Luke 23
1 The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.
Then the whole group got up and took Jesus to Pilate, [the Roman governor].
2 They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Christ, a king."
They began to accuse Jesus, saying, “We [(exc)] have determined that this fellow has caused political trouble in our country. He has been [telling people that they should] not pay taxes to the Roman government [MTY]. Also, he says that he is the Messiah, a king!”
3 Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered him, "You say so."
Pilate asked him, “Do you [(sg) claim that you are] the King of the Jews?” He replied, “[It is] as you have [just] now said.”
4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."
Pilate said to the chief priests and [the rest of] the crowd, “I do not conclude that this man is guilty of any crime.”
5 But they insisted, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place."
But they kept insisting, “He is inciting the people [to riot]! He has been teaching his [ideas] throughout all of Judea [district]. He started [doing it] in Galilee [district] and now he is doing it here!”
6 But when Pilate heard it, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
When Pilate heard that, he asked, “Is this man from Galilee [district]?”
7 When he found out that he was in Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
When they told him that Jesus was [from Galilee, which was the district] that Herod [Antipas] ruled, [he told them] to take Jesus to Herod [Antipas], because Herod was in Jerusalem at that time.
8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.
[So they did]. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very happy. He [had heard about Jesus], and he had been hoping for a long time that he could see Jesus perform a miracle.
9 He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.
So he asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not reply [to any of them].
10 The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.
The chief priests and men who taught the [Jewish] laws stood near Jesus, accusing him very strongly.
11 Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.
Then Herod and his soldiers (made fun of/ridiculed) [Jesus]. They put gorgeous clothes on him [to mock him as being a king]. Then Herod sent him back to Pilate.
12 Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.
Until that time Herod and Pilate had been very hostile to each other, but that very day they became friends.
13 Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
Pilate then gathered together the chief priests and other [Jewish] leaders and the crowd [that was still there].
14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one that subverts the people, and see, I have examined him before you, and found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.
He said to them, “You brought this man to me, saying that he had caused trouble among the people. But [I want you to know that] after having examined him while you were listening, I do not conclude that he is guilty of any of the things that you are accusing him about.
15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.
[Obviously] Herod did not [conclude that] either, because he sent him back to me [without punishing him]. [So it] is clear that this man has not done anything for which we [(inc)] should kill him.
16 I will therefore chastise him and release him."
So I will [have my soldiers] flog him and then release him.”
17 (Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.)
18 But they all shouted out together, saying, "Away with this man. Release to us Barabbas"
But the whole crowd shouted, “Execute this man! Release Barrabas for us [(exc)]!”
19 (one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.)
Barrabas was a man who had tried to persuade people in the city to rebel [against the Roman government. While doing that], he had murdered [someone]. So he had been put {they had put him} in prison, [where he was waiting to be executed].
20 Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus,
Because Pilate wanted to release Jesus, he tried to persuade the crowd again.
21 but they shouted, saying, "Crucify. Crucify him."
But they kept shouting, “[Command your soldiers to] kill him by nailing him to a cross!/Have him crucified!”
22 He said to them the third time, "Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him."
He [spoke to them] a third time and asked them, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have concluded that he has done nothing for which he deserves to die. So I will [have my soldiers] flog him and then release him.”
23 But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices, and those of the chief priests, prevailed.
But they kept insisting. They shouted loudly that [Jesus] should be nailed {that [Pilate] should [have his soldiers] nail [Jesus]} to a cross. Finally, because they continued to shout [PRS] [so loudly],
24 Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done.
Pilate decided to do what the crowd requested.
25 He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.
The man who had been {whom they had} put in prison because he had rebelled [against the government] and who had murdered [someone], he released! That was the man whom the crowd had asked him [to release]. He handed Jesus over [to the soldiers], to do what [the crowd] wanted.
26 When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and placed on him the cross, to carry it after Jesus.
As the soldiers were taking [Jesus] away, they seized a man named Simon, [who was] from Cyrene [city in Africa]. He was returning [to Jerusalem] from out in the countryside. They [took from Jesus the cross that he had been carrying. Then] they put it on Simon’s shoulders, and [told him to] carry it behind Jesus.
27 A large crowd of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.
A large crowd followed Jesus. The crowd included many women who were beating their breasts [to show how sad they were], and wailing for him.
28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
But Jesus turned to them and said, “You women of Jerusalem, do not cry for me! Instead, cry because of [what is going to happen to] yourselves and your children!
29 For look, the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.'
I want you to know that there will soon be a time when people will say, ‘Women [SYN] who have never borne children or nursed babies are fortunate!’
