THE BOOK OF LUKE

Luke Chapter 23

1 ¶ Then the whole assembly arose, and led him to Pilate.

2 There they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

3 So Pilate asked Jesus, Are you the King of the Jews? And he replied, It is as you say.

4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

5 But they were adamant, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.

6 Upon hearing this, Pilate asked if he was a Galilean.

7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.

8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was delighted: for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him; and hoped to see him perform a miracle.

9 Then he questioned him at length; but Jesus made no reply.

10 But the chief priests and scribes stood there and vehemently accused him.

11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate.

12 And the same day Pilate and Herod became friends: for previously there had been hostility between them.

13 ¶ And when Pilate had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14 He said, You have brought this man to me, as one who incites the people to rebel: and, I have examined him before you, and have found no fault in this man in regard to the things of which you accuse him:

15 Neither has Herod: for he sent you back to me; and, he has done nothing deserving of death.

16 I will therefore punish him, and release him.

17 (For he was obliged to release one prisoner at the feast.)

18 And they shouted out with one voice, Away with this man, release Barabbas:

19 (Who had been thrown into prison for stirring up insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate again appealed to them.

21 But they shouted, Crucify him, crucify him.

22 And he said to them the third time, Why, what evil has he done? I have not found any reason to put him to death: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23 But they were loud and insistent, demanding that he be crucified. And their shouts and those of the chief priests prevailed.

24 So Pilate passed sentence that it should be as they required.

25 And he released to them the man who had been thrown into prison for sedition and murder, as they requested; but he surrendered Jesus to their will.

26 ¶ And as they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, coming in from the country, and placed the cross on him, that he might carry it behind Jesus.

27 And a large crowd of people followed him, including women, who also mourned and wailed for him.

28 But Jesus turning to them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not 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, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck.

30 Then they will 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 others, who were criminals, who were led out with him to be put to death.

33 And when they came to the place, that is called Calvary, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one at his right hand, and the other at his left.

34 Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they divided his clothing, and cast lots for it.

35 And the people stood watching. And the rulers who were there sneered at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he is Christ, the chosen of God.

36 And 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 Now there was a written notice above him saying in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 And one of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him, saying, If you are Christ, save yourself and us.

40 But the other in answer rebuked him, saying, Don’t you fear God, seeing that you are under the same sentence?

41 And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the proper reward for our actions: but this man has done nothing wrong.

42 And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

43 And Jesus said to him, I tell you truly, Today you will be with me in paradise.

44 ¶ It was now about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45 For the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice, saying, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost.

47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

48 And when all the people who had gathered to witness that sight, saw what took place, they returned beating their breasts.

49 But all of his acquaintances, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, watching these things.

50 ¶ Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the counsel; and he was a good man, and just:

51 (He had not consented to their plan and action;) he was from the Judean town of Arimathaea: and was himself waiting for the kingdom of God.

52 This man went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was cut in the rock, in which no one had yet been laid.

54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin.

55 And the women, who had come with him from Galilee, followed Joseph, and saw the sepulchre, and how his body was laid in it.

56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested on the sabbath day according to the commandment.