1 I mmediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.

Early 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.

2 P ilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered, “So you say.”

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

3 T he chief priests accused him of many things.

The religious leaders spoke many things against Him. Jesus did not say a word.

4 P ilate again asked him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!”

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

5 B ut Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled.

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

6 N ow at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.

Each 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.

7 T here was one called Barabbas, bound with his fellow insurgents, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.

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

8 T he multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them.

All the people went to Pilate and asked him to do as he had done before.

9 P ilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

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

10 F or he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.

He knew the religious leaders had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.

11 B ut the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead.

The religious leaders talked the people into thinking that Pilate should let Barabbas go free.

12 P ilate again asked them, “What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?”

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

13 T hey cried out again, “Crucify him!”

They spoke with loud voices again, “Nail Him to a cross.”

14 P ilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!”

Then 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

15 P ilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.

Pilate 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.

16 T he soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort.

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

17 T hey clothed him with purple, and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him.

The soldiers put a purple coat on Him. They put a crown of thorns on His head,

18 T hey began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

and said to Him, “Hello, King of the Jews!”

19 T hey struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him.

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

20 W hen they had mocked him, they took the purple off of him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him.

After 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.

21 T hey compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.

They 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

22 T hey brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, “The place of a skull.”

They led Jesus to a place called Golgotha. This name means the place of the skull.

23 T hey offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn’t take it.

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

24 C rucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take.

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

25 I t was the third hour, and they crucified him.

It was about nine o’clock in the morning when they nailed Him to the cross.

26 T he superscription of his accusation was written over him, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

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

27 W ith him they crucified two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left.

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

28 T he Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “He was numbered with transgressors.”

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

29 T hose who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days,

Those 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.

30 s ave yourself, and come down from the cross!”

Save Yourself and come down from the cross.”

31 L ikewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, “He saved others. He can’t save himself.

The 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.

32 L et the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him.” Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.

Let 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

33 W hen the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

From noon until three o’clock it was dark over all the land.

34 A t the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

At three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You left Me alone?”

35 S ome of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”

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

36 O ne ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.”

One 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

37 J esus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit.

Then Jesus gave a loud cry. He gave up His spirit and died.

38 T he veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

The curtain in the house of God was torn in two from top to bottom.

39 W hen the centurion, who stood by opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

The 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

40 T here were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

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

41 w ho, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and served him; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

These 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

42 W hen evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

It was the day to get ready for the Day of Rest and it was now evening.

43 J oseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for God’s Kingdom, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.

Joseph, 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.

44 P ilate marveled if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long.

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

45 W hen he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

After the captain said that Jesus was dead, Pilate let Joseph take the body.

46 H e bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

Joseph 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.

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

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