Luke 23

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod

1The whole assembly got up and led Jesus to Pilate. 2They began accusing him: “We found this man misleading our nation, forbidding payment of tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “You say so.” 4Pilate said to the chief priests and crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5But they insisted, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee all the way here.” 6When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7Learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, Pilate sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. 8Herod was very glad to see Jesus. For a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him, and he hoped to see Jesus perform some sign. 9Herod questioned him at length, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and scribes stood there accusing him forcefully. 11Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and mocked him. They dressed him in splendid clothing and sent him back to Pilate. 12Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day; before this they had been enemies.

Pilate Hands Jesus Over

13Pilate called together the chief priests, rulers, and people 14and said, “You brought me this man as one who misleads the people. Look, I examined him in front of you and found no guilt in him concerning the charges you bring. 15Neither did Herod, because he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing deserving death. 16Therefore I will have him punished and release him.” 18But they all cried out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!” 19Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city and for murder. 20Pilate addressed them again because he wanted to release Jesus, 21but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!” 22A third time Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found no reason for a death sentence. Therefore I will have him punished and release him.” 23But they pressed him with loud voices, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they requested, but he handed Jesus over to their will.

The Way to the Cross

26As they led Jesus away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the countryside, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. 27A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him. 28Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Weep for yourselves and for your children. 29Look, days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the women unable to have children, the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30Then they will begin saying to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 31For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32Two others, both criminals, were also led away with him to be executed.

Jesus Is Crucified

33When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Jesus there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” Then they divided his clothing by casting lots. 35The people stood watching. The rulers sneered at him: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Christ, the Chosen One.” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine. 37They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38There was also an inscription over him: “This is the king of the Jews.” 39One of the criminals hanging there insulted him: “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him: “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, because we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus Dies

44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 45The sun’s light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn down the middle. 46Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” After saying this, he breathed his last. 47When the centurion saw what happened, he glorified God and said, “Certainly this man was righteous.” 48All the crowds who had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what happened, returned home beating their chests. 49All Jesus’ acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50Look—there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and righteous man. 51He had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Jewish town, and he was waiting for God’s kingdom. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53He took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth, and placed him in a tomb cut from rock where no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.