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, saying that he himself is Christ, a king.  

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  And Pilate demanded of him saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And he answering him said, Thou sayest.  

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  And Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, I find no guilt in this man.  

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  But they insisted, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee even on to here.  

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  But Pilate, having heard Galilee [named], demanded if the man were a Galilaean;  

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  and having learned that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, remitted him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in those days.  

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  And when Herod saw Jesus he greatly rejoiced, for he had been a long while desirous of seeing him, because of hearing many things concerning him, and he hoped to see some sign done 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 and accused him violently.  

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  And Herod with his troops having set him at nought and mocked him, having put a splendid robe upon him, sent him back to Pilate.  

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  And Pilate and Herod became friends with one another the same day, for they had been at enmity before between themselves.  

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  And Pilate, having called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,  

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  said to them, Ye have brought to me this man as turning away the people [to rebellion], and behold, I, having examined him before you, have found nothing criminal in this man as to the things of which ye accuse him;  

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  nor Herod either, for I remitted you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done by him.  

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  Having chastised him therefore, I will release him.  

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  ( Now he was obliged to release one for them at the feast.)  

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  But they cried out in a mass saying, Away with this [man] and release Barabbas to us;  

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  who was one who, for a certain tumult which had taken place in the city, and [for] murder, had been cast into prison.  

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  Pilate therefore, desirous to release Jesus, again addressed [them].  

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  But they cried out in reply saying, Crucify, crucify him.  

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  And he said the third time to them, What evil then has this [man] done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will chastise him therefore and release him.  

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  But they were urgent with loud voices, begging that he might be crucified. And their voices [and those of the chief priests] prevailed.  

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  And Pilate adjudged that what they begged should take place.  

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  And he released him who, for tumult and murder, had been cast into prison, whom they begged for, and Jesus he delivered up to their will.  

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  And as they led him away, they laid hold on a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from the field, and put the cross upon him to bear it behind Jesus.  

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  And a great multitude of the people, and of women who wailed and lamented him, followed him.  

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  And Jesus turning round to them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me, but weep over yourselves and over your children;  

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  for behold, days are coming in which they will say, Blessed [are] the barren, and wombs that have not borne, and breasts 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 these things are done in the green tree, what shall take place in the dry?  

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  Now two others also, malefactors, were led with him to be put to death.  

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  And when they came to the place which is called Skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, the other on the left.  

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  And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And, parting out his garments, they cast lots.  

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  And the people stood beholding, and the rulers also [with them] sneered, saying, He has saved others; let him save himself if this is the Christ, the chosen one of God.  

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  And the soldiers also made game of him, coming up 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 an inscription [written] over him in Greek, and Roman, and Hebrew letters: This is the King of the Jews.  

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  Now one of the malefactors who had been hanged spoke insultingly to him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.  

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  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost thou too not fear God, thou that art under the same judgment?  

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  and we indeed justly, for we receive the just recompense of what we have done; but this [man] has done nothing amiss.  

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  And he said to Jesus, Remember me, [Lord,] when thou comest in thy kingdom.  

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  And Jesus said to him, Verily I say to thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.  

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  And it was about [the] sixth hour, and there came darkness over the whole land until [the] ninth hour.  

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

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  And Jesus, having cried with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, he expired.  

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  Now the centurion, seeing what took place, glorified God, saying, In very deed this man was just.  

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  And all the crowds who had come together to that sight, having seen the things that took place, returned, beating [their] breasts.  

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  And all those who knew him stood afar off, the women also who had followed him from Galilee, beholding these things.  

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

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  (this [man] had not assented to their counsel and deed), of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who also waited, [himself also,] for the kingdom of God  

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  -- he having gone to Pilate begged the body of Jesus;  

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  and having taken it down, wrapped it in fine linen and placed him in a tomb hewn in the rock, where no one had ever been laid.  

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  And it was preparation day, and [the] sabbath twilight was coming on.  

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  And women, who had come along with him out of Galilee, having followed, saw the sepulchre and how his body was placed.  

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  And having returned they prepared aromatic spices and ointments, and remained quiet on the sabbath, according to the commandment.  

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