The Holy Week – Friday

(1) Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. (2) So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

(3) When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. (4) “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

(5) So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

(6) The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” (7) So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. (8) That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. (9) Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, (10) and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

(11) Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

(12) When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. (13) Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” (14) But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

(15) Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.(16) At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus 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?” (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, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

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

(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?” 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 was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

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

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

(27) Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. (28) They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, (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. (30) They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. (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.

(32) As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. (33) They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). (34) There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. (35) When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (36) And sitting down, they kept watch 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, one on his right and one on his left. (39) Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads (40) and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (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! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. (43) He trusts in God. Let God rescue him 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.

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

(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, 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.

(51) At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split (52) and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. (53) They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

(54) When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

(55) Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. (56) Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

(57) As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. (58) Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. (59) Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, (60) and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. (61) Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

(32) They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” (33) He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. (34) “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

(35) Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. (36) “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

(37) Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? (38) Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

(39) Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. (40) When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

(41) Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

(43) Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

(44) Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” (45) Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. (47) Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

(48) “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? (49) Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” (50) Then everyone deserted him and fled.

(51) A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, (52) he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

(53) They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. (54) Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.

(55) The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. (56) Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

(57) Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: (58) “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” (59) Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

(60) Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” (61) But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

(62) “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

(63) The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. (64) “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

They all condemned him as worthy of death. (65) Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

(66) While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. (67) When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.

(68) But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.

(69) When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” (70) Again he denied it.

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

(71) He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”

(72) Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

(1) Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

(2) “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

(3) The chief priests accused him of many things. (4) So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

(5) But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

(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?” 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 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, and handed him over to be crucified.

(16) The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (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!” (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 to crucify him.

(21) A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. (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, but he did not take it. (24) And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots 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.

(27) They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. (28) (29) Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, (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 among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! (32) Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

(33) At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. (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?”).

(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, 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.

(38) The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (39) And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

(40) Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. (41) In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

(42) It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, (43) Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (44) Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. (45) When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. (46) So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. (47) Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

(39) Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. (40) On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” (41) He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, (42) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (43) An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. (44) And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

(45) When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. (46) “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

(47) While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

(49) When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” (50) And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

(51) But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

(52) Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? (53) Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

(54) Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. (55) And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. (56) A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

(57) But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

(58) A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

(59) About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

(60) Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. (61) The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” (62) And he went outside and wept bitterly.

(63) The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. (64) They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” (65) And they said many other insulting things to him.

(66) At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. (67) “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, (68) and if I asked you, you would not answer. (69) But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

(70) They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”

He replied, “You say that I am.”

(71) Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

(1) Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. (2) And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”

(3) So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

(4) Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

(5) But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

(6) On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. (7) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

(8) When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. (9) He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. (10) The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. (11) Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. (12) That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

(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. (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 and then release him.” (17)

(18) But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (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.”

(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.

(26) As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. (27) A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. (28) Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. (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!’ (30) Then

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

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

(32) Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. (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, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

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

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

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

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

(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.”

(42) Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

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

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

(47) The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” (48) When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. (49) But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

(50) Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, (51) who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. (52) Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. (53) Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. (54) It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

(55) The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. (56) Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

(1) After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. (2) For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. (3) Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (4) I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. (5) And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

(6) “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. (7) Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. (8) For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. (9) I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. (10) All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. (11) I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. (12) While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

(13) “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. (14) I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. (15) My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (17) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (18) As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (19) For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

(20) “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (22) I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— (23) I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

(24) “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

(25) “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. (26) I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

(1) When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

(2) Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. (3) So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

(4) Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

(5) “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) (6) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

(7) Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

(8) Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” (9) This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

(10) Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

(11) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

(12) Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him (13) and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. (14) Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

(15) Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, (16) but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

(17) “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

(18) It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

(19) Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

(20) “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. (21) Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

(22) When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

(23) “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” (24) Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

(25) Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

(26) One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” (27) Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

(28) Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. (29) So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

(30) “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

(31) Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. (32) This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

(33) Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

(34) “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

(35) “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

(36) Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

(37) “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

(38) “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. (39) But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

(40) They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

(1) Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. (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!” And they slapped him in the face.

(4) Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” (5) When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, 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. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

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

(8) When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, (9) and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. (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. Therefore the one who handed me over to you 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 opposes Caesar.”

(13) When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). (14) It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.

“Here is your king,” 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.

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. (17) Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). (18) There they crucified him, and with him two others—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, the king of the jews. (20) Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, 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.”

(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 that said,

“They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.”

So this is what the soldiers did.

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

(28) Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” (29) A jar of wine vinegar 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.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

(31) Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. (32) The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. (33) But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. (34) Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. (35) The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. (36) These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” (37) and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

(38) Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. (39) He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. (40) Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. (41) At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. (42) Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.