23:1 Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate.
23:2 They brought charges against him, saying, "We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Messiah, a king."
23:3 Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so."
23:4 Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, "I find this man not guilty."
23:5 But they were adamant and said, "He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here."
23:6 On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean;
23:7 and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.
23:8 Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign.
23:9 He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer.
23:10 The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly.
23:11 (Even) Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate.
23:12 Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly.
23:13 Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people
23:14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him,
23:15 nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him.
23:16 Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him."
23:17 NO CONTENT
23:18 But all together they shouted out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us."
23:19 (Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.)
23:20 Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus,
23:21 but they continued their shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
23:22 Pilate addressed them a third time, "What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him."
23:23 With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed.
23:24 The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.
23:25 So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.
23:26 As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.
23:27 A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him.
23:28 Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children,
23:29 for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.'
23:30 At that time people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'
23:31 for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?"
23:32 Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.
23:33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.
23:34 (Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.") They divided his garments by casting lots.
23:35 The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God."
23:36 Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine
23:37 they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."
23:38 Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews."
23:39 Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us."
23:40 The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?
23:41 And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal."
23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
23:43 He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
23:44 It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon
23:45 because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
23:46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last.
23:47 The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, "This man was innocent beyond doubt."
23:48 When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts;
23:49 but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.
23:50 Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council,
23:51 had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God.
23:52 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
23:53 After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried.
23:54 It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin.
23:55 The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it,
23:56 they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.