¹⁵ Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner^(A) chosen by the crowd. ¹⁶ At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus^[a] Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”^{(B) 18} For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat,^(C) his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent^(D) man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream^(E) because of him.”

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.^(F)

²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”^(G) Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar^(H) was starting, he took water and washed his hands^(I) in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”^(J) he said. “It is your responsibility!”^(K)

²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”^(L)

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged,^(M) and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(N)

²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium^(O) and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,^{(P) 29} and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.^{(Q) 30} They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.^{(R) 31} After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.^(S)

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(T)

³² As they were going out,^(U) they met a man from Cyrene,^(V) named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.^{(W) 33} They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).^{(X) 34} There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;^(Y) but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^{(Z) 36} And sitting down, they kept watch^(AA) over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him,^(AB) one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads^{(AC) 40} and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,^(AD) save yourself!^(AE) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”^{(AF) 41} In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel!^(AG) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe^(AH) in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him^(AI) now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus^(AJ)

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness^(AK) came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^[b] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[c](AL)

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar,^(AM) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.^(AN)

⁶ Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. ⁷ A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. ⁸ The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

⁹ “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”^(A) asked Pilate, ¹⁰ knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas^(B) instead.

¹² “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

¹³ “Crucify him!” they shouted.

¹⁴ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

¹⁵ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,^(C) and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(D)

¹⁶ The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace^(E) (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷ They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. ¹⁸ And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”^{(F) 19} Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. ²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out^(G) to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(H)

²¹ A certain man from Cyrene,^(I) Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus,^(J) was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.^{(K) 22} They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). ²³ Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh,^(L) but he did not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots^(M) to see what each would get.

²⁵ It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. ²⁶ The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.^(N)

²⁷ They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. ^{[28] [a] 29} Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads^(O) and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,^{(P) 30} come down from the cross and save yourself!” ³¹ In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him^(Q) among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! ³² Let this Messiah,^(R) this king of Israel,^(S) come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus^(T)

³³ At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.^{(U) 34} And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[b](V)

³⁵ When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

³⁶ Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar,^(W) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

³⁷ With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.^(X)

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.^{(A) 15} Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will punish him^(B) and then release him.” ^[17] [a]

¹⁸ But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”^{(C) 19} (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. ²¹ But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²² For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”^(D)

²³ But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided to grant their demand. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(E)

²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,^(F) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.^{(G) 27} A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed^(H) for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.^{(I) 29} For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’^{(J) 30} Then

³¹ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”^(L)

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.^{(M) 33} When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father,^(N) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[c](O) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^(P)

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.^(Q) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”^(R)

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him.^(S) They offered him wine vinegar^{(T) 37} and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,^(U) save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.^(V)

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”^(W)

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”^(X)

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[d]”^(Y)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(Z)

The Death of Jesus^(AA)

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,^{(AB) 45} for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple^(AC) was torn in two.^{(AD) 46} Jesus called out with a loud voice,^(AE) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”^[e](AF) When he had said this, he breathed his last.^(AG)

Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified^(A)

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.^{(B) 2} The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe ³ and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!”^(C) And they slapped him in the face.^(D)

⁴ Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out^(E) to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”^{(F) 5} When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe,^(G) Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

⁶ As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him.^(H) As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”^(I)

⁷ The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die,^(J) because he claimed to be the Son of God.”^(K)

⁸ When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹ and he went back inside the palace.^(L) “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.^{(M) 10} “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

¹¹ Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.^(N) Therefore the one who handed me over to you^(O) is guilty of a greater sin.”

¹² From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king^(P) opposes Caesar.”

¹³ When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat^(Q) at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic^(R) is Gabbatha). ¹⁴ It was the day of Preparation^(S) of the Passover; it was about noon.^(T)

“Here is your king,”^(U) Pilate said to the Jews.

¹⁵ But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

¹⁶ Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.^(V)

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(W)

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. ¹⁷ Carrying his own cross,^(X) he went out to the place of the Skull^(Y) (which in Aramaic^(Z) is called Golgotha). ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others^(AA)—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

¹⁹ Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth,^(AB) the king of the jews.^{(AC) 20} Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city,^(AD) and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. ²¹ The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”^(AE)

²² Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³ When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

²⁴ “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled^(AF) that said,

So this is what the soldiers did.

²⁵ Near the cross^(AH) of Jesus stood his mother,^(AI) his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.^{(AJ) 26} When Jesus saw his mother^(AK) there, and the disciple whom he loved^(AL) standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,^[b] here is your son,” ²⁷ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus^(AM)

²⁸ Later, knowing that everything had now been finished,^(AN) and so that Scripture would be fulfilled,^(AO) Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar of wine vinegar^(AP) was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”^(AQ) With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.