Luke 23
23
Jesus is Brought before Pilate
(Mt 27.1–2, 11–14; Mk 15.1–5; Jn 18.28–38)
1The whole group rose up and took Jesus before Pilate, 2where they began to accuse him: “We caught this man misleading our people, telling them not to pay taxes to the Emperor and claiming that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”
3Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“So you say,” answered Jesus.
4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no reason to condemn this man.”
5But they insisted even more strongly, “With his teaching he is starting a riot among the people all through Judea. He began in Galilee and now has come here.”
Jesus is Sent to Herod
6When Pilate heard this, he asked, “Is this man a Galilean?” 7When he learnt that Jesus was from the region ruled by Herod, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8Herod was very pleased when he saw Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been wanting to see him for a long time. He was hoping to see Jesus perform some miracle. 9So Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus made no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the Law stepped forward and made strong accusations against Jesus. 11Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus and treated him with contempt; then they put a fine robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12On that very day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this they had been enemies.
Jesus is Sentenced to Death
(Mt 27.15–26; Mk 15.6–15; Jn 18.39—19.16)
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought this man to me and said that he was misleading the people. Now, I have examined him here in your presence, and I have not found him guilty of any of the crimes you accuse him of. 15Nor did Herod find him guilty, for he sent him back to us. There is nothing this man has done to deserve death. 16So I will have him whipped and let him go.”#23.16 Some manuscripts add verse 17: At every Passover Festival Pilate had to set free one prisoner for them (see Mk 15.6).
18The whole crowd cried out, “Kill him! Set Barabbas free for us!” 19(Barabbas had been put in prison for a riot that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
20Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he appealed to the crowd again. 21But they shouted back, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22Pilate said to them the third time, “But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free.”
23But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices that Jesus should be crucified, and finally their shouting succeeded. 24So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for. 25He set free the man they wanted, the one who had been put in prison for riot and murder, and he handed Jesus over for them to do as they wished.
Jesus is Crucified
(Mt 27.32–44; Mk 15.21–32; Jn 19.17–27)
26The soldiers led Jesus away, and as they were going, they met a man from Cyrene named Simon who was coming into the city from the country. They seized him, put the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some women who were weeping and wailing for him. 28Jesus turned to them and said, “Women of Jerusalem! Don't cry for me, but for yourselves and your children. 29For the days are coming when people will say, ‘How lucky are the women who never had children, who never bore babies, who never nursed them!’ 30#Hos 10.8; Rev 6.16That will be the time when people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Hide us!’ 31For if such things as these are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32Two other men, both of them criminals, were also led out to be put to death with Jesus. 33When they came to the place called “The Skull”, they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. 34#Ps 22.18Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.”#23.34 Some manuscripts do not have Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.”
They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice. 35#Ps 22.7The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders jeered at him: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!”
36 #
Ps 69.21
The soldiers also mocked him: they came up to him and offered him cheap wine, 37and said, “Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!”
38Above him were written these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. 41Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” 42And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!”
43Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.”
The Death of Jesus
(Mt 27.45–56; Mk 15.33–41; Jn 19.28–30)
44-45 #
Ex 26.31–33
It was about twelve o'clock when the sun stopped shining and darkness covered the whole country until three o'clock; and the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two. 46#Ps 31.5Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” He said this and died.
47The army officer saw what had happened, and he praised God, saying, “Certainly he was a good man!”
48When the people who had gathered there to watch the spectacle saw what happened, they all went back home, beating their breasts in sorrow. 49#Lk 8.2–3All those who knew Jesus personally, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance to watch.
The Burial of Jesus
(Mt 27.57–61; Mk 15.42–47; Jn 19.38–42)
50-51There was a man named Joseph from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He was a good and honourable man, who was waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Although he was a member of the Council, he had not agreed with their decision and action. 52He went into the presence of Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took the body down, wrapped it in a linen sheet, and placed it in a tomb which had been dug out of solid rock and which had never been used. 54It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee went with Joseph and saw the tomb and how Jesus' body was placed in it. 56#Ex 20.10; Deut 5.14Then they went back home and prepared the spices and perfumes for the body.
