1Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.2And they began to accuse him, saying, ‘We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.’3So Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied.4Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, ‘I find no basis for a charge against this man.’5But they insisted, ‘He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.’6On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort.9He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.11Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.12That day Herod and Pilate became friends – before this they had been enemies.13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,14and 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.15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.16-17Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.’[1] (Mt 27:15; Mr 15:6)18But the whole crowd shouted, ‘Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!’19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.21But they kept shouting, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’22For 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.’23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.24So Pilate decided to grant their demand.25He 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
26As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.28Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.29For the time will come when you will say, “Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!”30Then ‘ “they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ ” (Ho 10:8)31For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?’32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.33When 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.34Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’[2] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.’36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar37and said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’38There was a written notice above him, which read: This is the king of the Jews.39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’40But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence?41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’42Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[3]’43Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’
The death of Jesus
44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.46Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Ps 31:5)47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.’48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
The burial of Jesus
50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man,51who 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.52Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.53Then 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.54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.56Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
6When 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 over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. (Lu 3:1)8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. (Mt 12:38; Mt 14:1; Mr 6:14; Lu 9:9)9So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer.10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.11And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. (Mt 27:28; Mr 9:12; Mr 15:17; Lu 18:32; Ac 4:11)12And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. (Ps 2:2; Ac 4:27)13Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, (Lu 24:20)14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. (Lu 23:2; Lu 23:4; Ac 3:13)15Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. (Lu 23:11)16I will therefore punish and release him.”[1] (Lu 23:22; Joh 19:1; Ac 5:40)
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
18But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— (Mt 27:15; Mr 15:6; Joh 18:39; Joh 19:16; Ac 21:36; Ac 22:22)19a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. (Ac 3:14)20Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus,21but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!”22A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” (Lu 23:14; Lu 23:16; Lu 23:41; Joh 8:46)23But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.24So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. (Lu 23:19; Joh 19:16)
The Crucifixion
26And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. (Mt 27:32; Mr 15:21; Joh 19:17)27And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. (Mt 11:17; Lu 8:52)28But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep 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!’ (Mt 24:19; Mr 13:17; Lu 17:22; Lu 21:23)30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ (Isa 2:19; Ho 10:8; Re 6:16)31For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (Pr 11:31; Eze 20:47; 1Pe 4:17)32Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. (Mt 20:21; Mt 27:38; Mr 15:27; Joh 19:18)33And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (Mt 27:33; Mr 15:22; Lu 23:32; Joh 19:17)34And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[2] And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Ps 22:18; Isa 53:12; Mt 5:44; Mt 27:35; Mr 10:38; Mr 15:24; Joh 19:23; Ac 3:17)35And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” (Ps 22:7; Ps 22:17; Isa 42:1; Mt 1:17; Mt 12:18; Mt 26:53; Mt 27:41; Mr 15:31; Lu 4:3; Lu 4:9; Lu 4:23; Lu 9:20; Lu 9:35; Lu 16:14; Lu 24:20; Joh 10:18; 1Pe 2:4)36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine (Ps 69:21; Mt 27:48; Mr 15:36; Joh 19:29)37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” (Lu 23:3; Lu 23:35)38There was also an inscription over him,[3] “This is the King of the Jews.” (Mt 27:37; Mr 15:26; Lu 23:37; Joh 19:19; Joh 19:21)39One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[4] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Mt 27:39; Mt 27:44; Mr 15:32; Lu 23:35; Lu 23:37)40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”42And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Mt 16:28)43And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (2Co 12:3; Re 2:7)
The Death of Jesus
44It was now about the sixth hour,[5] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,[6] (Mt 27:45; Mr 15:33; Joh 19:14)45while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. (Ex 26:31; 2Ch 3:14)46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Ps 31:5; Mt 27:50; Mr 15:37; Joh 10:18; Joh 19:30; Ac 7:59; 1Pe 4:19)47Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” (Mt 27:54; Mr 15:39; Lu 7:16)48And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. (Lu 18:13)49And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. (Ps 38:11; Ps 88:8; Lu 8:2; Lu 23:55; Joh 19:25)
Jesus Is Buried
50Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, (Mt 27:57; Mr 15:42; Joh 19:38)51who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. (Lu 2:25; Lu 2:38)52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.53Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. (Isa 53:9; Mr 11:2)54It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.[7] (Mt 27:62)55The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. (Mt 28:1; Lu 23:49)56Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (Ex 20:10; De 5:14; Mr 16:1; Lu 24:1; Joh 19:39)