Chapter 23

  And the whole multitude of them rising up, led him to Pilate.  

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  And they began to accuse him, saying: We have found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ the king.  

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  And Pilate asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? But he answering, said: Thou sayest it.  

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  And Pilate said to the chief priests and to the multitudes: I find no cause in this man.  

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  But they were more earnest, saying: He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.  

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  But Pilate hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of Galilee?  

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  And when he understood that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him away to Herod, who was also himself at Jerusalem, in those days.  

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  And Herod, seeing Jesus, was very glad; for he was desirous of a long time to see him, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to see some sign wrought by him.  

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  And he questioned him in many words. But he answered him nothing.  

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  And the chief priests and the scribes stood by, earnestly accusing him.  

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  And Herod with his army set him at nought, and mocked him, putting on him a white garment, and sent him back to Pilate.  

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  And Herod and Pilate were made friends, that same day; for before they were enemies one to another.  

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  And Pilate, calling together the chief priests, and the magistrates, and the people,  

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  Said to them: You have presented unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people; and behold I, having examined him before you, find no cause in this man, in those things wherein you accuse him.  

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  No, nor Herod neither. For I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to him.  

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  I will chastise him therefore, and release him.  

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  Now of necessity he was to release unto them one upon the feast day.  

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  But the whole multitude together cried out, saying: Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:  

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  Who, for a certain sedition made in the city, and for a murder, was cast into prison.  

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  And Pilate again spoke to them, desiring to release Jesus.  

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  But they cried again, saying: Crucify him, crucify him.  

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  And he said to them the third time: Why, what evil hath this man done? I find no cause of death in him. I will chastise him therefore, and let him go.  

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  But they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified; and their voices prevailed.  

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  And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.  

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  And he released unto them him who for murder and sedition, had been cast into prison, whom they had desired; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.  

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  And as they led him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country; and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus.  

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  And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him.  

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  But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children.  

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  For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck.  

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  Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us; and to the hills: Cover us.  

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  For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?  

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  And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death.  

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  And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him there; and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  

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  And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. But they, dividing his garments, cast lots.  

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  And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them derided him, saying: He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the elect of God.  

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  And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,  

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  And saying: If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.  

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  And there was also a superscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  

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  And one of those robbers who were hanged, blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  

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  But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned under the same condemnation?  

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  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil.  

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  And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom.  

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  And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.  

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  And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  

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  And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.  

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  And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost.  

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  Now the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man.  

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  And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts.  

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  And all his acquaintance, and the women that had followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.  

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  And behold there was a man named Joseph, who was a counsellor, a good and just man,  

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  (The same had not consented to their counsel and doings;) of Arimathea, a city of Judea; who also himself looked for the kingdom of God.  

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  This man went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.  

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  And taking him down, he wrapped him in fine linen, and laid him in a sepulchre that was hewed in stone, wherein never yet any man had been laid.  

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  And it was the day of the Parasceve, and the sabbath drew on.  

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  And the women that were come with him from Galilee, following after, saw the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.  

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  And returning, they prepared spices and ointments; and on the sabbath day they rested, according to the commandment.  

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