Luke 23
23
Jesus before Pilate
1The entire council stood at once and took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. 2They accused him of false testimony, saying, “This man tells us not to pay our taxes to Caesar. And he proclaims himself to be Christ the King and Messiah. He’s a deceiver of our nation.”
3Pilate asked Jesus, “Is this true? Are you their king and Messiah?”
Jesus answered, “It is true.”
4Pilate turned to the high priests and to the gathered crowd and said, “This man has committed no crime. I find nothing wrong with him.”
5But they yelled and demanded that Pilate do something, saying, “He has stirred up our nation, misleading people from the moment he began teaching in Galilee until he has come here to Jerusalem!”
Jesus before Herod
6-7When Pilate heard the word Galilee, he asked if Jesus was a Galilean, and when they told him “yes,” Pilate saw a way out of his problem. He knew that Antipas, # 23:6–7 “Antipas” is a nickname for Herod Antipater, son of Herod the Great. The Greek text reads simply “Herod.” son of Herod, ruled over Galilee, and he happened to be in Jerusalem at that time, so Pilate sent Jesus to Antipas.
8When he saw Jesus, he was elated, for he had heard a great deal about his ministry and wanted Jesus to perform a miracle in front of him. 9Antipas questioned him at length, but Jesus wouldn’t even answer him.
10-11All the while the high priests and religious leaders stood by, accusing Jesus of wrongdoing, so that Antipas and his soldiers treated him with scorn and mocking. Antipas put an elegant purple robe on Jesus and sent him back to Pilate. 12That day, Antipas and Pilate healed their long-standing feud and they became good friends.
Jesus Sentenced to Death
13-14Pilate gathered together the people, the high priests, and all the religious leaders of the nation. # 23:13–14 This group of religious leaders was known as the Jewish council of the Sanhedrin. He told them, “You have presented this man to me and charged him with stirring a rebellion among the people. I have examined him here in your presence and have put him on trial. My verdict is that none of your charges against him are true. I find no fault in him. # 23:13–14 The phrase “I find no fault in him” is found in the Aramaic text. 15-16Then I sent him to Antipas, son of Herod, who questioned him and found him not guilty. Since he has done nothing deserving of death, I have decided to punish him with a severe flogging and release him.” 17For it was Pilate’s custom to honor the Jewish holiday by releasing a prisoner. # 23:17 Although many Greek manuscripts do not have this verse in the text, it is found in the Aramaic text.
18When the crowd heard this, they went wild. Erupting with anger, they cried out, “No! Take this one away and release Barabbas!” # 23:18 There were two men, two sons. Barabbas means “son of a father.” Jesus was the Son of our heavenly Father. One was a son of Adam; the other was the Son of God. 19For Barabbas had been thrown in prison for robbery # 23:19 Most Greek manuscripts have “for insurrection.” The Aramaic states “for robbery.” and murder.
20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, tried to convince them it was best to let Jesus go, 21but they screamed out over and over, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” # 23:21 Crucifixion was the cruelest form of execution, reserved for only the worst of criminals.
22A third time, Pilate asked the crowd, “What evil crime has this man committed that I should have him crucified? I haven’t found one thing that warrants a death sentence! I will have him flogged severely and then release him.”
23But the people and the high priests, shouting like a mob, screamed out at the top of their lungs, “No! Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Finally their shouts and screams succeeded. 24Pilate caved in to the crowd and ordered that the will of the people be done. 25Then he released the guilty murderer Barabbas, as they had insisted, and handed Jesus over to be crucified.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
26As the guards led Jesus to be crucified, there was an African man in the crowd named Simon, from Libya. # 23:26 Or “from Cyrene,” which is present-day Tripoli, Libya. He had just arrived from a rural village to keep the Feast of the Passover. The guards laid Jesus’ cross on Simon’s shoulders # 23:26 By this time Jesus had been severely beaten and flogged, had gone days without sleep, and was carrying a heavy load. and forced him to walk behind Jesus, carrying his cross.
27Massive crowds gathered to follow Jesus, including a number of women, who were wailing with sorrow over him. 28Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me. You should be weeping for yourselves and your children. 29The day is coming when it will not be the women with children who are blessed but those who are childless. Then you will say, ‘The barren women are the most fortunate! Those who have never given birth and never nursed a child—they are more fortunate than we, for they will never see their children put to death!’ 30And the people will cry out for the mountains and hills to fall on top of them to hide them from all that is to come. # 23:30 See Hos. 10:8. 31For if this is what they do to the living Branch, what will they do with the dead ones?”
