Luke 23

1And the whole assembly of them rose and led him to Pilate.

2And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Messiah, a king.”

3Then Pilate asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And answering him, he said, “You say so.”

4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

5But they kept insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to here.”

6But Pilate, hearing this, asked whether the man was a Galilean,

7And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was also in Jerusalem in those days.

8When Herod saw Jesus, he rejoiced greatly, for he had for a long time wanted to see him because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.

9So he questioned him at considerable length, but he answered him nothing.

10And the chief priests and the scribes stood there, vehemently accusing him.

11But Herod also, together with his soldiers, treated him with contempt and mocked him. Dressing him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.

12And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other on that very day, for previously they had been in hostility toward one another.

13But Pilate, having called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14He said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who was misleading the people, and behold, after examining him before you, I found no basis in this man for the charges you bring against him.”

15But neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. And look, nothing deserving of death has been done by him.

16Therefore, after disciplining him, I will release him.

17He had an obligation to release one man to them at the festival.

18But they all cried out together, saying, “Take this man away, and release Barabbas to us!”

19who had been thrown into prison for a certain uprising that had taken place in the city, and for murder.

20But Pilate called out again, wanting to release Jesus.

21But they kept shouting, saying, “Crucify, crucify him!”

22And he said to them a third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found in him no grounds for death. Therefore, after disciplining him, I will release him.”

23But they kept pressing with loud voices, asking that he be crucified, and their voices prevailed.

24And Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.

25So he released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they were asking for; but he handed Jesus over to their will.

26And as they led him away, they seized a certain Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the countryside, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.

27A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were beating their breasts and mourning for him.

28But turning toward them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; instead, weep for yourselves and for your children,”

29For look, days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’

30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’

31For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?

32And two others, who were criminals, were being led with him to be put to death.

33And when they came to the place called Skull, there they crucified him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.

34But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And dividing his garments, they cast lots.

35And the people stood watching. But even the rulers were mocking him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,

37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.”

38And there was also an inscription over him: “This is the King of the Jews.”

39One of the criminals who were hanging there was reviling him, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.”

40But the other answered, rebuking him, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence?”

41And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what our deeds deserve; but this man has done nothing wrong.

42And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”

43And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

44And it was already about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

45the sun having been darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle.

46And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.

47When the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous.”

48And all the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, after seeing what had happened, were returning, beating their chests.

49But all those who knew him, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, were standing at a distance, watching these things.

50And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a council member, a good and righteous man—

51This man had not agreed with their plan and action—he was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.

52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

53And after taking him down, he wrapped him in a linen cloth and placed him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had yet been laid.

54And it was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was dawning.

55The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.

56Then after returning, they prepared spices and ointments. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment,