Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



So when the people had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which man do you want me to release for you Barabbas, or Jesus who is called "the Messiah'?" He did this because he knew that they had handed him over out of jealousy. While he was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him a message that said, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, because today I have suffered terribly due to a dream I had about him." read more.
But the high priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to demand that Jesus be put to death. So the governor asked them, "Which of the two men do you want me to release for you?" "Barabbas!" they replied. Pilate asked them, "Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" He asked, "What has he done wrong?" But they kept shouting louder and louder, "Let him be crucified!" Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was about to break out instead. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Attend to that yourselves." All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and our children!" Then he released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?" because he knew that the high priests had handed him over due to jealousy. But the high priests stirred up the crowd to get him to release Barabbas for them instead. read more.
So Pilate asked them again, "Then what should I do with the man you call "the King of the Jews'?" "Crucify him!" they shouted back. "Why?" Pilate asked them. "What has he done wrong?" But they shouted even louder, "Crucify him!" So Pilate, wanting to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

Then Pilate called the high priests, the other leaders, and the people together and told them, "You brought this man to me as one who turns the people against the government. And here in your presence I have examined him and have found him "Not Guilty' of the charges you make against him. Neither does Herod, because he sent him back to us! Indeed, this man has done nothing to deserve death. read more.
So I will punish him and let him go." Now he was obligated to release someone for them at the festival. But they all shouted out together, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas for us!" (This man had been put in prison for murder and for a revolt that had taken place in the city.) But Pilate wanted to let Jesus go, so he appealed to them again, but they continued to shout, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Then he spoke to them a third time: "What has he done wrong? I have found nothing in him worthy of death. So I will punish him and let him go." But they kept pressing him with loud shouts, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their shouts began to prevail. Then Pilate pronounced his sentence that their demand should be carried out. So he released the man who had been put in prison for revolt and murder the man whose release they continued to demand but he let them have their way with Jesus.

When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in a place called The Pavement, which in Hebrew is called Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day for the Passover, about noon. He told the Jewish leaders, "Here is your king!" Then they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Should I crucify your king?" read more.
The high priests responded, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified, and they took Jesus away.


From then on, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, "If you release this fellow, you're not a friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king is defying Caesar!" When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in a place called The Pavement, which in Hebrew is called Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day for the Passover, about noon. He told the Jewish leaders, "Here is your king!" read more.
Then they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Should I crucify your king?" The high priests responded, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified, and they took Jesus away.


they offered him a drink of wine mixed with gall. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. After they had crucified him, they determined who would get his clothes by throwing dice for them. Then they sat down there and continued guarding him. read more.
Above his head they placed the charge against him. It read, "This is Jesus, the king of the Jews." At that time two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads, and saying, "You who were going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days save yourself! If you're the Son of God, come down from the cross!" In the same way the high priests, along with the scribes and elders, were also making fun of him. They kept saying, "He saved others but can't save himself! He is the king of Israel. Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him, if he wants to do so now. After all, he said, "I am the Son of God.'" In a similar way, the bandits who were being crucified with him kept insulting him. From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. About three o'clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eli, eli, lema sabachthani?", which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling for Elijah." So one of the men ran off at once, took a sponge, and soaked it in some sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink. But the others kept saying, "Wait! Let's see if Elijah will come and save him." Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice again and died. Suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks were split open, tombs were opened, and many saints who had died were brought back to life. After his resurrection, they came out of their tombs, went into the Holy City, and appeared to many people.

They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he wouldn't accept it. Then they crucified him. They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice to see what each one would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. read more.
The written notice of the charge against him read, "The king of the Jews." They crucified two bandits with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who were going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days save yourself and come down from the cross!" In the same way, the high priests, along with the scribes, were also making fun of him among themselves. They kept saying, "He saved others, but can't save himself! Let the Messiah, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, since seeing is believing!" Even the men who were crucified with him kept insulting him. At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, eloi, lema sabachthani?" (which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?") When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, "Listen! He's calling for Elijah!" So someone ran and soaked a sponge in some sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink, saying, "Wait! Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down!" Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.

