‏ Luke 23

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] .” ▼

▼See Matthew 27:15 and Mark 15:6. BYZ and TR include 17 Now Pilate was obligated to release to the people one prisoner at the feast.

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 ▼

▼BYZ and TR include and that of the chief priests

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 surrendered Jesus 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] 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 ‘vvv they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ ▼

▼Hosea 10:8

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.” ▼

▼Some manuscripts do not include Then Jesus said ... what they are doing

And they divided up His garments by casting lots. ▼

▼Psalm 22:18

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: ▼

▼BYZ and TR include written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew

[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.” ▼

▼Psalm 31:5

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 taken place, 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 [the] Preparation Day, and [the] Sabbath was just 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.