ESV 1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. MSG 1 Then they all took Jesus to Pilate ESV 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king." MSG 2 and began to bring up charges against him. They said, "We found this man undermining our law and order, forbidding taxes to be paid to Caesar, setting himself up as Messiah-King." ESV 3 And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so." MSG 3 Pilate asked him, "Is this true that you're 'King of the Jews'?" "Those are your words, not mine," Jesus replied. ESV 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man. MSG 4 Pilate told the high priests and the accompanying crowd, "I find nothing wrong here. He seems harmless enough to me. ESV 5 But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place." MSG 5 But they were vehement. "He's stirring up unrest among the people with his teaching, disturbing the peace everywhere, starting in Galilee and now all through Judea. He's a dangerous man, endangering the peace." ESV 6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. MSG 6 When Pilate heard that, he asked, "So, he's a Galilean?" ESV 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. MSG 7 Realizing that he properly came under Herod's jurisdiction, he passed the buck to Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem for a few days. ESV 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. MSG 8 Herod was delighted when Jesus showed up. He had wanted for a long time to see him, he'd heard so much about him. He hoped to see him do something spectacular. ESV 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. MSG 9 He peppered him with questions. Jesus didn't answer - not one word. ESV 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. MSG 10 But the high priests and religion scholars were right there, saying their piece, strident and shrill in their accusations. ESV 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. MSG 11 Mightily offended, Herod turned on Jesus. His soldiers joined in, taunting and jeering. Then they dressed him up in an elaborate king costume and sent him back to Pilate. ESV 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. MSG 12 That day Herod and Pilate became thick as thieves. Always before they had kept their distance. ESV 13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, MSG 13 Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others ESV 14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him MSG 14 and said, "You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge ESV 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. MSG 15 And neither did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a clean bill of health. It's clear that he's done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death. ESV 16 I will therefore punish and release him." MSG 16 I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go." ESV 18 But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"-- MSG 18 At that, the crowd went wild: "Kill him! Give us Barabbas!" ESV 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder MSG 19 (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder. ESV 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, MSG 20 Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again. ESV 21 but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him! MSG 21 But they kept shouting back, "Crucify! Crucify him! ESV 22 A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him." MSG 22 He tried a third time. "But for what crime? I've found nothing in him deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go." ESV 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. MSG 23 But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. ESV 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. MSG 24 Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. ESV 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. MSG 25 He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted. ESV 26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. MSG 26 As they led him off, they made Simon, a man from Cyrene who happened to be coming in from the countryside, carry the cross behind Jesus. ESV 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. MSG 27 A huge crowd of people followed, along with women weeping and carrying on. ESV 28 But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. MSG 28 At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. ESV 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' MSG 29 The time is coming when they'll say, 'Lucky the women who never conceived! Lucky the wombs that never gave birth! Lucky the breasts that never gave milk!' ESV 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' MSG 30 Then they'll start calling to the mountains, 'Fall down on us!' calling to the hills, 'Cover us up!' ESV 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" MSG 31 If people do these things to a live, green tree, can you imagine what they'll do with deadwood?" ESV 32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. MSG 32 Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution. ESV 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. MSG 33 When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left. ESV 34 And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. MSG 34 Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing." ESV 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" MSG 35 The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God - ha! The Chosen - ha!" ESV 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine MSG 36 The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine ESV 37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" MSG 37 "So you're King of the Jews! Save yourself!" ESV 38 There was also an inscription over him,"This is the King of the Jews. MSG 38 Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the jews ESV 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" MSG 39 One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!" ESV 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? MSG 40 But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. ESV 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." MSG 41 We deserve this, but not him - he did nothing to deserve this." ESV 42 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." MSG 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom." ESV 43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." MSG 43 He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise." ESV 44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, MSG 44 By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours - ESV 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. MSG 45 a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. ESV 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. MSG 46 Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last. ESV 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!" MSG 47 When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: "This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!" ESV 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. MSG 48 All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home. ESV 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. MSG 49 Those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil. ESV 50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, MSG 50 There was a man by the name of Joseph, a member of the Jewish High Council, a man of good heart and good character. ESV 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. MSG 51 He had not gone along with the plans and actions of the council. His hometown was the Jewish village of Arimathea. ESV 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. MSG 52 He lived in alert expectation of the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ESV 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. MSG 53 Taking him down, he wrapped him in a linen shroud and placed him in a tomb chiseled into the rock, a tomb never yet used. ESV 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. MSG 54 It was the day before Sabbath, the Sabbath just about to begin. ESV 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. MSG 55 The women who had been companions of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They saw the tomb where Jesus' body was placed. ESV 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. MSG 56 Then they went back to prepare burial spices and perfumes. They rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded.
