1 Early in the morning the chief priests met hurriedly with the elders, the teachers of the Law, and the entire Council. They made their plans. They led Jesus away in chains and handed him over to Pilate.

2 Pilate questioned him: »Are you the king of the Jews?« Jesus answered: »You say so.«

3 The chief priests accused him of many things.

4 Pilate again asked him: »Do you not answer? See how many things they testify against you!«

5 But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate wondered.

6 He used to release one prisoner at the feast. This was done by request.

7 Barabbas, a rebel and a murderer was available for this purpose.

8 The crowd cried aloud and asked him to do as he always did for them.

9 Pilate answered them, saying: »Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?«

10 For he knew that it was out of envy the chief priests delivered him up.

11 The chief priests influenced the crowd, that he should release Barabbas to them instead.

12 »What should I do with the one you call the King of the Jews?« Pilate asked.

13 They cried out: »Impale him!«

14 Pilate said: »Why, what evil has he done?« But they cried out exceedingly, »Impale him!«

15 Wishing to please the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. Then he handed over Jesus. He was flogged and impaled.

16 The soldiers led him away to the court in the Praetorium building governor’s palace. They assembled together all of the troops.

17 They clothed him with purple. After weaving a crown of thorns they put it on him.

18 »Hail King of the Jews!« They shouted at him.

19 They struck his head with a reed and spat on him. They bowed their knees in false adoration to him.

20 After they mocked him, they took the purple off of him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to impale him.

21 Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus was passing by on the road. They compelled forced him to go with them, that he might carry his stake.

22 They brought him to the place called Golgotha. This means the place of a skull.

23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he did not take it.

24 After impaling him, they divided his garments among themselves, casting lots for them.

25 It was the third hour. They impaled him.

26 The superscription of his accusation was written on a board above his head, »THE KING OF THE JEWS.«

27 They impaled two robbers with him, one on his right hand, and one on his left.

28 The Scripture was fulfilled, which says, »He was numbered with transgressors.«

29 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, »ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days,

30 save yourself, and come down from the stake!«

31 Likewise, also the chief priests mocked among themselves with the scribes said, »He saved others. He cannot save himself.

32 »Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down from the stake that we may see and believe him.« Those who were impaled with him also mocked him.

33 It was the sixth hour and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: »Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?« Interpreted it means, »My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?«

35 Some of those who stood by said: »He is calling Elijah.«

36 They filled a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. Then they said let him be. Let us see whether Elijah comes to take him down.

37 Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed his last breath of life.

38 The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

39 The centurion who stood nearby heard him cry out his last breath. Then he said: »Truly this man was the Son of God!«

40 The women watching from afar included: Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome,

41 who, when he was in Galilee, followed him and served him. Many other women came up with him to Jerusalem.

42 Evening arrived. It was the Preparation Day (Exodus 16:22-27), the day before the Sabbath.

43 Joseph of Arimathaea was a prominent council member who also was looking for the Kingdom of God. He boldly approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

44 Pilate wondered if he were already dead. So he summoned the centurion and asked him about the death.

45 When the centurion confirmed it he granted the body to Joseph.

46 He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth. Then he laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

47 Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid.