Luke 23
Jesus Faces Pilate
1Then their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate.2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”3So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.”
4Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds for charging this man.”
5But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he started even to here.”
Jesus Faces Herod Antipas
6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.7Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he 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 was hoping to see some miracle performed by him.9So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.11Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked him, dressed him in bright clothing, and sent him back to Pilate.12That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. Previously, they had been enemies.Jesus or Barabbas
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,14and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people. But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse him of.15Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death.16Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”17Then they all cried out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!”18(He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
19Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again,20but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
21A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”
22But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices won out.23So Pilate decided to grant their demand24and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.
The Way to the Cross
25As they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.26A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him.27But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.28Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’29Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us! ’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 30For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”Crucified between Two Criminals
31Two others — criminals — were also led away to be executed with him.32When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.33Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.34The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”35The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine36and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”
37An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews.
38Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
39But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?40We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”41Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
42And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
43It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three,44because the sun’s light failed. The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle.45And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” Saying this, he breathed his last.46When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!”47All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.48But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.