Luke 23

1Then the whole assembly got up and brought him before Pilate. 2They started to bring charges against him: “We have found this man leading our nation astray. He forbids paying taxes to Caesar, and he claims to be Christ, a king.” 3So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” 4Pilate told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find this man guilty of nothing.” 5But they pressed the charge harder: “He is stirring up the people with his teaching all over Judea. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” 6When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was from Galilee. 7When he learned that he came under Herod’s authority, he sent him on to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8Herod was delighted when he saw Jesus. He had wanted to see him for a long time because of what he had heard about him, and he hoped to watch him perform some sign. 9He put question after question to him, but Jesus gave him no answer at all. 10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, accusing him fiercely. 11Herod and his soldiers treated him with scorn and made fun of him. Herod had him dressed in a bright robe and sent him back to Pilate. 12That same day Herod and Pilate became friends. Until then there had been hostility between them. 13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people 14and said to them, “You brought this man before me on the charge that he was turning the people from their loyalty. I have questioned him in your presence, and I have found him guilty of none of the things you accuse him of. 15Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Plainly he has done nothing that deserves death. 16So I will have him flogged and then let him go.”

18But the whole crowd shouted as one, “Take this man away! Set Barabbas free for us!” 19He had been put in prison for a riot that broke out in the city, and for murder. 20Pilate spoke to them once more, because he wanted to set Jesus free. 21But they kept shouting back, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22For the third time he said to them, “Why? What wrong has this man done? I have found no reason to put him to death. So I will have him flogged and then let him go.” 23But they pressed their demand with loud shouts, calling for him to be crucified, and their shouting won the day. 24So Pilate ruled that what they asked for should be done. 25He set free the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for revolt and murder. But Jesus he gave up to them to do as they wished.

26As they led him away, they took hold of a man named Simon from Cyrene, who was coming in from the countryside. They laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

27A large crowd of the people followed him, among them women who were mourning and wailing for him. 28Jesus turned toward them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, it is not me you should be weeping over. Weep over yourselves and over your children. 29Days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the women who could not have children, the wombs that never gave birth and the breasts that never fed a baby.’ 30Then they will start saying to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 31For if this is how they treat wood that is green, what will become of wood that is dry?” 32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they reached the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, with the criminals, one at his right hand and one at his left. 34Jesus kept saying, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.” They shared out his clothes among themselves by casting lots. 35The people stood there looking on. The rulers joined in the scoffing. “He saved others,” they said. “So let him save himself, if this man is God’s Christ, the one God chose.” 36The soldiers made fun of him as well. They came up and held out sour wine to him, 37saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38Above him there was also a written notice: “This is the king of the Jews.”

39One of the criminals hanging beside him kept abusing him. “You are Christ, are you not? Then save yourself, and us too!” 40But the other criminal rebuked him: “Have you no fear even of God, when you are under the same sentence of death? 41For us it is fair: we are paying the due price for what we did. But this man has done nothing amiss.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, this very day you will be with me in paradise.”

44It was already about midday when darkness covered the whole land, and it lasted until three in the afternoon. 45The light of the sun failed, and the curtain in the sanctuary was torn down the middle. 46Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, I place my spirit in your hands.” With these words he breathed out his last breath.

47The centurion saw what had taken place, and he gave glory to God, saying, “Truly this man was righteous.” 48All the crowds who had gathered to watch this spectacle saw what had happened, and they turned back home, striking their breasts. 49Everyone who knew him stood far off. The women who had come with him from Galilee were standing there too, and they saw these things.

50There was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man 51who had not given his consent to what the council planned and did. He came from Arimathea, a town of the Jews, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a linen sheet. Then he laid him in a tomb cut out of the rock, where no one had ever been buried. 54It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. 55The women who had come with him from Galilee went after Joseph. They saw the tomb and the way his body was laid there. 56Then they went back and got spices and fragrant oils ready. On the Sabbath they rested, as the commandment required.