Luke 23–24

1Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate.

2And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”

3So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

5But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.

7And learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time.

8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle.

9Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer.

10Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him.

11And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

12That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies.

13Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,

14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.

15Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death.

16Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”

18But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”

19(Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again,

21but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

22A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”

23But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed.

24So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met.

25As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over to their will.

26As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and they put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.

27A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him.

28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

29Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’

30At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

31For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.

33When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.

34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

35The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

36The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.

37“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”

38Above Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”

40But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment?

41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”

43And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.

45The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

46Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.

47When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

48And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts.

49But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

50Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man,

51who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea and was waiting for the kingdom of God.

52He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.

53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid.

54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.

55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed.

56Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.

1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.

2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them.

5As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

6He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee:

7‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’”

8Then they remembered His words.

9And when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.

10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.

11But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

13That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

15And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.

16But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.

17He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stood still, with sadness on their faces.

18One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?”

19“What things?” He asked. “The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people.

20Our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and they crucified Him.

21But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place.

22Furthermore, some of our women astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,

23but they did not find His body. They came and told us they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive.

24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had described. But Him they did not see.”

25Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

26Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”

27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

28As they approached the village where they were headed, He seemed to be going farther.

29But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.

30While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.

31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight.

32They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, gathered together

34and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!”

35Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

36While they were describing these events, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

37But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.

38“Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

39Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

40And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet.

41While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

42So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish,

43and He took it and ate it in front of them.

44Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”

45Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

46And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

47and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

48You are witnesses of these things.

49And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

50When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

51While He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven.

52And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

53praising God continually in the temple.