1Then the whole group got up and led Jesus off to Pilate.2They began to bring charges against Jesus. They said, ‘We have found this man misleading our people. He is against paying taxes to Caesar. And he claims to be Messiah, a king.’3So Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied.4Then Pilate spoke to the chief priests and the crowd. He announced, ‘I find no basis for a charge against this man.’5But they kept it up. They said, ‘His teaching stirs up the people all over Judea. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.’6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was from Galilee.7He learned that Jesus was from Herod’s area of authority. So Pilate sent Jesus to Herod. At that time Herod was also in Jerusalem.8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very pleased. He had been wanting to see Jesus for a long time. He had heard much about him. He hoped to see Jesus perform a sign of some kind.9Herod asked him many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there. With loud shouts they brought charges against him.11Herod and his soldiers laughed at him and made fun of him. They dressed him in a beautiful robe. Then they sent him back to Pilate.12That day Herod and Pilate became friends. Before this time they had been enemies.13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people.14He said to them, ‘You brought me this man. You said he was turning the people against the authorities. I have questioned him in front of you. I have found no basis for your charges against him.15Herod hasn’t either. So he sent Jesus back to us. As you can see, Jesus has done nothing that is worthy of death.16-17So I will just have him whipped and let him go.’18But the whole crowd shouted, ‘Kill this man! But let Barabbas go!’19Barabbas had been thrown into prison. He had taken part in a struggle in the city against the authorities. He had also committed murder.20Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. So he made an appeal to the crowd again.21But they kept shouting, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’22Pilate spoke to them for the third time. ‘Why?’ he asked. ‘What wrong has this man done? I have found no reason to have him put to death. So I will just have him whipped and let him go.’23But with loud shouts they kept calling for Jesus to be crucified. The people’s shouts prevailed.24So Pilate decided to give them what they wanted.25He set free the man they asked for. The man had been thrown in prison for murder and for fighting against the authorities. Pilate handed Jesus over to them so they could carry out their plans.
Jesus is nailed to a cross
26As the soldiers led Jesus away, they took hold of Simon. Simon was from Cyrene. He was on his way in from the country. They put a wooden cross on his shoulders. Then they made him carry it behind Jesus.27A large number of people followed Jesus. Some were women whose hearts were filled with sorrow. They cried loudly because of him.28Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Weep for yourselves and for your children.29The time will come when you will say, “Blessed are the women who can’t have children! Blessed are those who never gave birth or fed babies!”30It is written, ‘ “The people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ They’ll say to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ ” (Ho 10:8)31People do these things when trees are green. So what will happen when trees are dry?’32Two other men were also led out with Jesus to be killed. Both of them had broken the law.33The soldiers brought them to the place called the Skull. There they nailed Jesus to the cross. He hung between the two criminals. One was on his right and one was on his left.34Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.’ The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.35The people stood there watching. The rulers even made fun of Jesus. They said, ‘He saved others. Let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.’36The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him. They offered him wine vinegar.37They said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’38A written sign had been placed above him. It read, This is the King of the Jews.39One of the criminals hanging there made fun of Jesus. He said, ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself! Save us!’40But the other criminal scolded him. ‘Don’t you have any respect for God?’ he said. ‘Remember, you are under the same sentence of death.41We are being punished fairly. We are getting just what our actions call for. But this man hasn’t done anything wrong.’42Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’43Jesus answered him, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise.’
Jesus dies
44It was now about noon. Then darkness covered the whole land until three o’clock.45The sun had stopped shining. The temple curtain was torn in two.46Jesus called out in a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my life.’ After he said this, he took his last breath.47The Roman commander saw what had happened. He praised God and said, ‘Jesus was surely a man who did what was right.’48The people had gathered to watch this sight. When they saw what happened, they felt very sad. Then they went away.49But all those who knew Jesus stood not very far away, watching these things. They included the women who had followed him from Galilee.