A large crowd of people followed him, including some women who kept mourning and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Women of Jerusalem, stop crying for me. Instead, cry for yourselves and for your children, because the time is surely coming when people will say, "How blessed are the women who couldn't bear children and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' read more.
Then people will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!', and to the hills, "Cover us up!' And if they do this when the wood 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 reached the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Jesus kept saying, "Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they're doing." Then they divided his clothes among them by throwing dice. Meanwhile, the people stood looking on. The leaders were mocking him by saying, "He saved others. Let him save himself, if he is the Messiah of God, the chosen one!" The soldiers also made fun of Jesus by coming up and offering him sour wine, saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: "This is the King of the Jews." Now one of the criminals hanging there kept insulting him, "You are the Messiah, aren't you? Save yourself"and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him, "Aren't you afraid of God, since you are suffering the same penalty? We have been condemned justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he went on to plead, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!" Jesus told him, "I tell you with certainty, today you will be with me in Paradise." It was already about noon, and the whole land became dark until three in the afternoon because the sun had stopped shining, and the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two. Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, "Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit." After he said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "This man certainly was righteous!" When all the crowds who had come together for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they beat their chests and left. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, were standing at a distance watching these things.

The high priests responded, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified, and they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross all by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, along with two others, one on each side of him with Jesus in the middle. read more.
Pilate wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus from Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. Then the Jewish high priests told Pilate, "Don't write, "The King of the Jews,' but that this fellow said, "I am the King of the Jews.'" Pilate replied, "What I have written I have written." When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier, and took his cloak as well. The cloak was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they told each other, "Let's not tear it. Instead, let's throw dice to see who gets it." This was to fulfill the Scripture that says, "They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they threw dice." So that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he kept loving standing there, he told his mother, "Dear lady, here is your son." Then he told the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus realized that everything was now completed, he said (in order to fulfill the Scripture), "I'm thirsty." A jar of sour wine was standing there, so they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. After Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.


Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was about to break out instead. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Attend to that yourselves."

From then on, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, "If you release this fellow, you're not a friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king is defying Caesar!" When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in a place called The Pavement, which in Hebrew is called Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day for the Passover, about noon. He told the Jewish leaders, "Here is your king!" read more.
Then they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Should I crucify your king?" The high priests responded, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified, and they took Jesus away.


Then Pilate called the high priests, the other leaders, and the people together and told them, "You brought this man to me as one who turns the people against the government. And here in your presence I have examined him and have found him "Not Guilty' of the charges you make against him. Neither does Herod, because he sent him back to us! Indeed, this man has done nothing to deserve death. read more.
So I will punish him and let him go." Now he was obligated to release someone for them at the festival. But they all shouted out together, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas for us!" (This man had been put in prison for murder and for a revolt that had taken place in the city.) But Pilate wanted to let Jesus go, so he appealed to them again, but they continued to shout, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Then he spoke to them a third time: "What has he done wrong? I have found nothing in him worthy of death. So I will punish him and let him go." But they kept pressing him with loud shouts, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their shouts began to prevail. Then Pilate pronounced his sentence that their demand should be carried out. So he released the man who had been put in prison for revolt and murder the man whose release they continued to demand but he let them have their way with Jesus.

At every festival the governor had a custom of releasing to the crowd any prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. So when the people had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which man do you want me to release for you Barabbas, or Jesus who is called "the Messiah'?" read more.
He did this because he knew that they had handed him over out of jealousy. While he was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him a message that said, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, because today I have suffered terribly due to a dream I had about him." But the high priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to demand that Jesus be put to death. So the governor asked them, "Which of the two men do you want me to release for you?" "Barabbas!" they replied. Pilate asked them, "Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" He asked, "What has he done wrong?" But they kept shouting louder and louder, "Let him be crucified!" Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was about to break out instead. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Attend to that yourselves." All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and our children!" Then he released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

At every festival, Pilate would release any one prisoner whom the people requested. Now there was a man in prison named Barabbas. He had been with the insurgents who had committed murder during the rebellion. So the crowd came and began to request that Pilate do for them what he always did. read more.
Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?" because he knew that the high priests had handed him over due to jealousy. But the high priests stirred up the crowd to get him to release Barabbas for them instead. So Pilate asked them again, "Then what should I do with the man you call "the King of the Jews'?" "Crucify him!" they shouted back. "Why?" Pilate asked them. "What has he done wrong?" But they shouted even louder, "Crucify him!" So Pilate, wanting to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

