1 Then the whole body of them arose and brought Him to Pilate. 2 Here they began to make the following charges against Him: "We have found this fellow corrupting our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar and claiming to be a king himself."
3 Then Pilate asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" And He answered him, "Yes, I am."
4 Then Pilate said to the high priests and crowds, "I do not find anything blameworthy in this man."
5 But they continued emphatically insisting, "He is exciting the people by teaching all over Judea. He started in Galilee and now He is here."
6 When Pilate heard this, He asked if the man were a Galilean. 7 So when he learned with certainty that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, He sent Him up to Herod, for he was in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Now Herod was very glad to see Jesus, for he had been wanting to see Him for a long time on account of what he had heard about Him; also he was hoping to see some spectacular performance done by Him. 9 So he continued to question Him for a long time, but Jesus gave him no answer at all. 10 Meanwhile, the high priests and the scribes stood by and continued vehemently to accuse Him. 11 Then Herod and his bodyguard treated Him with contempt and made sport of Him and put a gorgeous robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 So Herod and Pilate became personal friends that very day; they had been at enmity before.
13 Then Pilate called a meeting of the high priests, the leaders of the council, and the people, 14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me on a charge of turning the people from allegiance, and here in your presence I have examined Him and do not find Him guilty of the charges you make against Him. 15 No; nor does Herod, for he has sent Him back to us. Indeed, He has done nothing to deserve the death penalty. 16 So I will flog Him and let Him go." 17 Omitted Text.
18 But they all together began to shout, "Away with this fellow, but let us have Barabbas released! 19 (He was a man who had been put in prison for a riot that had occurred in the city and for murder.)
20 Then Pilate again appealed to them, for He wanted to let Jesus go. 21 But they continued to shout at him, "Crucify Him, crucify Him?
22 Then a third time he spoke to them, "Why, what wrong has He done? I have found nothing in Him deserving the death penalty. So I will flog Him and let Him go."
23 But they continued to press him with loud voices in their ceaseless demands that He be crucified, and their shouts began to prevail. 24 Then Pilate pronounced his sentence that their demand be carried out. 25 So he released the man who had been put in prison for riot and murder, whom they continued to demand, but turned Jesus over to their will.
26 Now as they led Him away, they seized a man named Simon, from Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and put the cross on his shoulders, for him to carry as he walked behind Jesus. 27 There was following Him also a vast throng of the people and of women who were beating their breasts and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turned to the women and said, "Women of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but continue to weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For a time is coming when people will say, 'Happy are the women who are childless, and the women who have never borne and nursed babies!' 30 Then people will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us up!' 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will they do when it is dry?"
32 Two others, criminals, were also led out to be executed with Him. 33 When they reached the place called "The Skull," they crucified Him there; also the criminals, one at His right and one at His left. 34 They drew lots to divide His clothes among them.
35 Meanwhile, the people stood looking on. Even the members of the council were scoffing at Him and saying, "He saved others, let Him now save Himself, if He really is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!" 36 The soldiers also made sport of Him as they continued to come up and offer Him vinegar, 37 and to say, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!"
38 Yes, there was a placard above His head: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
39 Now one of the criminals who were hanging from their crosses kept abusing Him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Then save yourself and us too!"
40 But the other one reproved him and said, "Do you not fear even God when you are suffering the same penalty? 41 And we are suffering it justly, for we are getting our deserts for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he went on to say, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom!"
43 So He said to him, "I solemnly say to you, this very day you will be in paradise with me."
44 It was already about noon, and darkness covered the whole country, and lasted until three o'clock, 45 for the sun had failed to shine. And the curtain before the sanctuary was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus uttered a loud cry, and said, "Father, I now commit my spirit to your care." As He said this He breathed His last.
47 When the captain saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "He certainly was an innocent man!" 48 And all the crowds who had come together for this sight, when they had seen what took place, returned to the city but continued to beat their breasts in grief. 49 But all His acquaintances, and the women who used to follow Him from Galilee in a group, were standing at a distance looking on.
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not voted for the plan and action of the council. He came from a Jewish town, Arimathea, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. 53 Then he took it down from the cross and wrapped it in a linen sheet and laid it in a tomb hewn out of rock, where no one had yet been laid. 54 It was the Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was just beginning. 55 So the women, who had come with Jesus from Galilee, followed closely after Joseph and saw the tomb and how His body was laid there. 56 Then they went back home, and prepared spices and perfumes.