| 章 |
| 23:1 |
Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate.
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| 23:2 |
They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king."
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| 23:3 |
Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so."
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| 23:4 |
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man."
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| 23:5 |
But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place."
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| 23:6 |
When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.
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| 23:7 |
And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.
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| 23:8 |
When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign.
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| 23:9 |
He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer.
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| 23:10 |
The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.
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| 23:11 |
Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.
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| 23:12 |
That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
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| 23:13 |
Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,
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| 23:14 |
and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
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| 23:15 |
Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.
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| 23:16 |
I will therefore have him flogged and release him."
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| 23:17 |
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| 23:18 |
Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!"
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| 23:19 |
(This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
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| 23:20 |
Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again;
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| 23:21 |
but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"
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| 23:22 |
A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him."
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| 23:23 |
But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.
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| 23:24 |
So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.
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| 23:25 |
He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
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| 23:26 |
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
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| 23:27 |
A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.
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| 23:28 |
But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
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| 23:29 |
For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.'
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| 23:30 |
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.'
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| 23:31 |
For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
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| 23:32 |
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
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| 23:33 |
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
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| 23:34 |
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
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| 23:35 |
And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"
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| 23:36 |
The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,
|
| 23:37 |
and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
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| 23:38 |
There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
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| 23:39 |
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
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| 23:40 |
But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
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| 23:41 |
And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
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| 23:42 |
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
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| 23:43 |
He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
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| 23:44 |
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,
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| 23:45 |
while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
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| 23:46 |
Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.
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| 23:47 |
When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent."
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| 23:48 |
And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts.
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| 23:49 |
But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
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| 23:50 |
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council,
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| 23:51 |
had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.
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| 23:52 |
This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
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| 23:53 |
Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid.
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| 23:54 |
It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.
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| 23:55 |
The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid.
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| 23:56 |
Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
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