Luke 23
1 And the whole multitude of them, rising up, led him to Pilate.
The whole council rose and took him to Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We have found this [man] perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a king.
There they started to accuse him. “We found this man deceiving our nation, telling people not to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming he is Messiah, a king,” they said.
3 And Pilate demanded of him saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And he answering him said, Thou sayest.
“Are you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked him. “So you say,” replied Jesus.
4 And Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, I find no guilt in this man.
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I don't find this man guilty of any crime.”
5 But they insisted, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee even on to here.
But they insisted, saying, “He is inciting rebellion all over Judea with his teachings, from Galilee to right here in Jerusalem.”
6 But Pilate, having heard Galilee [named], demanded if the man were a Galilaean;
When he heard this, Pilate asked, “Is this man a Galilean?”
7 and having learned that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, remitted him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in those days.
When he discovered that Jesus came under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was also in Jerusalem at the time.
8 And when Herod saw Jesus he greatly rejoiced, for he had been a long while desirous of seeing him, because of hearing many things concerning him, and he hoped to see some sign done by him;
Herod was very pleased to see Jesus since he had wanted to meet him for a long time. He had heard about Jesus and was hoping to see him perform a miracle.
9 and he questioned him in many words, but he answered him nothing.
He asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not answer him at all.
10 And the chief priests and the scribes stood and accused him violently.
The chief priests and religious teachers stood there, angrily accusing him.
11 And Herod with his troops having set him at nought and mocked him, having put a splendid robe upon him, sent him back to Pilate.
Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and mocked him. Then they placed a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.
12 And Pilate and Herod became friends with one another the same day, for they had been at enmity before between themselves.
From that day on Herod and Pilate were friends—before that they had been enemies.
13 And Pilate, having called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
Pilate called together the chief priests, rulers, and the people,
14 said to them, Ye have brought to me this man as turning away the people [to rebellion], and behold, I, having examined him before you, have found nothing criminal in this man as to the things of which ye accuse him;
and told them, “You brought this man before me, accusing him of inciting the people to rebellion. I've carefully examined him in your presence, and do not find him guilty of the charges you have brought against him.
15 nor Herod either, for I remitted you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done by him.
Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. He has done nothing that demands he should be put to death.
16 Having chastised him therefore, I will release him.
So I will have him flogged and then release him.”
17 (Now he was obliged to release one for them at the feast.)
18 But they cried out in a mass saying, Away with this [man] and release Barabbas to us;
But they all shouted together, “Kill this man, and release Barabbas to us.”
19 who was one who, for a certain tumult which had taken place in the city, and [for] murder, had been cast into prison.
(Barabbas had been put in prison for taking part in a rebellion in the city, and for murder.)
20 Pilate therefore, desirous to release Jesus, again addressed [them].
Pilate wanted to release Jesus, so spoke to them again.
21 But they cried out in reply saying, Crucify, crucify him.
But they kept on shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 And he said the third time to them, What evil then has this [man] done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will chastise him therefore and release him.
Pilate asked them for the third time, “But why? What crime has he committed? I don't find any reason for executing him. So I will have him flogged and then release him.”
23 But they were urgent with loud voices, begging that he might be crucified. And their voices [and those of the chief priests] prevailed.
But they continued insisting with loud shouts, demanding that he be crucified. Their shouting succeeded,
24 And Pilate adjudged that what they begged should take place.
and Pilate gave the sentence they demanded.
25 And he released him who, for tumult and murder, had been cast into prison, whom they begged for, and Jesus he delivered up to their will.
He released the man imprisoned for rebellion and murder, but he sent Jesus to be put to death in accordance with their demands.
26 And as they led him away, they laid hold on a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from the field, and put the cross upon him to bear it behind Jesus.
As the soldiers led him away, they seized a man called Simon of Cyrene, who had come in from the countryside. They put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27 And a great multitude of the people, and of women who wailed and lamented him, followed him.
A large crowd followed him, along with women who were mourning and lamenting him.
28 And Jesus turning round to them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me, but weep over yourselves and over your children;
Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me. Weep for yourselves and your children.
29 for behold, days are coming in which they will say, Blessed [are] the barren, and wombs that have not borne, and breasts that have not given suck.
For the time is coming when they'll say, ‘Happy are those who are childless, and those who never had babies, and those who never nursed them.’
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall upon us; and to the hills, Cover us:
They'll say to the mountains, ‘Fall down on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’
31 for if these things are done in the green tree, what shall take place in the dry?
For if they do this to wood that is green, what will happen when it's dried out?”
32 Now two others also, malefactors, were led with him to be put to death.
They also took two others who were criminals to be executed with him.
33 And when they came to the place which is called Skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, the other on the left.
When they reached the place called the Skull they crucified him together with the criminals, one on his right, and the other on his left.
34 And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And, parting out his garments, they cast lots.
Jesus said, “Father, please forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing.” They divided up his clothes by throwing dice for them.
35 And the people stood beholding, and the rulers also [with them] sneered, saying, He has saved others; let him save himself if this is the Christ, the chosen one of God.
The people stood and watched and the leaders sneered at Jesus. “He saved others, let him save himself, if he is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One,” they said.
36 And the soldiers also made game of him, coming up offering him vinegar,
The soldiers also mocked him, coming up to him and offering him wine vinegar, saying,
37 and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
“If you're the King of the Jews, then save yourself.”
38 And there was also an inscription [written] over him in Greek, and Roman, and Hebrew letters: This is the King of the Jews.
Above Jesus was a sign on which it was written, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 Now one of the malefactors who had been hanged spoke insultingly to him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.
One of the criminals hanging there joined in the insults against Jesus. “Aren't you the Messiah?” he asked. “Then save yourself—and us too!”
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost thou too not fear God, thou that art under the same judgment?
But the other criminal disagreed and argued with him, “Don't you fear God even when you're suffering the same punishment?” he asked.
41 and we indeed justly, for we receive the just recompense of what we have done; but this [man] has done nothing amiss.
“For us the sentence is right since we're being punished for what we did, but this man didn't do anything wrong.”
42 And he said to Jesus, Remember me, [Lord, ] when thou comest in thy kingdom.
Then he said, “Jesus, please remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, Verily I say to thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Jesus replied, “I promise you today you will be with me in paradise.”
44 And it was about [the] sixth hour, and there came darkness over the whole land until [the] ninth hour.
By this time it was around noon and darkness fell over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple rent in the midst.
The sun's light was shut out, and the Temple veil was torn in two.
46 And Jesus, having cried with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, he expired.
Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, I place myself in your hands.” Having said this he breathed his last.
47 Now the centurion, seeing what took place, glorified God, saying, In very deed this man was just.
When the centurion saw what had happened he praised God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”
48 And all the crowds who had come together to that sight, having seen the things that took place, returned, beating [their] breasts.
When all the crowds that had come to watch saw what happened they went home beating their chests in grief.
49 And all those who knew him stood afar off, the women also who had followed him from Galilee, beholding these things.
But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who'd followed him from Galilee, watched from a distance.
50 And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good man and a just
There was a man called Joseph who was good and honest. He was a member of the council,
51 (this [man] had not assented to their counsel and deed), of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who also waited, [himself also, ] for the kingdom of God
but he hadn't agreed with its decisions and actions. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.
52 — he having gone to Pilate begged the body of Jesus;
Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.
53 and having taken it down, wrapped it in fine linen and placed him in a tomb hewn in the rock, where no one had ever been laid.
Once he'd taken it down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth. He laid Jesus in an unused tomb cut into the rock.
54 And it was preparation day, and [the] sabbath twilight was coming on.
It was preparation day and the Sabbath would soon begin.
55 And women, who had come along with him out of Galilee, having followed, saw the sepulchre and how his body was placed.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee had followed Joseph and had seen the tomb where Jesus' body had been laid.
56 And having returned they prepared aromatic spices and ointments, and remained quiet on the sabbath, according to the commandment.
They returned home and prepared spices and ointments. But on the Sabbath they rested, observing the commandment.
