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23:1 Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. 23:2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." 23:3 So Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him and said, "It is as you say." 23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man." 23:5 But they kept on insisting, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place." 23:6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 23:7 And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time. 23:8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 23:9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 23:10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 23:11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 23:12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other. 23:13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 23:14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. 23:15 "No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 23:16 "Therefore I will punish Him and release Him." 23:17 [Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.] 23:18 But they cried out all together, saying, "Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!" 23:19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) 23:20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 23:21 but they kept on calling out, saying, "Crucify, crucify Him!" 23:22 And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him." 23:23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 23:24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 23:25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will. 23:26 When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus. 23:27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. 23:28 But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 23:29 "For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' 23:30 "Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' 23:31 "For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" 23:32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him. 23:33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 23:34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 23:35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One." 23:36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 23:37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" 23:38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" 23:40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 23:41 "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." 23:42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" 23:43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." 23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, 23:45 because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 23:46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." Having said this, He breathed His last. 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent." 23:48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts. 23:49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things. 23:50 And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man 23:51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; 23:52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 23:53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. 23:54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 23:55 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 23:56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.