| 1. | Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. |
| 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." |
| 3. | Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." |
| 4. | Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, "I find this man not guilty." |
| 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." |
| 6. | On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; |
| 7. | and upon learning that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. |
| 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. |
| 9. | He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. |
| 10. | The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. |
| 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. |
| 12. | Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. |
| 13. | Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people |
| 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, |
| 15. | nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. |
| 16. | Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him." |
| 17. | . |
| 18. | But all together they shouted out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us." |
| 19. | (Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.) |
| 20. | Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, |
| 21. | but they continued their shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" |
| 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. | With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. |
| 24. | The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 27. | A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. |
| 28. | Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, |
| 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.' |
| 30. | At that time people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' |
| 31. | for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?" |
| 32. | Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed. |
| 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. |
| 34. | (Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.") They divided his garments by casting lots. |
| 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." |
| 36. | Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine |
| 37. | they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself." |
| 38. | Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews." |
| 39. | Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us." |
| 40. | The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? |
| 41. | And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." |
| 42. | Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." |
| 43. | He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." |
| 44. | It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon |
| 45. | because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. |
| 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. |
| 47. | The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, "This man was innocent beyond doubt." |
| 48. | When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; |
| 49. | but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events. |
| 50. | Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, |
| 51. | had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. |
| 52. | He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. |
| 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. |
| 54. | It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin. |
| 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, |
| 56. | they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment. |
