1Tu vstali všetci členovia rady a odviedli ho k rímskemu miestodržiteľovi Pilátovi.2Predniesli proti nemu obžalobu: „Tento človek, ako sme zistili, poburuje náš ľud, vraví, že netreba odvádzať rímskemu cisárovi dane a sám sa vyhlasuje za kráľa, ktorého poslal Boh.“3Tu sa ho Pilát spýtal: „Si Mesiáš, ich kráľ?“ Odpovedal mu: „Ty sám to vravíš.“4Pilát povedal veľkňazom i zhromaždenému zástupu: „Nijakú vinu na tomto človeku nenachádzam.“5Ale oni namietali: „Svojím učením vyvoláva nepokoje v celom Judsku. Začalo sa to v Galilei a preniklo to až sem do Jeruzalema.“6„Pochádza z Galiley?“ spýtal sa Pilát.7A keď prisvedčili, hneď rozkázal zaviesť Ježiša ku kráľovi Herodesovi, lebo Galilea podliehala jeho právomoci. Herodes bol práve v Jeruzaleme a 8veľmi sa tomu zaradoval, lebo už dávno túžil Ježiša vidieť. Veľa totiž o ňom počul a dúfal, že bude svedkom nejakého zázraku.9Dal mu mnoho otázok, ale Ježiš na ne neodpovedal.10Zato prítomní veľkňazi a učitelia Zákona ho neprestajne osočovali.11Tu Herodes a jeho vojaci začali Ježiša zneucťovať a zosmiešňovať. Dal ho obliecť do lesklých kráľovských šiat a poslal ho naspäť k Pilátovi.12V ten deň sa Herodes s Pilátom spriatelili, dovtedy totiž vládla medzi nimi nevraživosť.
Odsúdenie Ježiša
13Pilát zvolal veľkňazov, popredných mužov aj ľud a predniesol im tento rozsudok:14„Priviedli ste mi tohto človeka a obvinili ste ho, že poburuje ľud proti Rímu. Boli ste pri tom, keď som ho vypočúval, no nemohol som ho usvedčiť z nijakého zločinu, ktorý mu pripisujete.15Ani Herodes nie, inak by nám ho neposlal späť. Nespáchal teda nič, prečo by si zaslúžil smrť.16A tak ho dám na mieste potrestať a potom ho prepustím.17Veď viete, že každý rok na Veľkú noc udeľujem jednému väzňovi milosť.“18No celý zástup začal jednohlasne kričať: „Preč s ním! Prepusť nám Barabáša!“19Barabáš bol odsúdený na smrť pre pokus o vzburu a pre vraždu.20Pilát sa znova pokúsil presvedčiť dav, že Ježiš je nevinný, lebo ho chcel prepustiť.21Ale ľudia ho prekričali: „Ukrižuj ho! Ukrižuj!“22Pilát sa ešte tretí raz pokúsil ich presvedčiť: „Akého zločinu sa dopustil? Nenašiel som uňho nijakú vinu, za ktorú by si zaslúžil trest smrti. Dám ho zbičovať a potom ho prepustím.“23Ale dav sa s čoraz väčším krikom domáhal Ježišovej smrti, až im napokon vyhovel.24Prepustil Barabáša, muža, ktorý bol uvrhnutý do väzenia za poburovanie a vraždu,25a odovzdal im Ježiša, aby s ním urobili, čo chcú.
Cesta na popravisko
26Keď Ježiša odvádzali na smrť, vojaci prinútili istého muža, aby odniesol Ježišov kríž. Bol to Šimon z Cyrény, ktorý sa práve vracal z poľa.27Šiel za nimi obrovský zástup a bolo v ňom mnoho žien, ktoré nariekali a oplakávali Ježiša.28Ježiš sa k nim obrátil a povedal: „Dcéry jeruzalemské, neplačte nado mnou, plačte radšej nad sebou a nad svojimi deťmi,29lebo prichádzajú dni, keď budú vravieť:‚Šťastné sú neplodné, šťastné sú tie, ktoré nikdy nerodili ani nepridájali!‘30Ľudia budú prosiť vrchy a kopce, aby sa na nich zrútili a pochovali ich.31Lebo ak takto nakladajú so mnou, so Živým stromom, čo potom urobia so suchým?“
Ukrižovanie
32Spolu s Ježišom viedli na smrť aj dvoch zločincov.33Keď došli na miesto, ktoré sa volá Lebka, ukrižovali jeho aj tých zločincov, jedného sprava, druhého zľava.34Ježiš sa modlil za svojich nepriateľov: „Otče, odpusť im, lebo nevedia, čo robia.“ Vojaci si losovaním rozdelili jeho odev.35Okolo stál a prizeral sa dav. Ozývali sa aj posmešky členov veľrady: „Iných zachraňoval, tak nech teraz zachráni sám seba, ak je naozaj Mesiáš, ktorého si vyvolil Boh.“36Aj vojaci sa mu posmievali a ponúkali ho octom. Pokrikovali naňho:37„Ak si židovský kráľ, zachráň sa!“38Nad hlavu mu pripevnili nápis v gréčtine, latinčine a hebrejčine: „Toto je kráľ Židov.“39Aj jeden z ukrižovaných zločincov sa Ježišovi posmieval: „Čo si to za Mesiáša, keď nepomôžeš sebe ani nám?“40Ale ten druhý ho okríkol: „Ani vo chvíli smrti sa nebojíš Boha?41My si trest zaslúžime, ale tento človek určite nespáchal nič zlé a trpí nevinne.“42Potom oslovil Ježiša: „Ježišu, spomeň si na mňa, keď prídeš do svojho kráľovstva.“43Ježiš mu odpovedal: „Sľubujem ti, dnes budeš so mnou v raji.“
Ježiš zomiera na kríži
44Okolo poludnia sa odrazu zotmelo a tma trvala v celej zemi až do tretej.45A tu sa zrazu chrámová opona roztrhla na dvoje.46Ježiš nahlas zvolal: „Otče, do tvojich rúk odovzdávam svojho ducha.“ Po týchto slovách umrel.47Keď dôstojník, ktorý dozeral na popravu, videl, čo sa stalo, vzdal česť Bohu a povedal: „Tento človek bol určite nevinný.“48A zástupy, ktoré sa prizerali tejto scéne a videli, čo sa stalo, bili sa do pŕs a odchádzali otrasené.49Napokon tam zostali iba Ježišovi priatelia a ženy, čo prišli za ním z Galiley a zobďaleč všetko pozorovali.
Ježišov pohreb
50Jeden z členov veľrady, Jozef z Arimatey, čestný a šľachetný človek,51nesúhlasil s postupom a rozsudkom ostatných. Patril k tým, ktorí uverili zvesti o Božom kráľovstve.52Ten teraz vyhľadal Piláta a vyžiadal si Ježišovo mŕtve telo.53Sňal ho z kríža, zavinul do plátna a uložil do hrobu vytesaného v skale, kde ešte nik nebol pochovaný.54Bolo to v piatok večer, v deň, keď sa robili prípravy na sobotu.55Ženy, ktoré sprevádzali Ježiša z Galiley, boli pri pochovávaní Ježišovho tela do hrobu. Potom sa vrátili domov a pripravili vonné masti a oleje, ktorými ho chceli natrieť. Ale v sobotu zachovali podľa prikázania sviatočný odpočinok.
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. (Lk 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; Mk 6,14; Lk 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; Mk 9,12; Mk 15,17; Lk 18,32; Sk 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. (Ž 2,2; Sk 4,27)13Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, (Lk 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. (Lk 23,2; Lk 23,4; Sk 3,13)15Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. (Lk 23,11)16I will therefore punish and release him.”[1] (Lk 23,22; Jn 19,1; Sk 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; Mk 15,6; Jn 18,39; Jn 19,16; Sk 21,36; Sk 22,22)19a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. (Sk 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.” (Lk 23,14; Lk 23,16; Lk 23,41; Jn 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. (Lk 23,19; Jn 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; Mk 15,21; Jn 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; Lk 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; Mk 13,17; Lk 17,22; Lk 21,23)30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ (Iz 2,19; Oz 10,8; Zjv 6,16)31For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (Prís 11,31; Ez 20,47; 1 Pt 4,17)32Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. (Mt 20,21; Mt 27,38; Mk 15,27; Jn 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; Mk 15,22; Lk 23,32; Jn 19,17)34And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[2] And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Ž 22,18; Iz 53,12; Mt 5,44; Mt 27,35; Mk 10,38; Mk 15,24; Jn 19,23; Sk 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!” (Ž 22,7; Ž 22,17; Iz 42,1; Mt 1,17; Mt 12,18; Mt 26,53; Mt 27,41; Mk 15,31; Lk 4,3; Lk 4,9; Lk 4,23; Lk 9,20; Lk 9,35; Lk 16,14; Lk 24,20; Jn 10,18; 1 Pt 2,4)36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine (Ž 69,21; Mt 27,48; Mk 15,36; Jn 19,29)37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” (Lk 23,3; Lk 23,35)38There was also an inscription over him,[3] “This is the King of the Jews.” (Mt 27,37; Mk 15,26; Lk 23,37; Jn 19,19; Jn 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; Mk 15,32; Lk 23,35; Lk 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.” (2 Kor 12,3; Zjv 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; Mk 15,33; Jn 19,14)45while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. (Ex 26,31; 2 Krn 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. (Ž 31,5; Mt 27,50; Mk 15,37; Jn 10,18; Jn 19,30; Sk 7,59; 1 Pt 4,19)47Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” (Mt 27,54; Mk 15,39; Lk 7,16)48And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. (Lk 18,13)49And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. (Ž 38,11; Ž 88,8; Lk 8,2; Lk 23,55; Jn 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; Mk 15,42; Jn 19,38)51who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. (Lk 2,25; Lk 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. (Iz 53,9; Mk 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; Lk 23,49)56Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (Ex 20,10; Dt 5,14; Mk 16,1; Lk 24,1; Jn 19,39)