23:1 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate.
23:2 They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’
23:3 Then Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You say so.’
23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’
23:5 But they were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’
23:6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.
23:7 And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.
23:8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign.
23:9 He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer.
23:10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.
23:11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.
23:12 That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
23:13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,
23:14 and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
23:15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.
23:16 I will therefore have him flogged and release him.’
23:18 Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!’
23:19 (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
23:20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again;
23:21 but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’
23:22 A third time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’
23:23 But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.
23:24 So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.
23:25 He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
23:26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
23:27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.
23:28 But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
23:29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.”
23:30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.”
23:31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’
23:32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
23:33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
23:34 [[ Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
23:35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’
23:36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,
23:37 and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’
23:38 There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’
23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’
23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
23:41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’
23:42 Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’
23:43 He replied, ‘Truly I tell 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 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
23:46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last.
23:47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’
23:48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts.
23:49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
23:50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council,
23:51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.
23:52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
23:53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid.
23:54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.
23:55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid.
23:56 Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
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