MSG 1 Then they all took Jesus to Pilate MSG 2 and began to bring up charges against him. They said, "We found this man undermining our law and order, forbidding taxes to be paid to Caesar, setting himself up as Messiah-King." MSG 3 Pilate asked him, "Is this true that you're 'King of the Jews'?" "Those are your words, not mine," Jesus replied. MSG 4 Pilate told the high priests and the accompanying crowd, "I find nothing wrong here. He seems harmless enough to me. MSG 5 But they were vehement. "He's stirring up unrest among the people with his teaching, disturbing the peace everywhere, starting in Galilee and now all through Judea. He's a dangerous man, endangering the peace." MSG 6 When Pilate heard that, he asked, "So, he's a Galilean?" MSG 7 Realizing that he properly came under Herod's jurisdiction, he passed the buck to Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem for a few days. MSG 8 Herod was delighted when Jesus showed up. He had wanted for a long time to see him, he'd heard so much about him. He hoped to see him do something spectacular. MSG 9 He peppered him with questions. Jesus didn't answer - not one word. MSG 10 But the high priests and religion scholars were right there, saying their piece, strident and shrill in their accusations. MSG 11 Mightily offended, Herod turned on Jesus. His soldiers joined in, taunting and jeering. Then they dressed him up in an elaborate king costume and sent him back to Pilate. MSG 12 That day Herod and Pilate became thick as thieves. Always before they had kept their distance. MSG 13 Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others MSG 14 and said, "You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge MSG 15 And neither did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a clean bill of health. It's clear that he's done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death. MSG 16 I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go." MSG 18 At that, the crowd went wild: "Kill him! Give us Barabbas!" MSG 19 (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder. MSG 20 Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again. MSG 21 But they kept shouting back, "Crucify! Crucify him! MSG 22 He tried a third time. "But for what crime? I've found nothing in him deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go." MSG 23 But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. MSG 24 Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. MSG 25 He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted. MSG 26 As they led him off, they made Simon, a man from Cyrene who happened to be coming in from the countryside, carry the cross behind Jesus. MSG 27 A huge crowd of people followed, along with women weeping and carrying on. MSG 28 At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. MSG 29 The time is coming when they'll say, 'Lucky the women who never conceived! Lucky the wombs that never gave birth! Lucky the breasts that never gave milk!' MSG 30 Then they'll start calling to the mountains, 'Fall down on us!' calling to the hills, 'Cover us up!' MSG 31 If people do these things to a live, green tree, can you imagine what they'll do with deadwood?" MSG 32 Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution. MSG 33 When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left. MSG 34 Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing." MSG 35 The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God - ha! The Chosen - ha!" MSG 36 The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine MSG 37 "So you're King of the Jews! Save yourself!" MSG 38 Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the jews MSG 39 One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!" MSG 40 But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. MSG 41 We deserve this, but not him - he did nothing to deserve this." MSG 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom." MSG 43 He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise." MSG 44 By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours - MSG 45 a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. MSG 46 Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last. MSG 47 When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: "This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!" MSG 48 All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home. MSG 49 Those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil. MSG 50 There was a man by the name of Joseph, a member of the Jewish High Council, a man of good heart and good character. MSG 51 He had not gone along with the plans and actions of the council. His hometown was the Jewish village of Arimathea. MSG 52 He lived in alert expectation of the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. MSG 53 Taking him down, he wrapped him in a linen shroud and placed him in a tomb chiseled into the rock, a tomb never yet used. MSG 54 It was the day before Sabbath, the Sabbath just about to begin. MSG 55 The women who had been companions of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They saw the tomb where Jesus' body was placed. MSG 56 Then they went back to prepare burial spices and perfumes. They rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded.