Luke 23:18-53

¹⁸But they all cried out together, saying: “Away with this one! Release to us Barabbas!”—

¹⁹who had been thrown into prison for a certain insurrection in the city, and for murder.

²⁰Then Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again.

²¹But they just kept shouting: “Crucify! Crucify him!”

²²For the third time he said to them: “But what evil has this man done? I have found no reason for death in him. I will therefore flog and release him.”

²³But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified! And their voices, especially of the chief priests, prevailed.

²⁴So Pilate decided to grant their demand.

²⁵He released the one who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

²⁶Now as they led Him away, they conscripted a certain Simon of Cyrene (coming in from a field), and put the cross on him to carry it behind Jesus.

²⁷A considerable crowd of people followed Him, including women who were also mourning and lamenting Him.

²⁸So Jesus turned to them and said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; rather weep for yourselves and for your children.

²⁹Because indeed, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, even the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’

³⁰Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’

³¹For if they do these things in the ‘green tree’, what will happen in the ‘dry’?”

³²There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.

³³When they arrived at the place called ‘The Skull’, they crucified Him there; also the criminals, one on His right, the other on His left.

³⁴Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”; while they were dividing up His clothes by casting a lot.

³⁵Meanwhile the people stood looking on. And especially the rulers among them were sneering, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if such is the Christ, the chosen of God!”

³⁶Yes, even the soldiers mocked Him, approaching and offering Him sour wine,

³⁷and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”

³⁸In fact, above Him there was a written notice, in Greek, Latin and Hebrew letters: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹Then one of the hanged criminals started berating Him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰But the other reacted and rebuked him, saying: “Don't you even fear God, since you are under the same condemnation?

⁴¹And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward for our deeds; but this man did nothing wrong.”

⁴²Then he said to Jesus, “Please remember me, Lord, when you come in your kingdom.”

⁴³Jesus said to him, “I tell you assuredly, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

⁴⁴Now it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came upon the whole land until the ninth hour.

⁴⁵Yes, the sun was darkened; also, the veil of the temple was torn in two.

⁴⁶Then, after giving a loud shout, Jesus said, “Father, it is into your hands that I will commit my spirit.” And having said this, He breathed out His spirit.

⁴⁷Well upon seeing what had happened, the centurion glorified God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous!”

⁴⁸And the whole crowd that had gathered for the spectacle, when they saw what actually happened, went away beating their breasts.

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

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

⁵¹(but he had not agreed with their counsel and action), from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was waiting for the Kingdom of God:

⁵²this man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.

⁵³Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock, where no one had ever been laid.