The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 23 -

(Matthew 27:11–14; John 18:28–40)

Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate.

And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”

So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

Jesus before Herod

When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.

And learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle.

Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer.

Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him.

And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

(Matthew 27:15–23; Mark 15:6–11)

Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,

and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.

Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death.

Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”(a)

But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”

(Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again,

but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”

But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor (b) prevailed.

So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met.

As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and handed Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion

(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Mark 15:21–32; John 19:16–27)

As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.

A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him.

But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’

At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’(c)

For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.

When they came to the place called The Skull,(d) they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”(e) And they divided up His garments by casting lots.(f)

The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him,(g) saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.(h)

“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”

Above Him was posted an inscription:(i) THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”

But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment?

We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me

(j)

when You come into Your kingdom!”

And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

(Psalm 31:1–24; Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:33–41; John 19:28–30)

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.(k)

The sun was darkened,(l) and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.”(m) And when He had said this, He breathed His last.

When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.(n)”

And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts.

But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; John 19:38–42)

Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man,

who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was waiting for the kingdom of God.

He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.

Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid.

It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.(o)

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed.

Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.

Footnotes

(a)23:16 BYZ and TR include 17 Now Pilate was obligated to release to the people one prisoner at the feast; see Matthew 27:15 and Mark 15:6.

(b)23:23 BYZ and TR include and that of the chief priests.

(d)23:33 Greek Kranion; Vulgate Calvariae, rendered in some translations as Calvary

(e)23:34 Some manuscripts do not include Then Jesus said, “Father... what they are doing.”

(f)23:34 See Psalms 22:18.

(g)23:35 See Psalms 22:7.

(h)23:36 Or to offer Him wine vinegar

(i)23:38 BYZ and TR include written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew; see John 19:20.

(j)23:42 BYZ and TR said to Jesus, “Remember me, Lord,

(k)23:44 That is, from noon until three in the afternoon

(l)23:45 Or failed or was obscured; BYZ and TR became dark

(m)23:46 Psalms 31:5

(n)23:47 Or an innocent man

(o)23:54 Or was about to begin

(Matthew 27:11–14; John 18:28–40)

The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.

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.”

Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.”

Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.”

Jesus before Herod

But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean.

When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

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.

He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.

The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.

Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.

Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

(Matthew 27:15–23; Mark 15:6–11)

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,

and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and behold, having examined him before you, I found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.

Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.

I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.(a)

But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”—

one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.

Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus,

but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

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.”

But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed.

Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done.

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.

The Crucifixion

(Psalm 22:1–31; Matthew 27:32–44; Mark 15:21–32; John 19:16–27)

When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry it after Jesus.

A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.

But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

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.’

Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’ (b)

For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?”

There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.

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.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

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!”

The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,

and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”

But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

(Psalm 31:1–24; Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:33–41; John 19:28–30)

It was now about the sixth hour,(c) and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.(d)

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

Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.

When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”

All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts.

All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

(Isaiah 53:9–12; Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; John 19:38–42)

Behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man

(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom.

This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.

He took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid.

It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.

The women who had come with him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.

They returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Footnotes

(a)23:17 NU omits verse 17.

(b)23:30 ℘ Hosea 10:8

(d)23:44 p.m.