Jesus Brought Before Pilate

23 And the whole assembly of them rose up and[a] brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us[b] to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying he himself is Christ, a king!” And Pilate asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And he answered him and[c] said, “You say so.” So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they insisted, saying, “He incites the people, teaching throughout the whole of Judea and beginning from Galilee as far as here.”

Jesus Brought Before Herod

Now when[d] Pilate heard this,[e] he asked if the man was a Galilean. And when he[f] found out that he was from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him over to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days. And when[g] Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by him. So he questioned him at considerable length,[h] but he answered nothing to him. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers also treated him with contempt, and after[i] mocking him[j] and[k] dressing him[l] in glistening clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And both Herod and Pilate became friends with one another on that same day, for they had previously been enemies of one another.[m]

Pilate Releases Barabbas

13 So Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people 14 and[n] said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people, and behold, when I[o] examined him[p] before you, I found nothing in this man as basis for the accusation which you are making[q] against him. 15 But neither did Herod, because he sent him back to us. And behold, nothing deserving death has been done[r] by him. 16 Therefore I will punish him and[s] release him.”[t] [u] 18 But they all cried out in unison, saying, “Take this man away, and release for us Barabbas!” 19 (who had been thrown in prison because of a certain insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder). 20 And Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them[v][w] again, 21 but they kept crying out, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!” 22 So he said to them a third time, “Why? What wrong has this man done? I found no basis for an accusation deserving death[x] in him. Therefore I will punish him and[y] release him.”[z] 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he be crucified. And their cries prevailed. 24 And Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 And he released the one who had been thrown into prison because of insurrection and murder, whom they were asking for, but Jesus he handed over to their will.

Jesus Is Crucified

26 And as they led him away, they seized Simon, a certain man of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and[aa] placed the cross on him, to carry it[ab] behind Jesus. 27 And a great crowd of the people were following him, and of women who were mourning and lamenting him. 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children! 29 For behold, days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that did not give birth, and the breasts that did not nurse!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green,[ac] what will happen when it is dry?”[ad]

32 And two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,” there they crucified him, and the criminals, the one on his right and the other on his left. 34 [[But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]][ae] And they cast lots to divide his clothes. 35 And the people stood there watching, but the rulers also ridiculed him,[af] saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if this man is the Christ[ag] of God, the Chosen One!” 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming up and[ah] offering him sour wine 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.”

39 And one of the criminals who were hanged there reviled him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself—and us!” 40 But the other answered and[ai] rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, because you are undergoing the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve[aj] for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong!” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!” 43 And he said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus Dies on the Cross

44 And by this time it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour 45 because[ak] the light of the sun failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn apart down the middle. 46 And Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit!”[al] And after he[am] said this, he expired.

47 Now when[an] the centurion saw what had happened, he began to praise[ao] God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous!” 48 And all the crowds that had come together for this spectacle, when they[ap] saw the things that had happened, returned home[aq] beating their[ar] breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances, and the women who had followed him from Galilee who saw these things, stood at a distance.

