Luke 23:2-34, 44-56 (Gospel)
- 2
- And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”
- 3
- Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”
- 4
- So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.”
- 5
- But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”
- 6
- When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean.
- 7
- And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
- 8
- Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.
- 9
- Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.
- 10
- And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.
- 11
- Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.
- 12
- That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
- 13
- Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,
- 14
- said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him;
- 15
- no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.
- 16
- I will therefore chastise Him and release Him”
- 17
- (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).
- 18
- And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas” –
- 19
- who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
- 20
- Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.
- 21
- But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
- 22
- Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”
- 23
- But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.
- 24
- So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.
- 25
- And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
- 26
- Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.
- 27
- And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.
- 28
- But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
- 29
- For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’
- 30
- 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 in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”
- 32
- There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.
- 33
- And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
- 34
- Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
- 44
- Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
- 45
- Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
- 46
- And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.
- 47
- So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”
- 48
- And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.
- 49
- But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
- 50
- Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man.
- 51
- He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.
- 52
- This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
- 53
- Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.
- 54
- That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.
- 55
- And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.
- 56
- Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.