On the Sabbath they rested, as the Law commanded.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Luke 23
23
Jesus Before Pilate.#Mt 27:1–2, 11–14; Mk 15:1–5; Jn 18:28–38. 1#23:1–5, 13–25] Twice Jesus is brought before Pilate in Luke’s account, and each time Pilate explicitly declares Jesus innocent of any wrongdoing (Lk 23:4, 14, 22). This stress on the innocence of Jesus before the Roman authorities is also characteristic of John’s gospel (Jn 18:38; 19:4, 6). Luke presents the Jerusalem Jewish leaders as the ones who force the hand of the Roman authorities (Lk 23:1–2, 5, 10, 13, 18, 21, 23–25). Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2They brought charges against him, saying, “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Messiah, a king.”#20:22–25; Acts 17:7; 24:5. 3Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.”#22:70; 1 Tm 6:13. 4Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, “I find this man not guilty.” 5But they were adamant and said, “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here.”#23:14, 22, 41; Mt 27:24; Jn 19:4, 6; Acts 13:28.
Jesus Before Herod. 6#The appearance of Jesus before Herod is found only in this gospel. Herod has been an important figure in Luke (Lk 9:7–9; 13:31–33) and has been presented as someone who has been curious about Jesus for a long time. His curiosity goes unrewarded. It is faith in Jesus, not curiosity, that is rewarded (Lk 7:50; 8:48, 50; 17:19). On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; 7and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.#3:1; 9:7. 8Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign.#9:9; Acts 4:27–28. 9He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer.#Mk 15:5. 10The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly.#Mt 27:12; Mk 15:3. 11[Even] Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate.#Mt 27:28–30; Mk 15:17–19; Jn 19:2–3. 12Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. 13Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people 14and said to them, “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him,#23:4, 22, 41. 15nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. 16#23:22; Jn 19:12–14. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” [17]#This verse, “He was obliged to release one prisoner for them at the festival,” is not part of the original text of Luke. It is an explanatory gloss from Mk 15:6 (also Mt 27:15) and is not found in many early and important Greek manuscripts. On its historical background, see notes on Mt 27:15–26.
The Sentence of Death.#Mt 27:20–26; Mk 15:6–7, 11–15; Jn 18:38b–40; 19:14–16; Acts 3:13–14. 18But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” 19(Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.) 20Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, 21but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” 23With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. 24The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. 25So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.
The Way of the Cross.#An important Lucan theme throughout the gospel has been the need for the Christian disciple to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Here this theme comes to the fore with the story of Simon of Cyrene who takes up the cross and follows Jesus (see Lk 9:23; 14:27) and with the large crowd who likewise follow Jesus on the way of the cross. See also note on Mk 15:21. 26#Mt 27:32, 38; Mk 15:21, 27; Jn 19:17. As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. 28#19:41–44; 21:23–24. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, 29for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30At that time people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’#Hos 10:8; Rev 6:16. 31for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” 32Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.
The Crucifixion.#Mt 27:33–44; Mk 15:22–32; Jn 19:17–24. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.#22:37; Is 53:12. 34[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”]#[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”]: this portion of Lk 23:34 does not occur in the oldest papyrus manuscript of Luke and in other early Greek manuscripts and ancient versions of wide geographical distribution. They divided his garments by casting lots.#Nm 15:27–31; Ps 22:19; Mt 5:44; Acts 7:60. 35The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,#Ps 22:8–9. “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.”#4:23. 36Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine#Ps 69:22; Mt 27:48; Mk 15:36. 37they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” 38Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39#This episode is recounted only in this gospel. The penitent sinner receives salvation through the crucified Jesus. Jesus’ words to the penitent thief reveal Luke’s understanding that the destiny of the Christian is “to be with Jesus.” Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” 40The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? 41And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.”#23:4, 14, 22. 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”#9:27; 23:2, 3, 38. 43He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”#2 Cor 12:3; Rev 2:7.
The Death of Jesus.#Mt 27:45–56; Mk 15:33–41; Jn 19:25–30. 44#Noon…three in the afternoon: literally, the sixth and ninth hours. See note on Mk 15:25. It was now about noon#Am 8:9. and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon 45because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.#Ex 26:31–33; 36:35. 46Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.#Ps 31:6; Acts 7:59. 47The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, “This man was innocent#This man was innocent: or, “This man was righteous.” beyond doubt.” 48When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts;#18:13; Zec 12:10. 49but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.#8:1–3; 23:55–56; 24:10; Ps 38:12.
The Burial of Jesus.#Mt 27:57–61; Mk 15:42–47; Jn 19:38–42; Acts 13:29. 50Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, 51had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God.#2:25, 38. 52He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried.#19:30; Acts 13:29. 54It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin. 55The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it,#8:2; 23:49; 24:10. 56they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.#Ex 12:16; 20:10; Dt 5:14.
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