Jesus Is Buried

50 And behold, a man named[as] Joseph, who was a member of the council,[at] a good[au] and righteous man 51 (this man was not consenting to their plan and deed), from Arimathea, a Judean town,[av] who was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52 This man approached Pilate and[aw] asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it[ax] down and[ay] wrapped it in a linen cloth and placed him in a tomb cut into the rock where no one had ever been placed. 54 And it was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. 55 And the women who had been accompanying him from Galilee followed and[az] saw the tomb and how his body was placed. 56 And they returned and[ba] prepared fragrant spices and perfumes, and on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:1 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“rose up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  2. Luke 23:2 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  3. Luke 23:3 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  4. Luke 23:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  5. Luke 23:6 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  6. Luke 23:7 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“found out”) which is understood as temporal
  7. Luke 23:8 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  8. Luke 23:9 Literally “with many words”
  9. Luke 23:11 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“mocking”) which is understood as temporal
  10. Luke 23:11 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  11. Luke 23:11 Here “and” is supplied to connect the two participles (“mocking” and “dressing”) in keeping with English style
  12. Luke 23:11 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  13. Luke 23:12 Literally “for they had previously existed being at enmity with each other”
  14. Luke 23:14 Here “and” is supplied because the participle in the previous verse (“called together”) has been translated as a finite verb
  15. Luke 23:14 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“examined”) which is understood as temporal
  16. Luke 23:14 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  17. Luke 23:14 Literally “you are accusing”
  18. Luke 23:15 Literally “is having been done”
  19. Luke 23:16 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“punish”) has been translated as a finite verb
  20. Luke 23:16 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  21. Luke 23:16 Many of the most important Greek manuscripts lack v. 17, “Now he was obligated to release for them at the feast one person.”
  22. Luke 23:20 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  23. Luke 23:20 Some manuscripts explicitly state “them”
  24. Luke 23:22 Literally “of death”
  25. Luke 23:22 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“punish”) has been translated as a finite verb
  26. Luke 23:22 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  27. Luke 23:26 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“seized”) has been translated as a finite verb
  28. Luke 23:26 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  29. Luke 23:31 Literally “in the green wood”
  30. Luke 23:31 Literally “in the dry”
  31. Luke 23:34 Many important manuscripts lack v. 34a, “But Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’”
  32. Luke 23:35 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  33. Luke 23:35 Or “Messiah”
  34. Luke 23:36 Here “and” is supplied to connect the two participles (“coming up” and “offering”) in keeping with English style
  35. Luke 23:40 Here “and” is supplied to connect the two participles (“answered” and “rebuked”) in keeping with English style
  36. Luke 23:41 Literally “things worthy”
  37. Luke 23:45 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“failed”) which is understood as causal
  38. Luke 23:46 A quotation from Ps 31:5
  39. Luke 23:46 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“said”) which is understood as temporal
  40. Luke 23:47 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  41. Luke 23:47 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to praise”)
  42. Luke 23:48 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  43. Luke 23:48 The word “home” is not in the Greek text, but is implied
  44. Luke 23:48 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  45. Luke 23:50 Literally “by name”
  46. Luke 23:50 Or “a member of the Sanhedrin”
  47. Luke 23:50 Some manuscripts have “and a good”
  48. Luke 23:51 Literally “a town of the Jews”
  49. Luke 23:52 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb
  50. Luke 23:53 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  51. Luke 23:53 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“wrapped”) has been translated as a finite verb
  52. Luke 23:55 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“followed”) has been translated as a finite verb
  53. Luke 23:56 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“returned”) has been translated as a finite verb

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.(A) And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation.(B) He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar(C) and claims to be Messiah, a king.”(D)

So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”(E)

But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee(F) and has come all the way here.”

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.(G) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,(H) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.(I) From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.(J) 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,(K) they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends(L)—before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.(M) 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him(N) and then release him.” [17] [a]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”(O) 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”(P)

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus(Q)

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,(R) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.(S) 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed(T) for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.(U) 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’(V) 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[b](W)

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(X)

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.(Y) 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father,(Z) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c](AA) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(AB)

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.(AC) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”(AD)

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him.(AE) They offered him wine vinegar(AF) 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,(AG) save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.(AH)

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”(AI)

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”(AJ)

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d](AK)

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”(AL)

The Death of Jesus(AM)

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,(AN) 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple(AO) was torn in two.(AP) 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice,(AQ) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[e](AR) When he had said this, he breathed his last.(AS)

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God(AT) and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts(AU) and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,(AV) stood at a distance,(AW) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus(AX)

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.(AY) 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day,(AZ) and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee(BA) followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.(BB) But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.(BC)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:17 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 27:15 and Mark 15:6.
  2. Luke 23:30 Hosea 10:8
  3. Luke 23:34 Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.
  4. Luke 23:42 Some manuscripts come with your kingly power
  5. Luke 23:46 Psalm 31:5