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BibleStudyIt Luke 23

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Pilate asks Jesus questions

23 All the people at the meeting stood up to leave. They took Jesus to stand in front of Pilate. [ a ] 2 Then they all started to tell Pilate that Jesus had done bad things. They said, ‘We found this man when he was telling our people wrong things. He said that we must not pay taxes to the Roman government. He also said that he himself is the Messiah, that is, a king.’

3 Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘You have said it.’

4 Pilate then said to the leaders of the priests and to all the crowd of people, ‘I cannot find any reason to say that this man is guilty.’ 5 But they continued to speak strongly to him. They said, ‘He makes the people angry and ready to fight against the government. He has taught these bad things everywhere in Judea. He started in Galilee and now he has come to Jerusalem.’

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked if Jesus came from Galilee. 7 He discovered that he was from the country where Herod ruled. So Pilate sent Jesus to stand in front of Herod. Herod was also in Jerusalem at that time. [ b ]

Herod asks Jesus questions

8 Herod was very happy to see Jesus. He had heard about him and he had wanted to meet him for a long time. He wanted to see Jesus do something to show God's power. 9 He asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not answer any of them. 10 The leaders of the priests and the teachers of God's Law stood there. They were shouting out that Jesus had done many bad things. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers started to laugh at Jesus. They were saying things to make him feel bad. They put a beautiful coat on him. Then they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That same day, Herod and Pilate became friends. Until then, they had not liked each other.

Pilate and the Jewish leaders argue about Jesus

13 Pilate then told the leaders of the priests, the leaders of the Jews and the people to come back to him. 14 He said to them, ‘You brought this man to me. You said that he was causing the people to fight against their rulers. Listen! I have asked him some questions in front of you. But I have not found that he has done anything wrong. 15 Herod also did not find that he had done anything wrong. That is why he has sent him back to me. You can see this. He has not done anything bad that means he ought to die. 16 So I will just punish him. I will command a soldier to hit him with whips. Then I will let him go.’

17 [Pilate usually let one person go free out of the prison at Passover time.] [ c ]

18 But the crowd all shouted together, ‘Take this man away and kill him! We want Barabbas to go free.’

19 Barabbas had fought against the Roman rulers in Jerusalem. He had also killed somebody. That is why the rulers had put him in prison. 20 But Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go. So he spoke to the crowd again. 21 But they continued to shout. They were shouting, ‘Kill him on a cross, kill him on a cross.’ [ d ]

22 Pilate asked them the same question for the third time. ‘Why should I kill him? What wrong things has he done? You want me to say that he should die. But I have not found anything wrong that would cause me to say that. So I will punish him. I will command my soldiers to hit him with a whip. Then I will let him go.’

23 But they continued to shout at Pilate, ‘Kill him on a cross.’ They continued to shout very much. So, in the end, 24 Pilate did what they wanted. 25 They had asked Pilate to let Barabbas go free out of the prison. He was the man that had caused the Jewish people to fight against the Roman rulers. He had also killed somebody. He was the man that Pilate let go free. As for Jesus, Pilate commanded the soldiers to take him away. He let the people do to him what they wanted.

They kill Jesus on a cross

26 So the soldiers took Jesus away, to go to the place where they would kill him. On the way, they took hold of a man called Simon. This man was from the town of Cyrene. He was coming in from outside the city. The soldiers took the cross that Jesus was carrying on his shoulders. They made Simon carry it instead as he walked behind Jesus.

27 A very large crowd of people were following Jesus. There were many women among them. They were crying with loud voices. They were weeping and crying because they were very sad. 28 So Jesus turned round and he said to them, ‘You women that live in Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Instead, cry for yourselves and for your children. 29 Listen! Days will come when people will say, “It is better for those women that could not have babies. Those women that never had babies to feed are the happy ones!” 30 People will begin to say, “It would be better if we were dead.” They will ask the mountains to fall on top of them. They will ask the hills to cover them up. 31 There is much trouble and pain now. But much worse things will happen! Now the fire burns slowly. But soon it will be like a fire that quickly burns dry wood!’ [ e ]

32 The soldiers also took two other men out of the prison. These men had done bad things. The soldiers would kill them and Jesus together. 33 They took them to the place that is called ‘The Skull’. There they fixed Jesus to a cross to die. They also fixed the two bad men to crosses. One of these men was on the right side of Jesus. The other was on his left side.

