Luke 23:1-56 King James Bible KJV

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod, Pilate Offers to Release Jesus, The Crucifixion, Jesus’ Death and Burial

Luke 23:1-56 King James Bible KJV. Luke 23 recounts the trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus. Pilate, finding no guilt in Jesus, attempts to release Him but is pressured by the crowd to crucify Him in favor of Barabbas. Jesus is mocked, crucified between two criminals, and dies after a period of darkness. At His death, the temple curtain is torn, signaling the removal of the barrier between God and humanity. Jesus is buried by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, while the women who followed Jesus prepare for His proper anointing after the Sabbath.

Luke 23:1-56 King James Bible KJV
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Jesus Before Pilate – verses 1-5
The entire assembly of the Jewish leaders brings Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate, accusing Him of being a troublemaker, claiming He opposes paying taxes to Caesar, and asserting that He claims to be a king. Pilate questions Jesus, asking if He is the King of the Jews, and Jesus responds, “You have said so.” Pilate, after examining Jesus, finds no basis for a charge against Him. However, the religious leaders continue to accuse Him, stirring up the crowd.

Jesus Before Herod – verses 6-12
When Pilate hears that Jesus is from Galilee, he sends Him to Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, who happens to be in Jerusalem at the time. Herod is curious about Jesus and hopes to see Him perform a miracle. However, Jesus remains silent, and Herod, with his soldiers, mocks and ridicules Him, dressing Him in an elegant robe. Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate, and the two men, previously enemies, become friends.

Pilate Offers to Release Jesus – verses 13-25
Pilate calls together the chief priests, rulers, and the people, and tries to reason with them, stating that he finds no guilt in Jesus. He offers to release Jesus as part of the Passover tradition of releasing one prisoner, but the crowd demands the release of Barabbas, a criminal involved in insurrection and murder, instead. Pilate, wanting to satisfy the crowd, eventually gives in, sentencing Jesus to be crucified.

The Way to the Cross – verses 26-31
Jesus is led away to be crucified, and along the way, He is followed by a crowd, including women who mourn and lament for Him. Jesus tells them not to weep for Him but for themselves and their children, warning of the coming destruction of Jerusalem, symbolized by the phrase, “For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (referring to the impending judgment).

The Crucifixion – verses 32-38
Jesus is crucified between two criminals. One of the criminals mocks Jesus, but the other rebukes him, acknowledging Jesus’ innocence and asking Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom. Jesus assures him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” As Jesus is crucified, a sign is placed above Him stating, “This is the King of the Jews.” The religious leaders continue to mock Him, saying that if He is the Messiah, He should save Himself.

Jesus’ Death – verses 44-49
At noon, darkness covers the land for three hours. Jesus cries out loudly to God, asking why He has been forsaken, and then He breathes His last. The curtain of the temple is torn in two, symbolizing the end of the barrier between God and humanity. A centurion who witnesses Jesus’ death declares, “Surely this was a righteous man,” and the people who had gathered to watch are deeply moved. Jesus’ acquaintances, including His women followers, stand at a distance, watching these events unfold.

Jesus’ Burial – verses 50-56
A wealthy man named Joseph of Arimathea, who is a member of the Jewish council but had not agreed with their decision, asks Pilate for Jesus’ body. Pilate grants his request, and Joseph, along with Nicodemus (another member of the council), takes Jesus’ body down from the cross, wraps it in linen, and places it in a tomb carved out of rock. The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee observe the tomb and the way Jesus’ body is laid in it, preparing spices and perfumes for His body, although they rest on the Sabbath as required by the law.

Luke 23:1-56 King James Bible KJV

1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.