Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The whole multitude of them arose and led him to Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding people to pay taxes to Caesar, claiming that he himself is Christ, a king."

Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered him and said, "You say it." Pilate said to the chief priests and the people, "I find no fault in this man." They were even more aggressive, saying, "He is stirring up the people and teaching throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee to here."

When Pilate heard that he was from Galilee, he asked whether the man was a Galilaean. And when he learned that Jesus belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was extremely glad to see Jesus, having long desired to meet him because he had heard many things about him and hoped to witness some miraculous deed.

Then he questioned him in many words; but Jesus remained silent. The chief priests and scribes stood, accusing him vehemently. Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus, dressing him in a luxurious robe before sending him back to Pilate. Pilate and Herod were made friends with each other that very day, having previously been at enmity between themselves.

Pilate, having called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said to them, "You brought before me this man, saying he perverts the people; behold, I have examined him in your presence, and found no fault in him concerning the charges you bring against him." You have brought this man to me, as one who perverts the people; I have examined him before you and found no fault in him concerning the charges you bring against him.

Pilate told them, "I sent him to Herod, and he found no fault in him that would lead to death. I will therefore chastise him, and release him." For of necessity he must release one to them at the feast. They cried out all at once, saying, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas. For a certain sedition and murder, he was cast into prison."

Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them. They cried out with loud voices, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him." And he said to them for the third time, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him; therefore I will chastise him and release him."

They were urgent with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified, and their voices, along with those of the chief priests, prevailed. Pilate gave the verdict that it should be done according to their wishes. And he released unto them Barabbas, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

As they led Jesus away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting him. Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.

For behold, the days are coming when they will say, "Blessed are those who have never known children, and wombs that have never borne, and breasts that never gave suck." Then they will start saying to the mountains, "Fall on us," and to the hills, "Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what will be done in the dry?

And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death. When they arrived at the place called Calvary, there they crucified him and the two malefactors, one on his right hand and the other on his left.

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." And they divided his clothes by casting lots. The people stood by, and the rulers with them jeered at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the chosen of God."

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar on a sponge bound to a reed. And saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself." And a superscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

One of the robbers who were being crucified alongside him hurled insults at him, saying, "If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us!" But the other answered and said to him, "Don't you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? We are indeed receiving the just reward of our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."

And he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." And it was about the sixth hour, with darkness covering all the earth until the ninth hour.

And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, he said, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands," and having spoken thus, he gave up the ghost. <span class="jesus-words">When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, "This man was righteous."</span>

And all the people who had gathered to witness these events struck their breasts in grief and turned away. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.

And there was a man named Joseph, who was a respected counselor and a righteous person. He had not agreed with their plan and deed, but was from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and begged for Jesus' body.

He took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a stone tomb where no one had ever been buried before. On that day, which was a preparation, the Sabbath drew near. The women who had followed him from Galilee observed the tomb and saw where his body was laid.

And they returned, preparing spices and ointments to anoint Jesus' body, resting on the Sabbath day according to the commandment.