Luke 23
1 And having risen, the whole multitude of them did lead him to Pilate,
Then the whole group got up and took Jesus to Pilate, [the Roman governor].
2 and began to accuse him, saying, 'This one we found perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying himself to be 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 And Pilate questioned him, saying, 'Thou art the king of the Jews?' and he answering him, said, 'Thou dost say [it].'
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 And Pilate said unto the chief priests, and the multitude, 'I find no fault in 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 and they were the more urgent, saying — 'He doth stir up the people, teaching throughout the whole of Judea — having begun from Galilee — unto 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 And Pilate having heard of Galilee, questioned if the man is a Galilean,
When Pilate heard that, he asked, “Is this man from Galilee [district]?”
7 and having known that he is from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him back unto Herod, he being also in Jerusalem in 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 And Herod having seen Jesus did rejoice exceedingly, for he was wishing for a long [time] to see him, because of hearing many things about him, and he was hoping some sign to see 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 and was questioning him in many words, and he answered him nothing.
So he asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not reply [to any of them].
10 And 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 and Herod with his soldiers having set him at nought, and having mocked, having put around him gorgeous apparel, did send 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 and both Pilate and Herod became friends on that day with one another, for they were before at enmity between themselves.
Until that time Herod and Pilate had been very hostile to each other, but that very day they became friends.
13 And Pilate having 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 said unto them, 'Ye brought to me this man as perverting the people, and lo, I before you having examined, found in this man no fault in those things ye bring forward against 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 no, nor yet Herod, for I sent you back unto him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is having 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 having chastised, therefore, I will release him,'
So I will [have my soldiers] flog him and then release him.”
17 for it was necessary for him to release to them one at every feast,
18 and they cried out — the whole multitude — saying, 'Away with this one, and release to us Barabbas,'
But the whole crowd shouted, “Execute this man! Release Barrabas for us [(exc)]!”
19 who had been, because of a certain sedition made in the city, and murder, cast into prison.
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 Pilate again then — wishing to release Jesus — called to them,
Because Pilate wanted to release Jesus, he tried to persuade the crowd again.
21 but they were calling out, saying, 'Crucify, crucify him.'
But they kept shouting, “[Command your soldiers to] kill him by nailing him to a cross!/Have him crucified!”
22 And he a third time said unto them, 'Why, what evil did he? no cause of death did I find in him; having chastised him, then, I will 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 And they were pressing with loud voices asking him to be crucified, and their voices, and those of the chief priests, were prevailing,
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 and Pilate gave judgment for their request being done,
Pilate decided to do what the crowd requested.
25 and he released him who because of sedition and murder hath been cast into the prison, whom they were asking, and Jesus he gave 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 And as they led him away, having taken hold on Simon, a certain Cyrenian, coming from the field, they put on him the cross, to bear [it] behind 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 And there was following him a great multitude of the people, and of women, who also were beating themselves and lamenting 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 and Jesus having turned unto them, said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves weep ye, 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, lo, days do come, in which they shall say, Happy the barren, and wombs that did not bare, and paps that did not give suck;
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 shall 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 in the green tree they do these things — in the dry what may happen?'
[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 And there were also others — two evil-doers — 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 and when they came to the place that is called Skull, there they crucified him and the evil-doers, one on the right hand and one 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 have not known what they do;' and parting his garments they cast a lot.
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 And the people were standing, looking on, and the rulers also were sneering with them, saying, 'Others he saved, let him save himself, if this be the Christ, the choice one of God.'
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 And mocking him also were the soldiers, coming near and offering vinegar to him,
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 thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.'
They said to him, “If you [(sg)] are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 And there was also a superscription written over him, in letters of Greek, and Roman, and Hebrew, '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 And one of the evil-doers who were hanged, was speaking evil of him, saying, 'If thou be the Christ, save thyself 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 And the other answering, was rebuking him, saying, 'Dost thou not even fear God, that thou art in the same judgment?
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 righteously, for things worthy of what we did we receive back, but this one did nothing out of place;'
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 to Jesus, 'Remember me, lord, when thou mayest come in thy reign;'
Then he said, “Jesus, [please] remember me [and take care of me] when you become king!”
43 and Jesus said to him, 'Verily I say to thee, To-day with me thou shalt be in the 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, as it were, the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land till the ninth hour,
[Then it] was about noontime. It became dark over the whole land, [and it stayed dark] until three o’clock in the afternoon.
45 and the sun was darkened, and the vail of the sanctuary was rent in the midst,
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 having cried with a loud voice, Jesus said, 'Father, to Thy hands I commit my spirit;' and these things having said, he breathed forth the spirit.
[As that happened], Jesus shouted loudly, “Father, I put my spirit into your care [MTY]!” When he said that, he [EUP] died.
47 And the centurion having seen what was done, did glorify God, saying, 'Really this man was righteous;'
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 and all the multitudes who were come together to this sight, beholding the things that came to pass, smiting their breasts did turn back;
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 and all his acquaintances stood afar off, and women who did follow him from Galilee, beholding 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 lo, a man, by name Joseph, being a counsellor, a man good and righteous,
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 was not consenting to their counsel and deed — from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who also himself was expecting the reign 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 he, having gone near to Pilate, asked 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 and having taken it down, he wrapped it in fine linen, and placed it in a tomb hewn out, where no one was yet laid.
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 And the day was a preparation, and sabbath was approaching,
[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 and the women also who have come with him out of Galilee having followed after, beheld 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 and having turned back, they made ready spices and ointments, and on the sabbath, indeed, they rested, according to the command.
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.
