231 Then they all took Jesus to Pilate 2 and began to bring up charges against him. They said, "We found this man undermining our law and order, forbidding taxes to be paid to Caesar, setting himself up as Messiah-King." 3 Pilate asked him, "Is this true that you're 'King of the Jews'?" "Those are your words, not mine," Jesus replied. 4 Pilate told the high priests and the accompanying crowd, "I find nothing wrong here. He seems harmless enough to me. 5 But they were vehement. "He's stirring up unrest among the people with his teaching, disturbing the peace everywhere, starting in Galilee and now all through Judea. He's a dangerous man, endangering the peace."
6 When Pilate heard that, he asked, "So, he's a Galilean?" 7 Realizing that he properly came under Herod's jurisdiction, he passed the buck to Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem for a few days. 8 Herod was delighted when Jesus showed up. He had wanted for a long time to see him, he'd heard so much about him. He hoped to see him do something spectacular. 9 He peppered him with questions. Jesus didn't answer - not one word. 10 But the high priests and religion scholars were right there, saying their piece, strident and shrill in their accusations. 11 Mightily offended, Herod turned on Jesus. His soldiers joined in, taunting and jeering. Then they dressed him up in an elaborate king costume and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became thick as thieves. Always before they had kept their distance.
13 Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others 14 and said, "You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge 15 And neither did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a clean bill of health. It's clear that he's done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death. 16 I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go." 18 At that, the crowd went wild: "Kill him! Give us Barabbas!" 19 (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again. 21 But they kept shouting back, "Crucify! Crucify him! 22 He tried a third time. "But for what crime? I've found nothing in him deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go." 23 But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. 24 Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. 25 He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted.
26 As they led him off, they made Simon, a man from Cyrene who happened to be coming in from the countryside, carry the cross behind Jesus. 27 A huge crowd of people followed, along with women weeping and carrying on. 28 At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. 29 The time is coming when they'll say, 'Lucky the women who never conceived! Lucky the wombs that never gave birth! Lucky the breasts that never gave milk!' 30 Then they'll start calling to the mountains, 'Fall down on us!' calling to the hills, 'Cover us up!' 31 If people do these things to a live, green tree, can you imagine what they'll do with deadwood?"
32 Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution. 33 When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing." 35 The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God - ha! The Chosen - ha!" 36 The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine 37 "So you're King of the Jews! Save yourself!" 38 Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the jews 39 One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!" 40 But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. 41 We deserve this, but not him - he did nothing to deserve this." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom." 43 He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise."
44 By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours - 45 a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. 46 Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last. 47 When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: "This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!" 48 All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home. 49 Those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil.
50 There was a man by the name of Joseph, a member of the Jewish High Council, a man of good heart and good character. 51 He had not gone along with the plans and actions of the council. His hometown was the Jewish village of Arimathea. 52 He lived in alert expectation of the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Taking him down, he wrapped him in a linen shroud and placed him in a tomb chiseled into the rock, a tomb never yet used. 54 It was the day before Sabbath, the Sabbath just about to begin. 55 The women who had been companions of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They saw the tomb where Jesus' body was placed. 56 Then they went back to prepare burial spices and perfumes. They rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded.
181 Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it. 2 Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. 3 So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. 4 Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, "Who are you after?" They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene." 5 He said, "That's me." The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb. 6 7 Jesus asked again, "Who are you after?" They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene." 8 "I told you," said Jesus, "that's me. I'm the one. So if it's me you're after, let these others go." 9 (This validated the words in his prayer, "I didn't lose one of those you gave.") 10 Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant's name. 11 Jesus ordered Peter, "Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I'm not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?"
12 Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up.
13 They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.
15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest's courtyard. 16 Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in. 17 The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, "Aren't you one of this man's disciples?" He said, "No, I'm not." 18 The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.