34 Jesus said, ‘Father, these people do not know what they are doing. So please forgive them.’

The soldiers then picked up Jesus' clothes for themselves. They played a game to decide who would receive each piece of his clothes. 35 The people stood there and they were watching. The Jewish leaders were laughing at Jesus. They said, ‘He saved other people, did he? Then he should save his own life! Then we will know that he is really the Messiah, the man that God has chosen.’

36 The soldiers also laughed at him. They came up to him and they offered him cheap wine to drink. 37 They said, ‘If you are really the King of the Jews, save your own life.’

38 There was also a notice fixed at the top of the cross. It said, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

39 One of the bad men on a cross at the side of Jesus started to insult him. He shouted, ‘You say that you are the Messiah, don't you? Then save your own life and save our lives too!’

40 But the bad man on the other cross told him that he should be quiet. He said, ‘You should be more afraid of God. We will die here, as well as him. 41 We two men have done very bad things. So it is right that we should die. But this man has not done anything wrong.’ 42 Then the man said to Jesus, ‘Remember me, Jesus, when you start to rule in your kingdom.’ 43 Jesus replied, ‘I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.’

Jesus dies

44 It was now about midday. The whole country became dark for three hours. 45 The sun did not give any light. Then the curtain inside the temple tore into two parts. 46 Then Jesus shouted loudly, ‘Father, I give my spirit to you.’ After he shouted this, he died.

47 There was a captain of the soldiers there. When he saw what had happened, he praised God. He said. ‘I am sure that this man had not done anything wrong.’

48 A very big crowd had come together to watch the men die. They saw what had happened. Then they began to go home. They were very sad, and they were hitting their own bodies with their hands. 49 The friends of Jesus were there. The women that had come with him from Galilee were also there. They were all standing a long way away. They also saw what happened to him.

Joseph buries Jesus

50 A man called Joseph was also there. He was one of a special group of important Jewish leaders. [ f ] He was a good man that wanted to do right things. 51 He was from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He had not agreed with the other leaders that Jesus should die. He was waiting for God to begin to rule his people in his kingdom.

52 So Joseph went to see Pilate. He asked Pilate for the dead body of Jesus. Pilate agreed to this. 53 Joseph then went to the place where Jesus died. He took the dead body down from the cross. He put a piece of linen cloth around the body. Then he put the body into a large hole in the rock. People had made that hole to put dead bodies in, but it was the first time that anyone had used it. [ g ]

54 This all happened on the day before the Jewish day of rest. It was nearly time for the Jewish day of rest to begin. [ h ]

Jesus becomes alive again

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the place where the hole in the rock was. They also saw Joseph put Jesus' body into the empty hole. 56 Then they returned to the house where they were staying in Jerusalem. They prepared spices and oil that had a beautiful smell. On the Jewish day of rest they obeyed God's Law and they did not work.

Footnotes

  1. 23:1 Pontius Pilate ruled over this part of the land that the Romans ruled. He ruled over Jerusalem.
  2. 23:7 Herod was a king and he ruled over the whole of Galilee. It was Herod that had killed John the Baptist.
  3. 23:17 Verse 17 is not in many copies of Luke.
  4. 23:21 Roman rulers fixed bad people to a big cross made from wood, to kill them.
  5. 23:31 Again, Jesus is telling the people that enemies will soon destroy Jerusalem. Jesus is like a tree that is alive. He has not done anything wrong. But still the Romans will kill him on a cross. The bad people in Jerusalem are like dry wood. They have done many wrong things. The Romans will do worse things to them.
  6. 23:50 This was the same group that asked Jesus questions. They had wanted Pilate to kill Jesus.
  7. 23:53 At that time, they put dead bodies in a hole in a rock. Then the family and friends closed the front with a big stone.
  8. 23:54 For the Jews, the end of a day was when the sun went down, at about six o'clock in the evening. Then the next day began.

