Luke 23
1 And having risen, the whole company of them led him to Pilate.
Then the whole group got up and took Jesus to Pilate, [the Roman governor].
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying himself to be Christ, a king.
They began to accuse Jesus, saying, “We [(exc)] have determined that this fellow has caused political trouble in our country. He has been [telling people that they should] not pay taxes to the Roman government [MTY]. Also, he says that he is the Messiah, a king!”
3 And Pilate questioned him, saying, Are thou the king of the Jews? And having answered him, he said, Thou say.
Pilate asked him, “Do you [(sg) claim that you are] the King of the Jews?” He replied, “[It is] as you have [just] now said.”
4 And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, I find nothing guilty in this man.
Pilate said to the chief priests and [the rest of] the crowd, “I do not conclude that this man is guilty of any crime.”
5 But they were emphatic, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, having begun from Galilee as far as here.
But they kept insisting, “He is inciting the people [to riot]! He has been teaching his [ideas] throughout all of Judea [district]. He started [doing it] in Galilee [district] and now he is doing it here!”
6 And when Pilate heard Galilee, he questioned if the man is a Galilean.
When Pilate heard that, he asked, “Is this man from Galilee [district]?”
7 And when he perceived that he is from Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was himself also in Jerusalem in these days.
When they told him that Jesus was [from Galilee, which was the district] that Herod [Antipas] ruled, [he told them] to take Jesus to Herod [Antipas], because Herod was in Jerusalem at that time.
8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he was wanting of a considerable time to see him, because of hearing many things about him, and he hoped to see some sign happening by him.
[So they did]. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very happy. He [had heard about Jesus], and he had been hoping for a long time that he could see Jesus perform a miracle.
9 And he interrogated him in considerable words, but he answered him nothing.
So he asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not reply [to any of them].
10 And the chief priests and the scholars had stood, vehemently accusing him.
The chief priests and men who taught the [Jewish] laws stood near Jesus, accusing him very strongly.
11 But Herod having disdained him with his soldiers, and having mocked him, having arraying him in a bright robe, he sent him back to Pilate.
Then Herod and his soldiers (made fun of/ridiculed) [Jesus]. They put gorgeous clothes on him [to mock him as being a king]. Then Herod sent him back to Pilate.
12 And both Pilate and Herod became friends with each other on the same day, for they were formerly being at enmity toward themselves.
Until that time Herod and Pilate had been very hostile to each other, but that very day they became friends.
13 And Pilate having called together the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people,
Pilate then gathered together the chief priests and other [Jewish] leaders and the crowd [that was still there].
14 said to them, Ye brought this man to me as turning away the people. And behold, I, having examined him before you, found nothing guilty in this man of what ye accuse against him.
He said to them, “You brought this man to me, saying that he had caused trouble among the people. But [I want you to know that] after having examined him while you were listening, I do not conclude that he is guilty of any of the things that you are accusing him about.
15 But not even Herod, for I sent you back to him, and lo, nothing having been done by him is worthy of death.
[Obviously] Herod did not [conclude that] either, because he sent him back to me [without punishing him]. [So it] is clear that this man has not done anything for which we [(inc)] should kill him.
16 Therefore, having scourged I will release him.
So I will [have my soldiers] flog him and then release him.”
17 Now he had need to release one man to them at every feast.
18 But they cried out all together, saying, Take away this man, and release to us Barabbas
But the whole crowd shouted, “Execute this man! Release Barrabas for us [(exc)]!”
19 (a man who was cast into prison because of a certain insurrection that occurred in the city, and for murder).
Barrabas was a man who had tried to persuade people in the city to rebel [against the Roman government. While doing that], he had murdered [someone]. So he had been put {they had put him} in prison, [where he was waiting to be executed].
20 Again therefore Pilate called out wanting to release Jesus,
Because Pilate wanted to release Jesus, he tried to persuade the crowd again.
21 but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him.
But they kept shouting, “[Command your soldiers to] kill him by nailing him to a cross!/Have him crucified!”
22 And he said to them a third time, For what evil did this man do? I have found nothing guilty of death in him. I will therefore, having scourged, release him.
