Read the Bible

¹ At length the whole assembly broke up, and Jesus was conducted to Pilate: ² and thus they began their charge, we found this man subverting our nation, opposing the giving tribute to Cesar, asserting that he himself is Christ the king. ³ then Pilate ask'd him, art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answer'd him, 'tis as you say. ⁴ at last Pilate said to the chief priests, and to the people, I don't find any crime in this man. ⁵ but they were the more vehement, saying, he promotes sedition by speading such doctrine thro' all Judea, from Galilee to this place. ⁶ when Pilate heard of Galilee, he ask'd whether the man were a Galilean. ⁷ and finding that he belong'd to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was then likewise at Jerusalem. ⁸ When Herod saw Jesus he was extremely pleased; for he had long desired to see him, having heard much of him, and hoped to see him perform some miracle. ⁹ he plyed him therefore with many interrogatories, ¹⁰ but Jesus made him no answer, tho' the chief priests and Scribes maintain'd their charge with vehemence. ¹¹ then Herod and his retinue treated him with contempt, and in derision sent him back magnificently dress'd to Pilate. ¹² and from that day the enmity that had been between Pilate and Herod ended in friendship.

¹³ Pilate having order'd the chief priests, the senators, and people to appear, he said to them, ¹⁴ you have represented this man to me as one that was stirring up the people to a revolt: you see I have examin'd him in your presence; yet I don't find he is guilty of the crimes you have laid to his charge: no, nor even Herod; ¹⁵ for I referr'd you to him, and you see nothing that is capital, has been made out against him. ¹⁶ I will therefore order him to be whipp'd, and then release him. ¹⁷ now as it was customary for the governor to release one of the prisoners at the feast; ¹⁸ all the people cry'd out, let this man die, and release to us Barabbas. ¹⁹ Barabbas had been imprison'd for murder in a riot he had rais'd in the city. ²⁰ Pilate therefore, desirous to release Jesus, expostulated with them again. ²¹ but they cry'd out, crucify him, crucify him. ²² however he urg'd it a third time, why, what crime has he done? I don't find he has done any thing that deserves death: I will therefore order him to be whipp'd, and so dismiss him. ²³ but they persisted with great clamour in their demands, to have him crucified: and as the people and chief priests redoubled their clamours, ²⁴ Pilate determin'd to grant their request. ²⁵ accordingly he discharg'd the prisoner they desired, him that was committed for riot and murder; but he abandon'd Jesus to their discretion.

²⁶ As they were conducting him to execution, they seiz'd upon one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming to town, and oblig'd him to carry the cross after Jesus, ²⁷ who was followed by a great crowd of people, and several women, who beat their breasts and lamented him. ²⁸ but Jesus turn'd about and said to them, daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for your selves, and for your children. ²⁹ for now the time is coming, when it will be said, happy are the barren, and they who never bare, happy the breast, that never gave suck. ³⁰ then shall they cry to the mountains, fall on us; and to the hills, cover us. ³¹ for if the green wood burn thus, how will the dry wood flame?

³² At the same time, two malefactors were led along to be crucified with Jesus. ³³ accordingly, when they came to the place call'd Calvary, they crucified him there, and the two malefactors; the one at his right, the other at his left. ³⁴ and Jesus said, "father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." then they divided his raiment among them by throwing lots, ³⁵ while the people who stood looking on, and the senators themselves contemptuously said, he sav'd others; if he be Christ, the elect of God, let him save himself. ³⁶ the soldiers too, who came to bring him vinegar, insulted him, ³⁷ saying, if thou art the king of the Jews, save thy self. ³⁸ they likewise put the following inscription over his head, in Greek, in Latin, and in Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. ³⁹ Now one of the malefactors, that was crucified with him, impiously said, if thou art the Christ, save thy self, and us. ⁴⁰ but the other answered, and thus reprov'd him, art thou under no awe of God, thou that art condemned to the same punishment? ⁴¹ as for us, it is with justice, that we suffer the penalty due to our crimes: but as for him, what misdemeanour has he been guilty of? ⁴² then said he to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you enter into your kingdom. ⁴³ Jesus answer'd, verily I tell you, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

⁴⁴ About the sixth hour, it was dark all over the land till the ninth hour. ⁴⁵ the sun was obscured, and the veil of the temple was rent in two. ⁴⁶ and Jesus cryed with a loud voice, saying, father, into thy hands I commend my spirit; and in pronouncing these words, he expired. ⁴⁷ The centurion upon seeing what had happen'd, gave glory to God, and said, certainly this was a righteous man. ⁴⁸ and all the people that had crowded to that sight, went home striking their breasts at the thoughts of those events. ⁴⁹ As for his acquaintance, they all stood at a distance, with the women that followed him from Galilee, and were spectators during the whole transaction.

⁵⁰ There was likewise present a counsellor, named Joseph, a man of probity and justice, one who had never abetted the contrivances and proceedings of the Jews. ⁵¹ he was of Arimathea, a city of Judea, and one of those, who were in expectation of the Messiah's reign. ⁵² this very man went to Pilate, and begg'd the body of Jesus. ⁵³ and he took it down, and wrapp'd it in linnen, and laid it in a sepulchre, hewn out of a rock, wherein nobody had ever yet been deposited. ⁵⁴ now that day was the preparation, and the sabbath then drew on. ⁵⁵ the women therefore, who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee, followed Joseph, to the sepulchre, to see how the body was disposed of. ⁵⁶ then they went home, and provided spices and perfumes: after which they rested the sabbath-day, as the law appointed.