Luke 23 (New American Standard)

Jesus before Pilate

1 Then the whole body of them got up and ¹brought Him before Pilate. 2 ²And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man ³misleading our nation and ⁴forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is ^aChrist, a King." 3 So Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews ?" And He answered him and said, "⁵It is as you say." 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "⁶I find no guilt in this man." 5 But they kept on insisting, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, ⁷starting from Galilee even as far as this place." 6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to ⁸Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem ^bat that time.

Jesus before Herod

8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus ; for ⁹he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some ^csign performed by Him. 9 And he questioned Him ^dat some length ; but ¹⁰He answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, ¹¹dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 Now ¹²Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day ; for before they had been enemies with each other.

Pilate Seeks Jesus' Release

13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the ¹³rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one who ¹⁴incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I ¹⁵have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. 15 "No, nor has ¹⁶Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16 "Therefore I will ¹⁷punish Him and release Him." 17 [^eNow he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.] 18 But they cried out all together, saying, "¹⁸Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas !" 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept on calling out, saying, "Crucify, crucify Him!" 22 And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has this man done ? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death ; therefore I will ¹⁹punish Him and release Him." 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Simon Bears the Cross

26 ²⁰When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of ²¹Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus. 27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were ^f22mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 "For behold, the days are coming when they will say, '²³Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' 30 "Then they will begin TO ²⁴SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, 'FALL ON US,' AND TO THE HILLS, 'COVER US.' 31 "For if they do these things ^gwhen the tree is green, what will happen ^hwhen it is dry ?" 32 ²⁵Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.

The Crucifixion

33 ²⁶When they came to the place called ⁱThe Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 ^jBut Jesus was saying, "²⁷Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." ²⁸And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the ²⁹rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others ; ³⁰let Him save Himself if this is the ^kChrist of God, His Chosen One." 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, ³¹offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, "³²If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself !" 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, "³³THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." 39 ³⁴One of the criminals who were hanged there was ^lhurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the ^mChrist ? ³⁵Save Yourself and us!" 40 But the other answered, 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 ⁿwhat we deserve for our deeds ; but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come ^oin Your kingdom !" 43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in ³⁶Paradise." 44 ³⁷It was now about ^p38the sixth hour, and darkness ^qfell over the whole land until ^rthe ninth hour, 45 ^sbecause the sun was obscured ; and ³⁹the veil of the temple was torn ^tin two. 46 And Jesus, ⁴⁰crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, ⁴¹INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 ⁴²Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began ⁴³praising God, saying, "Certainly this man was ^uinnocent." 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, ^v44beating their breasts. 49 ⁴⁵And all His acquaintances and ⁴⁶the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50 ⁴⁷And a man named Joseph, who was a ⁴⁸member 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 ⁴⁹waiting 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 ⁵⁰the ^wpreparation day, and the Sabbath was about to ^xbegin. 55 Now ⁵¹the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and ⁵²prepared spices and perfumes. And ⁵³ on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.