Luke 23
1 Then the whole group got up and took Jesus to Pilate, [the Roman governor].
And one and all the throng of them, arising, led him unto Pilate.
2 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!”
And they began to accuse him, saying—This one, found we, perverting our nation, and forbidding to give, tribute unto Caesar, —and affirming himself to be, an anointed king.
3 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.”
And, Pilate, questioned him, saying—Art, thou, the king of the Jews? And, he, answering him, said—Thou, sayest.
4 Pilate said to the chief priests and [the rest of] the crowd, “I do not conclude that this man is guilty of any crime.”
And, Pilate, said unto the High-priests and the multitudes, Nothing, find I, worthy of blame, in this man.
5 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!”
But, they, began to be urgent, saying—He is stirring up the people, teaching along all Judaea, even beginning from Galilee unto this place.
6 When Pilate heard that, he asked, “Is this man from Galilee [district]?”
Now, Pilate, hearing [that], questioned whether the man was, a Galilaean.
7 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.
And, getting to know that he was of the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him back unto Herod, he also, being in Jerusalem in these days.
8 [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.
And, Herod, seeing Jesus, rejoiced exceedingly; for he had been, a considerable number of times, wishing to see him, —because he had heard concerning him, and was hoping, some sign, to behold, by him, brought to pass.
9 So he asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not reply [to any of them].
And he went on to question him in a good many words; but, he, answered him, nothing.
10 The chief priests and men who taught the [Jewish] laws stood near Jesus, accusing him very strongly.
And the High-priests and the Scribes stood vehemently accusing him.
11 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.
And Herod with his soldiery, having set him at nought, and mocked him, threw about him a gorgeous robe, and sent him back unto Pilate.
12 Until that time Herod and Pilate had been very hostile to each other, but that very day they became friends.
And they became friends—both Herod and Pilate—on the self-same day, one with another; for they had previously been at enmity between themselves.
13 Pilate then gathered together the chief priests and other [Jewish] leaders and the crowd [that was still there].
And, Pilate, calling together the High-priests, and the Rulers, and the people,
14 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.
said unto them—Ye brought unto me this man, as one turning away the people, and lo! I, in your presence, examining him, found, nothing, in this man worthy of blame, in respect of the things whereof ye were making accusation against him.
15 [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.
Nay! nor Herod; for he hath sent him back unto you, —and lo! nothing worthy of death, hath been done by him.
16 So I will [have my soldiers] flog him and then release him.”
So, then, chastising him, I will release him.
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Execute this man! Release Barrabas for us [(exc)]!”
But they cried aloud, with the whole throng, saying—Away with this man! and release unto us Barabbas: —
19 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].
who indeed, because of a certain revolt which had occurred in the city, and of murder, had been thrown into prison.
20 Because Pilate wanted to release Jesus, he tried to persuade the crowd again.
Again, however, Pilate, called out unto them, wishing to release Jesus.
21 But they kept shouting, “[Command your soldiers to] kill him by nailing him to a cross!/Have him crucified!”
But, they, called out in return, saying—Crucify! crucify him!
22 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.”
But, he, the third time, said unto them—Why! what base thing hath this man done? Nothing worthy of death, found I in him. Chastising him, then, I will release him!
23 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],
But they became urgent with loud voices, claiming to have him crucified; and their voices began to prevail.
24 Pilate decided to do what the crowd requested.
And, Pilate, consented, that their request should be granted;
25 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.
and released him who, for revolt and murder, had been cast into prison, whom they claimed, —whereas, Jesus, delivered he up unto their will.
26 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.
And, as they led him away, they laid hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from the country, —they laid on him the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
27 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.
And there was following him a great throng of the people, and of women, who were smiting themselves and lamenting him.
28 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!
But, turning towards them, Jesus said—Daughters of Jerusalem! Do not weep for me; but, for yourselves, be weeping, and for your children.
29 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!’
For lo! days are coming, in which they will say—Happy the barren! even the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck.
30 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!’
Then, will they begin to say—unto the mountains, Fall upon us! and unto the hills, Cover us!
31 [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]”
Because if, in moist wood, these things, they are doing, —in, the dry, what shall happen?
32 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].
And there were being led, two other evil-doers also, to be lifted up.
33 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].
And, when they came into the place which was called Skull, there, they crucified him; and the evil-doers, one indeed on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 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].
But, Jesus, was saying—Father! forgive them; for they know not what they do. And, when they were parting his garments, they cast lots.
35 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!”
And the people were standing, looking on. But the rulers were sneering, saying—Others, he saved, let him save himself, —if, this, is, the Christ of God, the Chosen.
36 The soldiers also ridiculed him because he [claimed to be a king]. They came up to him and offered him some sour wine.
Moreover the soldiers also mocked him, —coming near, offering, vinegar, unto him,
37 They said to him, “If you [(sg)] are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
and saying—If, thou, art the King of the Jews, save thyself.
38 [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’.
Now there was an inscription also, over him—THE KING OF THE JEWS, THIS!
39 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!”
And, one of the suspended evil-doers, began to defame him—Art not, thou, the Christ? Save thyself and us!
40 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.
But the other, answering, rebuked him, and said—Neither fearest, thou, God, in that thou art, in the same judgment?
41 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!”
And, we, indeed, justly, —for, things worthy of what we have done, are we duly receiving, but, this man, nothing amiss, hath done.
42 Then he said, “Jesus, [please] remember me [and take care of me] when you become king!”
And he went on to say—Jesus! remember me, whensoever thou shalt come into thy kingdom.
43 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!)
And he said unto him—Verily, I say unto thee this day: With me, shalt thou be in Paradise.
44 [Then it] was about noontime. It became dark over the whole land, [and it stayed dark] until three o’clock in the afternoon.
And it was already about the sixth hour, and, darkness, came upon the whole land, until the ninth hour, —
45 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].
the sun failing; and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 [As that happened], Jesus shouted loudly, “Father, I put my spirit into your care [MTY]!” When he said that, he [EUP] died.
And, calling out with a loud voice, Jesus said—Father! into thy hands, I commend my spirit. And, this, saying, he ceased to breathe.
47 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!”
And the centurion, beholding that which came to pass, began to glorify God, saying—In very deed, this man, was, righteous.
48 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].
And, all the multitudes who had been drawn together unto this spectacle, having looked upon the things that came to pass, smiting their breasts, began to return.
49 All of Jesus’ friends, including the women who had come with him from Galilee [district], stood at a distance and saw everything that happened.
But all they who were acquainted with him, were standing afar off, women also who had followed with him from Galilee, —beholding these things.
50 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.
And lo! a man, by name Joseph, being, a councillor, —a good and righteous man
51 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.
(the same had not consented unto their plan and deed), —from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was awaiting the kingdom of God,
52 He went to Pilate and asked [Pilate to permit him] to [take] Jesus’ body [and bury it. After Pilate allowed him to do that],
the same, going unto Pilate, claimed the body of Jesus.
53 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.
And, taking it down, he wrapped it in a fine Indian cloth, and laid him in a tomb hewn in stone, —where no one as yet was lying.
54 [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].
And it was a day of preparation, and, a Sabbath, was about to dawn.
55 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].
And the women, they who had come out of Galilee with him, following after, observed the tomb, and how his body was laid.
56 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.
And, returning, they made ready spices and perfumes. And, on the Sabbath, indeed, they were quiet, according to the commandment;