19 Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered, "I've spoken openly in public. I've taught regularly in meeting places and the Temple, where the Jews all come together. Everything has been out in the open. I've said nothing in secret. 21 So why are you treating me like a conspirator? Question those who have been listening to me. They know well what I have said. My teachings have all been aboveboard." 22 When he said this, one of the policemen standing there slapped Jesus across the face, saying, "How dare you speak to the Chief Priest like that!" 23 Jesus replied, "If I've said something wrong, prove it. But if I've spoken the plain truth, why this slapping around?" 24 Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to the Chief Priest Caiaphas.
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, "Aren't you one of his disciples?" He denied it, "Not me." 26 One of the Chief Priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?" 27 Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.
28 They led Jesus then from Caiaphas to the Roman governor's palace. It was early morning. They themselves didn't enter the palace because they didn't want to be disqualified from eating the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and spoke. "What charge do you bring against this man?" 30 They said, "If he hadn't been doing something evil, do you think we'd be here bothering you?" 31 Pilate said, "You take him. Judge him by your law." 32 (This would confirm Jesus' word indicating the way he would die.) 33 Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?" 34 Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?" 35 Pilate said, "Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?" 36 "My kingdom," said Jesus, "doesn't consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But I'm not that kind of king, not the world's kind of king." 37 Then Pilate said, "So, are you a king or not?" Jesus answered, "You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice." 38 Pilate said, "What is truth?" Then he went back out to the Jews and told them, "I find nothing wrong in this man."
39 It's your custom that I pardon one prisoner at Passover. Do you want me to pardon the 'King of the Jews'?" 40 They shouted back, "Not this one, but Barabbas!" Barabbas was a Jewish freedom fighter.
191 So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. 2 The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, 3 and approached him with, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they greeted him with slaps in the face. 4 Pilate went back out again and said to them, "I present him to you, but I want you to know that I do not find him guilty of any crime." 5 Just then Jesus came out wearing the thorn crown and purple robe. Pilate announced, "Here he is: the Man." 6 When the high priests and police saw him, they shouted in a frenzy, "Crucify! Crucify!" Pilate told them, "You take him. You crucify him. I find nothing wrong with him." 7 The Jews answered, "We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God." 8 When Pilate heard this, he became even more scared. 9 He went back into the palace and said to Jesus, "Where did you come from?" Jesus gave no answer. 10 Pilate said, "You won't talk? Don't you know that I have the authority to pardon you, and the authority to - crucify you?" 11 Jesus said, "You haven't a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven. That's why the one who betrayed me to you has committed a far greater fault." 12 At this, Pilate tried his best to pardon him, but the Jews shouted him down: "If you pardon this man, you're no friend of Caesar's. Anyone setting himself up as 'king' defies Caesar." 13 When Pilate heard those words, he led Jesus outside. He sat down at the judgment seat in the area designated Stone Court (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). 14 It was the preparation day for Passover. The hour was noon. Pilate said to the Jews, "Here is your king." 15 They shouted back, "Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!" Pilate said, "I am to crucify your king?" The high priests answered, "We have no king except Caesar."
16 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.
17 Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), 18 where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read: jesus the nazarene the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read the sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was right next to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. 21 The Jewish high priests objected. "Don't write," they said to Pilate, "'The King of the Jews.' Make it, 'This man said, "I am the King of the Jews."'" 22 Pilate said, "What I've written, I've written." 23 When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, 24 so they said to each other, "Let's not tear it up. Let's throw dice to see who gets it." This confirmed the Scripture that said, "They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat." (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!) 25 Jesus' mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. 26 Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother. 28 Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, "I'm thirsty." 29 A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. 30 After he took the wine, Jesus said, "It's done . . . complete." Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.
31 Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn't stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other. 33 When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn't break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out. 35 The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe. 36 These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, "Not a bone in his body was broken," 37 and the other Scripture that reads, "They will stare at the one they pierced."
38 After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body. 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 They took Jesus' body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. 41 There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. 42 So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it.
