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Jesus Faces Pilate

¹ Then^(C1) their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. ² They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes^(C1) to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”

³ So Pilate asked him,^(C1) “Are you the king of the Jews?” ^(C2)

He answered him, “You say so.”^(F1)

⁴ Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds^(C1) for charging this man.”

⁵ But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people,^(C1) teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee^(C2) where he started even to here.”

Jesus Faces Herod Antipas

⁶ When Pilate^(C1) heard this,^(F1) he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷ Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,^(C1) who was also in Jerusalem during those days. ⁸ Herod 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^(F1) performed by him. ⁹ So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.^{(C1) 10} The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked^(C1) him, dressed him in bright clothing,^(C2) and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.^(F1)(C1) Previously, they had been enemies.

Jesus or Barabbas

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,^{(C1) 14} and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people.^(C1) But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds^(C2) to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will have him whipped^(F1)(C1) and then release him.”^(F2)

¹⁸ Then^(C1) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!^(C2) Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus,^(C1) Pilate addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

²² A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?^(C1) I have found in him no grounds^(C2) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”

²³ But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices^(F1) won out. ²⁴ So^(C1) Pilate decided to grant their demand^{(C2) 25} and 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.^(C1)

The Way to the Cross

²⁶ As^(C1) they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian,^(C2) who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross^(C3) on him to carry behind Jesus. ²⁷ A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him.^{(C1) 28} But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem,²⁹ Look, the days are coming³⁰ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ ³¹ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Crucified between Two Criminals

³² Two others—criminals^(C1)—were also led away to be executed with him. ³³ When^(C1) 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. ³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father,

³⁵ The^(C1) people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing:^(C2) “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” ^{(C3) 36} The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine^{(C1) 37} and said, “If you are the King of the Jews,^(C1) save yourself!”

³⁸ An inscription was above him:^(F1) This

³⁹ Then^(C1) one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at^(F1) him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God,^(C1) since you are undergoing the same punishment? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”^{(C1) 42} Then he said, “Jesus, remember me^(F1)(C1) when you come into your kingdom.”^(C2)

⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁴ It^(C1) was now about noon,^(F1) and darkness came over the whole land^(F2) until three,^{(F3) 45} because the sun’s light failed.^(F1) The curtain^(C1) of the sanctuary was split down the middle. ⁴⁶ And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.”

⁴⁷ When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify^(C1) God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” ^{(F1) 48} All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.^{(C1) 49} But^(C1) all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance,^(C2) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁰ There^(C1) was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, ⁵¹ who had not agreed with their plan^(C1) and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.^{(C2) 52} He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. ⁵³ Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.^{(F1)(C1) 54} It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.^{(F1) 55} The women^(C1) who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed. ⁵⁶ Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.^(C1) And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.^(C2)