Jesus before Pilate

¹ Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate. ² And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”

³ So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

⁴ Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

⁵ But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

Jesus before Herod

⁶ When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷ And learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time.

⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle. ⁹ Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer.

¹⁰ Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him. ¹¹ And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

¹² That day Herod and Pilate became friends^*; before this time they had been enemies.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

¹³ Then 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 here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death. ¹⁶ Therefore I will punish^* Him and release Him.”

¹⁸ But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

²² A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish^* Him, I will release Him.”

²³ But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met. ²⁵ As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion

²⁶ As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and they put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.

²⁷ A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning 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 Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are^* the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ ³⁰ At that time

‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall^* on us!”

and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

³¹ For if men do these things while the tree^* is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

³² Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.

³³ When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.

³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

³⁶ The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.^*37 “If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”

³⁸ Above Him was posted an inscription:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember^* me when You come into Your kingdom!”

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today^* you will be with Me in Paradise.”^*

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁴ It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness^* came over all the land^* until the ninth hour.⁴⁵ The sun^* was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

⁴⁶ Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.”^* And when He had said this, He breathed His last.

⁴⁷ When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous^* man.” ⁴⁸ And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts. ⁴⁹ But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁰ Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea and was waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵² He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.

⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed. ⁵⁶ Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.