1 E arly in the morning the head religious leaders of the Jews and other leaders and the teachers of the Law and all the court gathered together to talk about Jesus. Then they tied up Jesus and led Him away. They handed Him over to Pilate.

Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.

2 P ilate asked Jesus, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He said to Pilate, “What you say is true.”

Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “ It is as you say.”

3 T he religious leaders spoke many things against Him. Jesus did not say a word.

And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.

4 P ilate asked Him again, “Have You nothing to say? Listen to the things they are saying against You!”

Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!”

5 J esus did not say a word. Pilate was much surprised and wondered about it. Jesus or Barabbas Is to Go Free

But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. Taking the Place of Barabbas

6 E ach year at the special supper Pilate would let one person who was in prison go free. It would be the one the people asked for.

Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.

7 T he name of one of those in prison was Barabbas. He, together with others, had killed people while working against the leaders of the country.

And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.

8 A ll the people went to Pilate and asked him to do as he had done before.

Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.

9 P ilate said, “Do you want me to let the King of the Jews go free?”

But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

10 H e knew the religious leaders had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.

For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

11 T he religious leaders talked the people into thinking that Pilate should let Barabbas go free.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

12 P ilate said to them again, “What do you want me to do with the Man you call the King of the Jews?”

Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”

13 T hey spoke with loud voices again, “Nail Him to a cross.”

So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”

14 T hen Pilate said to them, “Why? What bad thing has He done?” They spoke with loud voices all the more, “Nail Him to a cross!” The Crown of Thorns

Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

15 P ilate wanted to please the people. He gave Barabbas to them and had Jesus beaten. Then he handed Him over to be nailed to a cross.

So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. The Soldiers Mock Jesus

16 T he soldiers led Jesus away to a large room in the court. They called all the soldiers together.

Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison.

17 T he soldiers put a purple coat on Him. They put a crown of thorns on His head,

And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head,

18 a nd said to Him, “Hello, King of the Jews!”

and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

19 T hey hit Him on the head with a stick and spit on Him. They got down on their knees and worshiped Him.

Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.

20 A fter they had made fun of Him, they took the purple coat off of Him and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to be nailed to a cross.

And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. The King on a Cross

21 T hey came to a man called Simon who was coming from the country of Cyrene. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. They made Simon carry the cross of Jesus. Jesus on the Cross

Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.

22 T hey led Jesus to a place called Golgotha. This name means the place of the skull.

And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.

23 T hey gave Him wine with something in it to take away the pain, but He would not drink it.

Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.

24 W hen they had nailed Jesus to the cross, they divided His clothes by drawing names to see what each man should take.

And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.

25 I t was about nine o’clock in the morning when they nailed Him to the cross.

Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

26 O ver Jesus’ head they put in writing what they had against Him, THE KING OF THE JEWS. The Two Robbers

And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 T hey nailed two robbers on crosses beside Jesus. One was on His right side and the other was on His left side.

With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.

28 I t happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen, “They thought of Him as One Who broke the Law.”

So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”

29 T hose who walked by shook their heads and laughed at Jesus. They said, “You were the One Who could destroy the house of God and build it again in three days.

And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,

30 S ave Yourself and come down from the cross.”

save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

31 T he head religious leaders and the teachers of the Law made fun of Him also. They said to each other, “He saved others but He cannot save Himself.

Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.

32 L et Christ, the King of the Jews, come down from the cross. We want to see it and then we will believe.” Those who were on the crosses beside Jesus spoke bad things to Him. The Death of Jesus

Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him. Jesus Dies on the Cross

33 F rom noon until three o’clock it was dark over all the land.

Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 A t three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You left Me alone?”

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

35 W hen some of those who stood by heard that, they said, “Listen! He is calling for Elijah.”

Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!”

36 O ne of them ran and took a sponge and filled it with sour wine. He put it on a stick and gave it to Him to drink. He said, “Let Him alone. Let us see if Elijah will come and take Him down.” The Powerful Works at the Time of His Death

Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”

37 T hen Jesus gave a loud cry. He gave up His spirit and died.

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

38 T he curtain in the house of God was torn in two from top to bottom.

Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39 T he captain of the soldiers was looking at Jesus when He cried out. He saw Him die and said, “For sure, this Man was the Son of God.” The Women at the Cross

So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

40 W omen were looking on from far away. Among them was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome.

There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,

41 T hese cared for Him when He was in the country of Galilee. There were many other women there who had followed Him to Jerusalem. The Grave of Jesus

who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

42 I t was the day to get ready for the Day of Rest and it was now evening.

Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

43 J oseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was an important man in the court. He was looking for the holy nation of God. Without being afraid, he went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

44 P ilate was surprised and wondered if Jesus was dead so soon. He called the captain of the soldiers and asked if Jesus was already dead.

Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time.

45 A fter the captain said that Jesus was dead, Pilate let Joseph take the body.

So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

46 J oseph took the body of Jesus down from the cross. He put the linen cloth he had bought around the body. Then he laid the body in a grave which had been cut out in the side of a rock. He pushed a stone over to cover the door of the grave.

Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

47 M ary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid.

And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.