Luke

The Gospel according to Saint Luke, chapter 23, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 23 New English Translation

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

   1 Then the whole group of them rose up and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2 They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar and claiming that he himself is Christ, a king." 3 So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He replied, "You say so." 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." 5 But they persisted in saying, "He incites the people by teaching throughout all Judea. It started in Galilee and ended up here!"

Jesus Brought Before Herod

   6 Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that he was from Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who also happened to be in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some miraculous sign. 9 So Herod questioned him at considerable length; Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the experts in the law were there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, dressing him in elegant clothes, Herod sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other, for prior to this they had been enemies.

Jesus Brought Before the Crowd

   13 Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. When I examined him before you, I did not find this man guilty of anything you accused him of doing. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing deserving death. 16 I will therefore have him flogged and release him."
   18 But they all shouted out together, "Take this man away! Release Barabbas for us!" 19 (This was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder. ) 20 Pilate addressed them once again because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 But they kept on shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" 22 A third time he said to them, "Why? What wrong has he done? I have found him guilty of no crime deserving death. I will therefore flog him and release him." 23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man they asked for, who had been thrown in prison for insurrection and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion

   26 As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country. They placed the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A great number of the people followed him, among them women who were mourning and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!' 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' 31 For if such things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
   32 Two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him. 33 So when they came to the place that is called "The Skull, " they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [But Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing."] Then they threw dice to divide his clothes. 35 The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed him, saying, "He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!" 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!" 38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the king of the Jews."
   39 One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, 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 the sun's light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And after he said this he breathed his last.
   47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw these things.

Jesus' Burial

   50 Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man. 51 (He had not consented to their plan and action. ) He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock, where no one had yet been buried. 54 It was the day of preparation and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they returned and prepared aromatic spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

King James Version

   1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
   2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
   3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
   4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
   5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
   6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
   7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
   8 ¶ And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
   9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
   10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
   11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
   12 ¶ And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
   13 ¶ And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
   14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
   15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
   16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
   17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
   18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
   19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
   20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
   21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
   22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
   23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
   24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
   25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
   26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
   27 ¶ And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
   28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
   29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
   30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
   31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
   32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
   33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
   34 ¶ Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
   35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
   36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
   37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
   38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
   39 ¶ And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
   40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
   41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
   42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
   43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
   44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
   45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
   46 ¶ And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
   47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
   48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
   49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
   50 ¶ And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
   51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
   52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
   53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
   54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
   55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
   56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.