He [spoke to them] a third time and asked them, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have concluded that he has done nothing for which he deserves to die. So I will [have my soldiers] flog him and then release him.”
23 But they were relentless with loud voices demanding him to be crucified. And their voices and those of the chief priests prevailed.
But they kept insisting. They shouted loudly that [Jesus] should be nailed {that [Pilate] should [have his soldiers] nail [Jesus]} to a cross. Finally, because they continued to shout [PRS] [so loudly],
24 And Pilate decreed their request to happen.
Pilate decided to do what the crowd requested.
25 And he released the man who had been cast into prison because of insurrection and murder, whom they asked for, but he delivered Jesus to their will.
The man who had been {whom they had} put in prison because he had rebelled [against the government] and who had murdered [someone], he released! That was the man whom the crowd had asked him [to release]. He handed Jesus over [to the soldiers], to do what [the crowd] wanted.
26 And when they led him away, having taken hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian coming from the countryside, they laid the cross on him to bring behind Jesus.
As the soldiers were taking [Jesus] away, they seized a man named Simon, [who was] from Cyrene [city in Africa]. He was returning [to Jerusalem] from out in the countryside. They [took from Jesus the cross that he had been carrying. Then] they put it on Simon’s shoulders, and [told him to] carry it behind Jesus.
27 And a great multitude of the people followed him, and also of women who bewailed and lamented him.
A large crowd followed Jesus. The crowd included many women who were beating their breasts [to show how sad they were], and wailing for him.
28 But having turning to them, Jesus said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, instead weep for yourselves and for your children.
But Jesus turned to them and said, “You women of Jerusalem, do not cry for me! Instead, cry because of [what is going to happen to] yourselves and your children!
29 Because, behold, the days are coming, during which they will say, Blessed are the barren, and the bellies that gave no birth, and the breasts that did not suckle.
I want you to know that there will soon be a time when people will say, ‘Women [SYN] who have never borne children or nursed babies are fortunate!’
30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us.
Then, [in order that they will not have to suffer greatly when their enemies destroy this city], people who are left in the city will say to the mountains, ‘Fall down on us!’ And people will say to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
31 Because if they do these things in the green tree, what will happen in the dry?
[I am innocent] [MET]. [I am like] a living tree [that people do not try to burn. But the people of Jerusalem deserve that their enemies punish them. They are like] dry wood that is ready to [burn]. So if they [nail me to the cross], ([their enemies] will certainly do much worse things to them!/what worse things will happen to them?) [RHQ]”
32 And two other men, malefactors, were also led with him to be executed.
Two other men who were criminals were also being led away {[The soldiers] also led away two other men who were criminals}. They were going to be executed {[The soldiers] were going to execute them} [with Jesus].
33 And when they came to the place called Skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one at the right hand and the other at the left.
When they came to the place which is called ‘The Skull’, they nailed [Jesus] to a cross [after removing his clothes]. They did the same thing to the two criminals. They crucified one at the right [side of Jesus] and one at his left [side].
34 And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. And dividing his garments, they cast a lot.
Jesus prayed, “[My] Father, forgive them, because they do not realize [whom] they are doing [this to]!” Then [the soldiers] divided Jesus’ clothing by gambling with something like dice, [to decide which piece of clothing each one would get].
35 And the people had stood watching. And also the rulers with them sneered, saying, He saved others. He should save himself, if this is the Christ, the chosen of God.
Many people stood nearby, watching. And the [Jewish] leaders (made fun of/ridiculed) [Jesus], saying, “He [said] [IRO] [that he] saved other people! If he is the Messiah, the one God has chosen, he should save himself!”
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, approaching, and bringing him vinegar,
The soldiers also ridiculed him because he [claimed to be a king]. They came up to him and offered him some sour wine.
37 and saying, If thou are the king of the Jews, save thyself.
They said to him, “If you [(sg)] are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 And there was also an inscription over him written in letters, in Greek and Latin and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
[They] also [fastened on the cross] a sign [that stated] why [they] were nailing him to the cross. [But all it said was], ‘This is the King of the Jews’.
39 And one of the malefactors who were hanged railed him, saying, If thou are the Christ, save thyself and us.
One of the criminals who was hanging [on a cross] began to insult Jesus, saying, “You [(sg) said that you] are the Messiah, so [you must be powerful]! So save yourself, and save us, too!”
40 But the other man having answered, rebuking him, saying, Thou fear not even God, since thou are in the same condemnation?
But the other [criminal] rebuked him, saying, “(You [(sg)] should be afraid of God [punishing you]!/Are you not afraid of God [punishing you]?) [RHQ] They are punishing him [and us] similarly.
41 And we indeed justly, for we receive worthy of what we did, but this man did nothing amiss.
They have justly decided that we [(inc) two] must die. They are punishing us as we deserve [for the evil things that we did]. But this man has done nothing wrong!”
42 And he said to Jesus, Remember me, Lord, when thou come into thy kingdom.
Then he said, “Jesus, [please] remember me [and take care of me] when you become king!”
43 And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to thee, today thou will be with me in the paradise.
Jesus replied, “I want you [(sg)] to know that today you [(sg)] will be with me in the place where everyone is happy!” (OR, that today you will be with me in Paradise!)
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and darkness occurred over the whole land until the ninth hour.
[Then it] was about noontime. It became dark over the whole land, [and it stayed dark] until three o’clock in the afternoon.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle.
There was no light from the sun. Then the [thick] curtain [that closed off the most holy place] in the Temple split into two pieces. [That signified that ordinary people could now go into the presence of God].
46 And Jesus, having sounded out in a great voice, said, Father, into thy hands I entrust my spirit. And having said these things, he expired.
[As that happened], Jesus shouted loudly, “Father, I put my spirit into your care [MTY]!” When he said that, he [EUP] died.
47 And when the centurion saw that which happened, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this man was righteous.
When the officer [who supervised the soldiers who were executing Jesus] saw what happened, he praised God [for the way Jesus died], saying, “[I am] sure that this man had done nothing wrong!”
48 And all the multitudes who came together to this scene, watching that which happened, turned back, beating their breasts.
When the crowd of people who had gathered to see those events saw what happened, they returned [to their homes], beating their chests [to show that they were sorrowful].
49 And all his acquaintances, and the women who accompanied him from Galilee, had stood from afar, seeing these things.
All of Jesus’ friends, including the women who had come with him from Galilee [district], stood at a distance and saw everything that happened.
50 And behold a man named Joseph, a council member, being a good and righteous man
There was a man named Joseph who [came there]. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea. He was a good and a righteous man, and he was a member of the [Jewish] Council.
51 (this man not having consented to their purpose and deed), was from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who also himself awaited the kingdom of God.
But he had not agreed with the other Council [members] when they decided [to kill Jesus] and when they [planned how to] do it. He was waiting expectantly for [the time when] God [would send] his king to begin to rule.
52 This man having gone to Pilate, requested the body of Jesus.
He went to Pilate and asked [Pilate to permit him] to [take] Jesus’ body [and bury it. After Pilate allowed him to do that],
53 And having taken it down, he wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher cut in rock, of which no man was yet lain.
he [and some others] took [Jesus’ body] down [from the cross]. They wrapped it in a linen cloth. Then they put his body in a tomb that he had [hired others to] dig out of a rock [cliff]. No one had ever put a body in it before.
54 And the day was Preparation; sabbath was beginning.
[They had to do it quickly because] that was [Friday], the day when [people] prepared [things for the Jewish day of rest]. (The Sabbath/The day of rest) was about to start [at sunset, so they had to finish burying Jesus’ body before sunset].
55 And having followed closely, the women who were gathered to him out of Galilee, they saw the sepulcher, and how his body was laid.
The women who had come with [Jesus] from Galilee [district] followed [Joseph and the men who were with him]. They saw the tomb, and they saw how the men laid [Jesus’] body [inside it, and saw the men roll a huge stone across the entrance].
56 And having returned, they prepared spices and ointments. And they indeed rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.
Then the women returned to the houses [where they were staying. That evening] they prepared spices and ointments to put [on Jesus’ body], but (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day) they rested, according to what [Moses] had commanded.