Governor Pilate Questions Jesus ( A )

23 Then the whole group stood up and led Jesus away to Pilate. 2 They began to accuse Jesus and said to Pilate, “We caught this man trying to change the thinking of our people. He says we should not pay taxes to Caesar. He calls himself the Messiah, a king.”

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

Jesus answered, “Yes, what you say is true.”

4 Pilate said to the leading priests and the people, “I find nothing wrong with this man.”

5 But they kept on saying, “His teaching is causing trouble all over Judea. He began in Galilee, and now he is here!”

Pilate Sends Jesus to Herod

6 Pilate heard this and asked if Jesus was from Galilee. 7 He learned that Jesus was under Herod’s authority. Herod was in Jerusalem at that time, so Pilate sent Jesus to him.

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very happy. He had heard all about him and had wanted to meet him for a long time. Herod wanted to see a miracle, so he was hoping that Jesus would do one. 9 He asked him many questions, but Jesus said nothing. 10 The leading priests and teachers of the law were standing there shouting things against Jesus. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers laughed at him. They made fun of him by dressing him in clothes like kings wear. Then Herod sent him back to Pilate. 12 In the past Pilate and Herod had always been enemies. But on that day they became friends.

Pilate Tries but Fails to Free Jesus ( B )

13 Pilate called all the people together with the leading priests and the Jewish leaders. 14 He said to them, “You brought this man to me. You said he was trying to change the people. But I judged him before you all and have not found him guilty of the things you say he has done. 15 Herod didn’t find him guilty either. He sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing bad enough for the death penalty. 16 So, after I punish him a little, I will let him go free.” 17 [ a ]

18 But they all shouted, “Kill him! Let Barabbas go free!” 19 (Barabbas was a man who was in jail for starting a riot in the city and for murder.)

20 Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free. So again Pilate told them that he would let him go. 21 But they shouted again, “Kill him! Kill him on a cross!”

22 A third time Pilate said to the people, “Why? What wrong has he done? He is not guilty. I can find no reason to kill him. So I will let him go free after I punish him a little.”

23 But the people continued to shout. They demanded that Jesus be killed on a cross. Their shouting got so loud that 24 Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. 25 They wanted Barabbas to go free—the one who was in jail for starting a riot and for murder. Pilate let Barabbas go free. And he handed Jesus over to be killed. This is what the people wanted.

Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross ( C )

26 The soldiers led Jesus away. At that same time there was a man from Cyrene named Simon coming into the city from the fields. The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross and walk behind him.

27 A large crowd followed Jesus. Some of the women were sad and crying. They felt sorry for him. 28 But Jesus turned and said to the women, “Women of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children too. 29 The time is coming when people will say, ‘The women who cannot have babies are the ones God has blessed. It’s really a blessing that they have no children to care for.’ 30 Then the people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ They will say to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ [ b ] 31 If this can happen to someone who is good, what will happen to those who are guilty? [ c ] ”

32 There were also two criminals led out with Jesus to be killed. 33 They were led to a place called “The Skull.” There the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross. They also nailed the criminals to crosses beside Jesus—one on the right and the other on the left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” [ d ]

The soldiers threw dice to divide Jesus’ clothes between them. 35 The people stood there watching everything. The Jewish leaders laughed at Jesus. They said, “If he is God’s Chosen One, the Messiah, then let him save himself. He saved others, didn’t he?”

36 Even the soldiers laughed at Jesus and made fun of him. They came and offered him some sour wine. 37 They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 (At the top of the cross these words were written: “ this is the king of the jews .”)

