything you accused him of doing. 15Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing deserving death. 16I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”

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18But they all shouted out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas for us!” 19(This was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder.) 20Pilate addressed them once again because he wanted to release Jesus. 21But they kept on shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22A third time he said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done? I have found him guilty of no crime deserving death. I will therefore flog him and release him.” 23But they were insistent, demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25He released the man they asked for, who had been thrown in prison for insurrection and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion

26As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country. They placed the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A great number of the people followed him, among them women who were mourning and wailing for him. 28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, 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 such things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32Two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him. 33So when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,” they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34[But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”] Then they threw dice to divide his clothes. 35The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38There was also an inscription over him, “This is the king of the Jews.”

39One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45because the sun’s light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And after he said this he breathed his last.

47Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49And all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw these things.

Jesus’ Burial

50Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man. 51(He had not consented to their plan and action.) He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock, where no one had yet been buried. 54It was the day of preparation and the Sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they returned and prepared aromatic spices and perfumes.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.