Study Desk

Then^(a) their whole assembly rose up and brought Him before Pilate.

They began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man subverting our nation, opposing payment of taxes^(b) to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is the Messiah, a King."

So Pilate asked Him,^(c) "Are You the King of the Jews?"^(d) He answered him, "You have said it." ^[a]

Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no grounds^(e) for charging this man."

But they kept insisting, "He stirs up the people,^(f) teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee^(g) where He started even to here."

When Pilate^(h) heard this,^[b] he asked if the man was a Galilean.

Finding that He was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod,⁽ⁱ⁾ who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

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^[c] performed by Him.

So he kept asking Him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.^(j)

The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Him.

Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt, mocked^(k) Him, dressed Him in a brilliant robe,^(l) and sent Him back to Pilate.

That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.^[d](m) Previously, they had been hostile toward each other.

Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,⁽ⁿ⁾

and said to them, "You have brought me this man as one who subverts the people.^(o) But in fact, after examining Him in your presence, I have found no grounds^(p) to charge this man with those things you accuse Him of.

Neither has Herod, because he sent Him back to us. Clearly, He has done nothing to deserve death.

Therefore, I will have Him whipped^[e](q) and then release Him."

[For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.]^[f](r)

Then^(s) they all cried out together, "Take this man away!^(t) Release Barabbas to us!"

(He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

Pilate, wanting to release Jesus,^(u) addressed them again,

but they kept shouting, "Crucify! Crucify Him!"

A third time he said to them, "Why? What has this man done wrong?^(v) I have found in Him no grounds^(w) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have Him whipped and then release Him."

But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices^[g] won out.

So^(x) Pilate decided to grant their demand^(y)

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.^(z)

As^(aa) they led Him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian,^(ab) who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross^(ac) on him to carry behind Jesus.

A large crowd of people followed Him, including women who were mourning and lamenting Him.^(ad)

But turning to them, Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem,^(ae) do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children.

Look, the days are coming^(af) when they will say, ‘The women without children, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed, are fortunate!'^(ag)

Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!' and to the hills, ‘Cover us!' ^(ah)[h]

For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" ^(ai)

Two others—criminals^(aj)—were also led away to be executed with Him.

When^(ak) 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.

[Then Jesus said, "Father,^(al) forgive^(am) them, because they do not know what they are doing."^(an) ]^[i] And they divided His clothes and cast lots.^(ao)

The^(ap) people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing:^(aq) "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God's Messiah, the Chosen One!"^(ar)

The soldiers also mocked Him. They came offering Him sour wine^(as)

and said, "If You are the King of the Jews,^(at) save Yourself!"

An inscription was above Him:^[j] THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then^(au) one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at^[k] Him: "Aren't You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!"

But the other answered, rebuking him: "Don't you even fear God,^(av) since you are undergoing the same punishment?

We are punished justly, because we're getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong."^(aw)

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me^[l](ax) when You come into Your kingdom!"^(ay)

And He said to him, "I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise." ^(az)

It^(ba) was now about noon,^[m] and darkness came over the whole land^[n] until three,^[o]

because the sun's light failed.^[p] The curtain^(bb) of the sanctuary was split down the middle.

And Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit. " ^(bc)[q] Saying this, He breathed His last.

When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify^(bd) God, saying, "This man really was righteous!"

All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.^[r](be)

But^(bf) all who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance,^(bg) watching these things.

There^(bh) was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin,

who had not agreed with their plan^(bi) and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.^(bj)

He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.

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.^[s](bk)

It was preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.^[t]

The women^(bl) who had come with Him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how His body was placed.

Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.^(bm) And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.^(bn)

On^(a) the first day of the week,^(b) very early in the morning, they^[a] came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

They went in but did not find the body^(c) of the Lord Jesus.^(d)

While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling^(e) clothes.

So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.^[b] "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?" asked the men.

"He is not here, but He has been resurrected!^(f) Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,^(g)

saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed^(h) into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise⁽ⁱ⁾ on the third day' ?"

And they remembered His words.

Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven^(j) and to all the rest.

Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James,^(k) and the other women with them were telling the apostles^(l) these things.

But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe^(m) the women.

Peter,⁽ⁿ⁾ however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths.^[c](o) So he went home, amazed^(p) at what had happened.

Now^(q) that same day two of them were on their way to a village called^[d] Emmaus, which was about seven miles^[e](r) from Jerusalem.^(s)

Together they were discussing everything that had taken place.

And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus Himself came near and began to walk along with them.

But they^[f] were prevented from recognizing Him.^(t)

Then He asked them, "What is this dispute that you're having^[g] with each other as you are walking?" And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.

The one named Cleopas answered Him, "Are You the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that happened there in these days?"^(u)

"What things?" He asked them. So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,^(v) who was a Prophet^(w) powerful in action and speech^(x) before God and all the people,^(y)

and how our chief priests and leaders^(z) handed Him over to be sentenced to death,^(aa) and they crucified Him.^(ab)

But we were hoping that He was the One who was about to redeem^(ac) Israel. Besides all this, it's the third day^(ad) since these things happened.

Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb,

and when they didn't find His body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.

Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn't see Him."^(ae)

He said to them, "How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! ^(af)

Didn't the Messiah have to suffer^(ag) these things and enter into His glory?" ^(ah)

Then beginning with Moses^(ai) and all the Prophets,^(aj) He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.^(ak)

They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther.^(al)

But they urged Him: "Stay with us, because it's almost evening, and now the day is almost over." So He went in to stay with them.

It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke^(am) it, and gave it to them.

Then their eyes were opened,^(an) and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight.^(ao)

So they said to each other, "Weren't our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures^(ap) to us?"

That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven^(aq) and those with them gathered together,

who said,^[h] "The Lord has certainly been raised, and has appeared to Simon!"^(ar)

Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.^(as)

And^(at) as they were saying these things, He Himself stood among them. He said to them, "Peace^(au) to you!"

But they were startled and terrified^(av) and thought they were seeing a ghost.^(aw)

"Why are you troubled?" ^(ax) He asked them. "And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself!^(ay) Touch Me and see,^(az) because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have."

Having said this, He showed them His hands and feet.

But while they still were amazed and unbelieving because of their joy, He asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"

So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish,^[i]

and He took it and ate in their presence.

Then He told them, "These are My words^(ba) that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,^(bb) and the Psalms^(bc) must be fulfilled."

Then He opened their minds^(bd) to understand^(be) the Scriptures.

He also said to them, "This is what is written:^[j] The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, ^(bf)

and repentance for^[k] forgiveness of sins^(bg) would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations,^(bh) beginning at Jerusalem. ^(bi)

You are witnesses^(bj) of these things.

And look, I am sending you^[l] what My Father promised.^(bk) As for you, stay in the city^[m] until you are empowered ^[n](bl) from on high."

Then He led them out as far as Bethany,^(bm) and lifting up His hands^(bn) He blessed them.

And while He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven.^(bo)

After worshiping Him,^(bp) they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.^(bq)

And they were continually in the temple complex praising God.^[o](br)