39 One of the criminals hanging there began to shout insults at Jesus: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Then save yourself, and save us too!”

40 But the other criminal stopped him. He said, “You should fear God. All of us will die soon. 41 You and I are guilty. We deserve to die because we did wrong. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you begin ruling as king!”

43 Then Jesus said to him, “I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus Dies ( D )

44 It was about noon, but it turned dark throughout the land until three o’clock in the afternoon, 45 because the sun stopped shining. The curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces. 46 Jesus shouted, “Father, I put my life in your hands!” [ e ] After Jesus said this, he died.

47 The army officer there saw what happened. He praised God, saying, “I know this man was a good man!”

48 Many people had come out of the city to see all this. When they saw it, they felt very sorry and left. 49 The people who were close friends of Jesus were there. Also, there were some women who had followed Jesus from Galilee. They all stood far away from the cross and watched these things.

Jesus Is Buried ( E )

50-51 A man named Joseph was there from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a good man, who lived the way God wanted. He was waiting for God’s kingdom to come. Joseph was a member of the Jewish council. But he did not agree when the other Jewish leaders decided to kill Jesus. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in cloth. Then he put it in a tomb that was dug in a wall of rock. This tomb had never been used before. 54 It was late on Preparation day. When the sun went down, the Sabbath day would begin.

55 The women who had come from Galilee with Jesus followed Joseph. They saw the tomb. Inside they saw where he put Jesus’ body. 56 Then they left to prepare some sweet-smelling spices to put on the body.

On the Sabbath day they rested, as commanded in the Law of Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:17 A few Greek copies add verse 17: “Every year at the Passover festival, Pilate had to release one prisoner to the people.”
  2. Luke 23:30 Quote from Hos. 10:8 .
  3. Luke 23:31 If this can happen … guilty Literally, “If they do these things in the green tree, what will happen in the dry?”
  4. Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, … doing” Some early copies of Luke do not have these words.
  5. Luke 23:46 “I put … hands!” Literally, “I put my spirit in your hands.” Quote from Ps. 31:5.

23 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews .

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Jesus before Pilate

23 Then the entire assembly of them set out and ( A ) brought Him before Pilate. 2 ( B ) And they began to bring charges against Him, saying, “We found this man ( C ) misleading our nation and ( D ) forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is [ a ] Christ, a King.” 3 Now Pilate asked Him, saying, “ So You are the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “ ( E ) It is as you say.” 4 But Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “ ( F ) I find no grounds for charges in the case of this man.” 5 But they kept on insisting, saying, “He is stirring up the people, teaching all over Judea, ( G ) starting from Galilee, as far as this place!”

6 Now when Pilate heard this , he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to ( H ) Herod, [ b ] since he also was in Jerusalem [ c ] at this time.

Jesus before Herod

8 Now Herod was overjoyed when he saw Jesus; for ( I ) he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some [ d ] sign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him [ e ] at some length; but ( J ) He offered him no answer at all. 10 Now the chief priests and the scribes stood there , vehemently charging Him. 11 And Herod, together with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, ( K ) dressing Him in a brightly shining robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 And so ( L ) Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for previously, they had been enemies toward each other.

Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release

13 Now Pilate summoned to himself the chief priests, the [ f ] ( M ) rulers, and the people, 14 and he said to them, “You brought this man to me on the ground that ( N ) he is inciting the people to revolt; and behold, after examining Him before you, I ( O ) have found no basis at all in the case of this man for the charges which you are bringing against Him. 15 No, nor has ( P ) Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16 Therefore I will [ g ] ( Q ) punish Him and release Him.” 17 [ [ h ] Now he was obligated to release to them at the feast one prisoner .]

