Luke 22; Luke 23

Luke 22

1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,

2 and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they feared the people.

3 Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve.

4 And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them.

5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money.

6 Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed.

8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

9 “Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked.

10 He answered, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters,

11 and say to the owner of that house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’

12 And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.”

13 So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover.

14 When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles.

15 And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.

16 For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

17 After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves.

18 For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

20 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

21 Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table.

22 Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.”

23 Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.

24 A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

25 So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors.

26 But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.

27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

28 You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials.

29 And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me,

30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat.

32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 “Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”

34 But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.

36 “Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.

37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38 So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” He answered.

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.

40 When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”

41 And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed,

42 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.

44 And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

46 “Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.”

47 While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him.

48 But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”

50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw?

53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on Me. But this hour belongs to you and to the power of darkness.”

54 Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.

55 When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

56 A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said.

57 But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said.

58 A short time later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”

59 About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.”

60 “Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”

62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

63 The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.

64 They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?”

65 And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.

66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said,

67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe.

68 And if I ask you a question, you will not answer.

69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

70 So they all asked, “Are You then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”

71 “Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.”

Luke 23

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.