Jesus is buried
50A man named Joseph was a member of the Jewish Council. He was a good and honest man.51Joseph had not agreed with what the leaders had decided and done. He was from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He himself was waiting for God’s kingdom.52Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.53Joseph took it down and wrapped it in linen cloth. Then he placed it in a tomb cut in the rock. No one had ever been buried there.54It was Preparation Day. The Sabbath day was about to begin.55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was placed in it.56Then they went home. There they prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath day in order to obey the Law.
6When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.7And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. (Lu 3:1)8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. (Mt 12:38; Mt 14:1; Mr 6:14; Lu 9:9)9So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer.10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.11And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. (Mt 27:28; Mr 9:12; Mr 15:17; Lu 18:32; Ac 4:11)12And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. (Ps 2:2; Ac 4:27)13Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, (Lu 24:20)14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. (Lu 23:2; Lu 23:4; Ac 3:13)15Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. (Lu 23:11)16I will therefore punish and release him.”[1] (Lu 23:22; Joh 19:1; Ac 5:40)
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
18But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— (Mt 27:15; Mr 15:6; Joh 18:39; Joh 19:16; Ac 21:36; Ac 22:22)19a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. (Ac 3:14)20Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus,21but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!”22A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” (Lu 23:14; Lu 23:16; Lu 23:41; Joh 8:46)23But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.24So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. (Lu 23:19; Joh 19:16)
The Crucifixion
26And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. (Mt 27:32; Mr 15:21; Joh 19:17)27And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. (Mt 11:17; Lu 8:52)28But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.29For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ (Mt 24:19; Mr 13:17; Lu 17:22; Lu 21:23)30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ (Isa 2:19; Ho 10:8; Re 6:16)31For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (Pr 11:31; Eze 20:47; 1Pe 4:17)32Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. (Mt 20:21; Mt 27:38; Mr 15:27; Joh 19:18)33And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (Mt 27:33; Mr 15:22; Lu 23:32; Joh 19:17)34And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[2] And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Ps 22:18; Isa 53:12; Mt 5:44; Mt 27:35; Mr 10:38; Mr 15:24; Joh 19:23; Ac 3:17)35And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” (Ps 22:7; Ps 22:17; Isa 42:1; Mt 1:17; Mt 12:18; Mt 26:53; Mt 27:41; Mr 15:31; Lu 4:3; Lu 4:9; Lu 4:23; Lu 9:20; Lu 9:35; Lu 16:14; Lu 24:20; Joh 10:18; 1Pe 2:4)36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine (Ps 69:21; Mt 27:48; Mr 15:36; Joh 19:29)37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” (Lu 23:3; Lu 23:35)38There was also an inscription over him,[3] “This is the King of the Jews.” (Mt 27:37; Mr 15:26; Lu 23:37; Joh 19:19; Joh 19:21)39One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[4] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Mt 27:39; Mt 27:44; Mr 15:32; Lu 23:35; Lu 23:37)40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”42And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Mt 16:28)43And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (2Co 12:3; Re 2:7)
The Death of Jesus
44It was now about the sixth hour,[5] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,[6] (Mt 27:45; Mr 15:33; Joh 19:14)45while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. (Ex 26:31; 2Ch 3:14)46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Ps 31:5; Mt 27:50; Mr 15:37; Joh 10:18; Joh 19:30; Ac 7:59; 1Pe 4:19)47Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” (Mt 27:54; Mr 15:39; Lu 7:16)48And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. (Lu 18:13)49And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. (Ps 38:11; Ps 88:8; Lu 8:2; Lu 23:55; Joh 19:25)
Jesus Is Buried
50Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, (Mt 27:57; Mr 15:42; Joh 19:38)51who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. (Lu 2:25; Lu 2:38)52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.53Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. (Isa 53:9; Mr 11:2)54It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.[7] (Mt 27:62)55The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. (Mt 28:1; Lu 23:49)56Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (Ex 20:10; De 5:14; Mr 16:1; Lu 24:1; Joh 19:39)