18 But they cried out all together, saying, “ ( R ) Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!” 19 ( He was one who had been thrown into prison for a revolt that took place in the city, and for murder.) 20 But Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept on crying out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22 And he said to them a third time, “Why, what has this man done wrong? I have found [ i ] in His case no grounds for a sentence of death; therefore I will [ j ] ( S ) punish Him and release Him.” 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices, demanding that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24 And so Pilate decided to have their demand carried out. 25 And he released the man for whom they were asking, who had been thrown into prison for a revolt and murder; but he handed Jesus over to their will.

Simon Carries the Cross

26 ( T ) And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of ( U ) Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

27 Now following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were [ k ] ( V ) mourning and grieving for Him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, days are coming when they will say, ‘ ( W ) Blessed are those who cannot bear, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to ( X ) say to the mountains , ‘ Fall on us ,’ and to the hills , ‘ Cover us .’ 31 For if they do these things [ l ] when the tree is green, what will happen [ m ] when it is dry?”

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

The Crucifixion

33 ( Z ) And when they came to the place called [ n ] The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 [ [ o ] But Jesus was saying, “ ( AA ) Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” ] ( AB ) And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, watching. And even the ( AC ) rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; ( AD ) let Him save Himself if this is the [ p ] Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also ridiculed Him, coming up to Him, ( AE ) offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “ ( AF ) If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “ ( AG ) THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

39 ( AH ) One of the criminals who were hanged there was [ q ] hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the [ r ] Christ? ( AI ) Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving [ s ] what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “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 ( AJ ) Paradise.”

44 ( AK ) It was now about [ t ] ( AL ) the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until [ u ] the ninth hour, 45 [ v ] because the sun stopped shining; and ( AM ) the veil of the temple was torn [ w ] in two. 46 And Jesus, ( AN ) crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, ( AO ) into Your hands I entrust My spirit .” And having said this, He [ x ] died. 47 ( AP ) Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began ( AQ ) praising God, saying, “This man was in fact [ y ] innocent.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, after watching what had happened, began to return home , [ z ] ( AR ) beating their chests. 49 ( AS ) And all His acquaintances and ( AT ) the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50 ( AU ) And a man named Joseph, who was a ( AV ) member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was ( AW ) waiting for the kingdom of God— 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And 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. 54 It was a [ aa ] ( AX ) preparation day, and a Sabbath was about to [ ab ] begin. 55 Now ( AY ) the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 And then they returned and ( AZ ) prepared spices and perfumes.

And ( BA ) on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:2 I.e., the Messiah
  2. Luke 23:7 Lit himself also being in
  3. Luke 23:7 Lit in these days
  4. Luke 23:8 I.e., confirming miracle
  5. Luke 23:9 Lit in considerable words
  6. Luke 23:13 I.e., other Jewish leaders
  7. Luke 23:16 I.e., by scourging
  8. Luke 23:17 Most early mss do not contain this v
  9. Luke 23:22 Lit in Him no
  10. Luke 23:22 I.e., by scourging
  11. Luke 23:27 Lit beating their breasts
  12. Luke 23:31 Lit in the green tree
  13. Luke 23:31 Lit in the dry
  14. Luke 23:33 Gr Kranion , Lat Calvaria (Calvary)
  15. Luke 23:34 Most early mss do not contain But Jesus was saying...doing
  16. Luke 23:35 I.e., Messiah
  17. Luke 23:39 Or blaspheming
  18. Luke 23:39 I.e., Messiah
  19. Luke 23:41 Lit things worthy of what we have done
  20. Luke 23:44 I.e., noon
  21. Luke 23:44 I.e., 3 p.m.
  22. Luke 23:45 Lit the sun failing
  23. Luke 23:45 Lit in the middle
  24. Luke 23:46 Lit expired
  25. Luke 23:47 Lit righteous
  26. Luke 23:48 I.e., as a traditional sign of mourning or contrition
  27. Luke 23:54 I.e., preparation for the Sabbath
  28. Luke 23:54 Lit dawn

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. ( A ) 2 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 )

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

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

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

5 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.”

6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. ( G ) 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, ( H ) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

8 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. 9 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
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