But you have a custom that I release one person for you at Passover. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?" At this, they shouted out again, "Not this fellow, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Then Pilate had Jesus taken away and whipped. The soldiers twisted some thorns into a victor's crown, put it on his head, and threw a purple robe on him. They kept coming up to him and saying, "Long live the king of the Jews!" Then they began to slap him on the face. read more.
Pilate went outside again and told the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." Then Jesus came outside, wearing the victor's crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate told them, "Here is the man!" When the high priests and the officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate told them, "You take him and crucify him. I find no basis for a charge against him." The Jewish leaders answered Pilate, "We have a law, and according to that Law he must die because he made himself out to be the Son of God." When Pilate heard this, he became even more afraid. Returning to his headquarters, he asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to speak to me? You realize, don't you, that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You have no authority over me at all, except what was given to you from above. That's why the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." From then on, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, "If you release this fellow, you're not a friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king is defying Caesar!" When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in a place called The Pavement, which in Hebrew is called Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day for the Passover, about noon. He told the Jewish leaders, "Here is your king!" Then they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Should I crucify your king?" The high priests responded, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified, and they took Jesus away.


When they had finished making fun of him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes back on him, and led him away to crucify him. As they were leaving, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry Jesus' cross. When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means "Skull Place"), read more.
they offered him a drink of wine mixed with gall. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it.

When they had finished making fun of him, they stripped him of the purple robe, put his own clothes back on him, and led him away to crucify him. They forced a certain passer-by named Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who happened to be coming in from the country, to carry Jesus' cross. They took Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means Skull Place. read more.
They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he wouldn't accept it.

As they led Jesus away, they grabbed Simon, a man from Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed him, including some women who kept mourning and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Women of Jerusalem, stop crying for me. Instead, cry for yourselves and for your children, read more.
because the time is surely coming when people will say, "How blessed are the women who couldn't bear children and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then people will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!', and to the hills, "Cover us up!' And if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.

The high priests responded, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified, and they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross all by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.


Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the high priests to betray Jesus to them. After they had listened to him, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So he began to look for a good opportunity to betray him.

Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A large crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests and elders of the people.

Then they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance.

So the high priests and the Pharisees assembled the Council and said, "What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs.

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests and inquired, "What are you willing to give me if I betray Jesus to you?" They offered him 30 pieces of silver,

As soon as it was morning, the high priests convened a meeting with the elders and scribes and the whole Council. They bound Jesus with chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.

Then the high priests and the elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas. They conspired to arrest Jesus by treachery and to kill him. But they kept saying, "This must not happen during the festival. Otherwise, there'll be a riot among the people."

Suddenly, one of the men with Jesus reached out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

Then one of them struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear.

Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer personally had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him, and lead him safely away." So Judas immediately went up to Jesus and said, "Rabbi," and kissed him tenderly. read more.
Then the men took hold of Jesus and arrested him. But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

Then they took Jesus to the high priest. All the high priests, elders, and scribes had gathered together. Peter followed Jesus at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire. Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for some testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death, but they couldn't find any. read more.
Although many people gave false testimony against him, their testimony didn't agree. Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, "We ourselves heard him say, "I will destroy this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human hands.'" But even on this point their testimony didn't agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?" But he kept silent and didn't answer at all. The high priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "I AM, and "you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power' and "coming with the clouds of heaven.'" Then the high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we still need witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict?" All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some of them began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and kept hitting him with their fists and telling him, "Prophesy!" Even the servants took him and slapped him around. While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest's servant girls came by.

So the high priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death, because they were afraid of the crowd. But Satan went into Judas called Iscariot, who belonged to the circle of the Twelve. So he went off and discussed with the high priests and the Temple police how he could betray Jesus to them. read more.
They were delighted, and agreed to give him money. Judas accepted their offer and began to look for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them when no crowd was present.

As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled and brought him before their Council. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us." But he told them, "If I tell you, you won't believe me, and if I ask you a question, you won't answer me. read more.
But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." Then they all asked, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He answered them, "You said it I AM." "Why do we need any more testimony?" they asked. "We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!"

Then the whole crowd got up and took him to Pilate. They began to accuse him, "We found this man corrupting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he is the Messiah, a king."

Then they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Should I crucify your king?" The high priests responded, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified, and they took Jesus away.




Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was about to break out instead. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Attend to that yourselves." All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and our children!" Then he released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

What is your verdict?" They replied, "He deserves to die!"

Then Pilate pronounced his sentence that their demand should be carried out.

The high priests responded, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified, and they took Jesus away.