32The guards led away two criminals with Jesus, to execute all three at the same time. 33When they came to the place that is known as The Skull, the guards crucified Jesus, nailing him on the center cross between the two criminals. 34While they were nailing Jesus to the cross, he prayed over and over, # 23:34 Or “he prayed intensely.” “Father, forgive them, # 23:34 The Greek text implies a repetitive action. He did not pray, “forgive me,” but “forgive them.” As the centurion crushed him to the ground and tied his arms to the crossbeam, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them.” When the spikes tore through each quivering palm, he prayed again, “Father, forgive them.” And when the soldiers parted his garments and gambled for the seamless robe, again Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them.” Only heaven knows how many times he uttered that prayer. Many reliable Greek manuscripts omit this verse; however, it does fit with the Lukan theology of forgiveness (Luke 6:27–36) and the parallel passage in Acts 7:60. for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
The soldiers, after they crucified him, gambled over his clothing.
35A great crowd gathered to watch what was happening. The religious leaders sneered at Jesus and mocked him, saying, “Look at this man! What kind of ‘chosen Messiah’ is this? He pretended to save others, but he can’t even save himself!”
36The soldiers joined in the mockery, offering Jesus a drink of vinegar. # 23:36 See Ps. 69:21. It was likely Jesus had had nothing to drink since the night before.
37-38Over Jesus’ head on the cross was written an inscription in Greek, Latin, and Aramaic: # 23:37–38 Many Greek texts omit the mention of these three languages. “This man is the king of all the Jews.” And all the soldiers laughed and scoffed at him, saying, “Hey! If you’re the king of Jews, why don’t you save yourself?”
39One of the criminals hanging on the cross next to Jesus kept ridiculing him, saying, “What kind of Messiah are you? Save yourself and save us from this death!”
40The criminal hanging on the other cross rebuked the man, saying, “Don’t you fear God? You’re about to die! 41We deserve to be condemned. We’re just being repaid for what we’ve done. But this man—he’s done nothing wrong!”
42Then he said, “I beg of you, Jesus, show me grace and take me with you into your everlasting kingdom!”
43Jesus responded, “I promise you—this very day you will enter paradise with me.”
The Death of the Savior
44It was now only midday, yet the whole world became dark for three hours as the light of the sun faded away. # 23:44 The darkening of the sun indicated that the “day of the Lord” had now come. See Joel 2:10; Amos 8:9. 45And suddenly in the temple the thick veil hanging in the Holy Place was ripped in two! 46Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, I surrender my Spirit into your hands.” # 23:46 See Ps. 31:5. And he took his last breath and died.
47When the Roman captain overseeing the crucifixion witnessed all that took place, he was awestruck and glorified God. Acknowledging what they had done, he said, “I have no doubt; we just killed the righteous one.” # 23:47 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “innocent man.”
48The crowds that had gathered to observe this spectacle went back to their homes, overcome with deep sorrow # 23:48 Literally “beating their breasts,” which is a figure of speech for deep sorrow. and devastated by what they had witnessed. 49But standing off at a distance were some who truly knew Jesus, and the women who had followed him all the way from Galilee were keeping vigil.
50-51There was also a member of the Jewish council named Joseph, from the village of Ramah, # 23:50–51 As translated from the Aramaic. Ramah (formerly Ramathaim Zophim) was the village of Samuel, only a few miles from Jerusalem. The Greek is, “Joseph of Arimathea.” a good-hearted, honorable man who was eager for God’s kingdom to appear. He had strongly disagreed with the decision of the council to crucify Jesus. # 23:50–51 One ancient Syriac manuscript adds here, “This man was one who did not take part with the mind of the devil.” 52He came before Pilate and asked permission to take the body of Jesus for a proper burial, and Pilate granted his request. 53So he took the body from the cross, wrapped it in a winding sheet of linen, and placed it in a new, unused tomb chiseled out of solid rock. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was fast approaching.
55The women who had been companions of Jesus from the beginning saw all this take place and carefully contemplated how the body was laid in the tomb. 56Afterward they returned home and prepared fragrant spices and ointments and were planning to anoint his body after the Sabbath was completed, according to the commandments of the law.
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Luke 23: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationLuke 23
23
1And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king. 3And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest. 4And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man. 5But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judæa, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place. 6But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilæan. 7And when he knew that he was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.
8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 11And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. 12And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
13And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I, having examined him before you, found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 15no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him. 16I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 17#23:17 Many ancient authorities insert v. 17. Now he must needs release unto them at the feast one prisoner. Comp. Mat 27:15; Mrk 15:6; Jhn 18:39. Others add the same words after v. 19. 18But they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:— 19one who for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison. 20And Pilate spake unto them again, desiring to release Jesus; 21but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him. 22And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him. 23But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24And Pilate gave sentence that what they asked for should be done. 25And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
26And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus.
27And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. 28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. 30Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
32And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots. 35And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen. 36And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him vinegar, 37and saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself. 38And there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us. 40But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom. 43And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.
44And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45the sun’s light failing: and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. 47And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts. 49And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things.
50And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good and righteous man 51(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of God: 52this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 53And he took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain. 54And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid. 56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
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