[1] The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate. [2]
They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting the nation,
forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a
king." [3] Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He
answered him, "So you say." [4] Pilate said to the chief priests and the
multitudes, "I find no basis for a charge against this man." [5] But they
insisted, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea,
beginning from Galilee even to this place." [6] But when Pilate heard
Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean. [7] When he found
out that he was in Herod`s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also
in Jerusalem in those days. [8] Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was
exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he
had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.
[9] He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers. [10] The
chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. [11] Herod
with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious
clothing, they sent him back to Pilate. [12] Herod and Pilate became
friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies
with each other. [13] Pilate called together the chief priests and the
rulers and the people, [14] and said to them, "You brought this man to me
as one that perverts the people, and see, I have examined him before you,
and found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of
which you accuse him. [15] Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and
see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. [16] I will therefore
chastise him and release him." [17] Now he had to release one prisoner to
them at the feast. [18] But they all cried out together, saying, "Away with
this man! Release to us Barabbas!" -- [19] one who was thrown into prison
for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder. [20] Pilate spoke to them
again, desiring to release Jesus, [21] but they shouted, saying, "Crucify!
Crucify him!" [22] He said to them the third time, "Why? What evil has this
man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise
him and release him." [23] But they were urgent with loud voices, asking
that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief
priests prevailed. [24] Pilate adjudged that what they asked for should be
done. [25] He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection
and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.
[26] When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from
the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it after Jesus. [27] A
great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also
mourned and lamented him. [28] But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters
of Jerusalem, don`t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your
children. [29] For behold, the days are coming in which they will say,
`Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that
never nursed.` [30] Then will they begin to tell the mountains, `Fall on
us!` and to the hills, `Cover us.` [31] For if they do these things in the
green tree, what will be done in the dry?" [32] There were also others, two
criminals, led with him to be put to death. [33] When they came to the
place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the
criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. [34] Jesus said,
"Father, forgive them, for they don`t know what they are doing."
Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. [35] The people stood
watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, "He saved
others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen
one!" [36] The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him
vinegar, [37] and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
[38] An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin,
and Hebrew: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." [39] One of the criminals who
was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and
us!" [40] But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don`t you even
fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? [41] And we indeed
justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done
nothing wrong." [42] He said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come
into your kingdom." [43] He said to him, "Most assuredly I tell you, today
you will be with me in Paradise." [44] It was now about the sixth hour, and
darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. [45] The sun was
darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. [46] Jesus, crying
with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!"
Having said this, he breathed his last. [47] When the centurion saw what
was done, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man."
[48] All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the
things that were done, returned beating their breasts. [49] All his
acquaintances, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood far
away, watching these things. [50] Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a
member of the council, a good and righteous man [51] (he had not consented
to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was
also waiting for the kingdom of God: [52] this man went to Pilate, and
asked for Jesus` body. [53] He took it down, and wrapped it in a linen
cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no man had ever
yet lain. [54] It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was
coming on. [55] The women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed
after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid. [56] They returned, and
prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the
commandment.