30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'
Then, [in order that they will not have to suffer greatly when their enemies destroy this city], people who are left in the city will say to the mountains, ‘Fall down on us!’ And people will say to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
31 For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?"
[I am innocent] [MET]. [I am like] a living tree [that people do not try to burn. But the people of Jerusalem deserve that their enemies punish them. They are like] dry wood that is ready to [burn]. So if they [nail me to the cross], ([their enemies] will certainly do much worse things to them!/what worse things will happen to them?) [RHQ]”
32 There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.
Two other men who were criminals were also being led away {[The soldiers] also led away two other men who were criminals}. They were going to be executed {[The soldiers] were going to execute them} [with Jesus].
33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
When they came to the place which is called ‘The Skull’, they nailed [Jesus] to a cross [after removing his clothes]. They did the same thing to the two criminals. They crucified one at the right [side of Jesus] and one at his left [side].
34 And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
Jesus prayed, “[My] Father, forgive them, because they do not realize [whom] they are doing [this to]!” Then [the soldiers] divided Jesus’ clothing by gambling with something like dice, [to decide which piece of clothing each one would get].
35 The people stood watching. The rulers also scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his Chosen One."
Many people stood nearby, watching. And the [Jewish] leaders (made fun of/ridiculed) [Jesus], saying, “He [said] [IRO] [that he] saved other people! If he is the Messiah, the one God has chosen, he should save himself!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,
The soldiers also ridiculed him because he [claimed to be a king]. They came up to him and offered him some sour wine.
37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself."
They said to him, “If you [(sg)] are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 An inscription was also written above him: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
[They] also [fastened on the cross] a sign [that stated] why [they] were nailing him to the cross. [But all it said was], ‘This is the King of the Jews’.
39 One of the criminals who hung there insulted him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us."
One of the criminals who was hanging [on a cross] began to insult Jesus, saying, “You [(sg) said that you] are the Messiah, so [you must be powerful]! So save yourself, and save us, too!”
40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
But the other [criminal] rebuked him, saying, “(You [(sg)] should be afraid of God [punishing you]!/Are you not afraid of God [punishing you]?) [RHQ] They are punishing him [and us] similarly.
41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
They have justly decided that we [(inc) two] must die. They are punishing us as we deserve [for the evil things that we did]. But this man has done nothing wrong!”
42 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Then he said, “Jesus, [please] remember me [and take care of me] when you become king!”
43 And he said to him, "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Jesus replied, “I want you [(sg)] to know that today you [(sg)] will be with me in the place where everyone is happy!” (OR, that today you will be with me in Paradise!)
44 And it was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,
[Then it] was about noontime. It became dark over the whole land, [and it stayed dark] until three o’clock in the afternoon.
45 for the sun's light failed. And the veil of the temple was torn in two.
There was no light from the sun. Then the [thick] curtain [that closed off the most holy place] in the Temple split into two pieces. [That signified that ordinary people could now go into the presence of God].
46 And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.
[As that happened], Jesus shouted loudly, “Father, I put my spirit into your care [MTY]!” When he said that, he [EUP] died.
47 When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man."
When the officer [who supervised the soldiers who were executing Jesus] saw what happened, he praised God [for the way Jesus died], saying, “[I am] sure that this man had done nothing wrong!”
48 All the crowds that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts.
When the crowd of people who had gathered to see those events saw what happened, they returned [to their homes], beating their chests [to show that they were sorrowful].
49 All his acquaintances, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
All of Jesus’ friends, including the women who had come with him from Galilee [district], stood at a distance and saw everything that happened.
50 And look, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man
There was a man named Joseph who [came there]. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea. He was a good and a righteous man, and he was a member of the [Jewish] Council.
51 (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathea, a city of the Judeans, who was also waiting for the kingdom of God:
But he had not agreed with the other Council [members] when they decided [to kill Jesus] and when they [planned how to] do it. He was waiting expectantly for [the time when] God [would send] his king to begin to rule.
52 this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
He went to Pilate and asked [Pilate to permit him] to [take] Jesus’ body [and bury it. After Pilate allowed him to do that],
53 He took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been placed.
he [and some others] took [Jesus’ body] down [from the cross]. They wrapped it in a linen cloth. Then they put his body in a tomb that he had [hired others to] dig out of a rock [cliff]. No one had ever put a body in it before.
54 It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.
[They had to do it quickly because] that was [Friday], the day when [people] prepared [things for the Jewish day of rest]. (The Sabbath/The day of rest) was about to start [at sunset, so they had to finish burying Jesus’ body before sunset].
55 The women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was placed.
The women who had come with [Jesus] from Galilee [district] followed [Joseph and the men who were with him]. They saw the tomb, and they saw how the men laid [Jesus’] body [inside it, and saw the men roll a huge stone across the entrance].
56 They returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Then the women returned to the houses [where they were staying. That evening] they prepared spices and ointments to put [on Jesus’ body], but (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day) they rested, according to what [Moses] had commanded.
