Chapter 15

1Early in the morning, the leading priests met with the elders, the experts in Jewish law, and the whole ruling council. They tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.

2Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am.”

3The leading priests accused Jesus of many things.

4Pilate questioned him again: “Aren’t you going to answer? Look at all the charges they are bringing against you!”

5But Jesus gave no further answer, and Pilate was amazed.

6During the festival, Pilate would release one prisoner for the people—whichever prisoner they requested.

7A man named Barabbas was being held with rebels who had committed murder during an uprising.

8The crowd approached Pilate and began asking him to follow his usual custom.

9Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?”

10Pilate knew that the leading priests had handed Jesus over because they were envious of him.

11But the leading priests stirred up the crowd to make Pilate release Barabbas instead.

12Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?”

13They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

14Pilate asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”

15Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd, so he released Barabbas for them. He had Jesus whipped and then handed him over to be crucified.

16The soldiers led Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters and called the entire unit of soldiers together.

17They dressed Jesus in a purple robe. Then they twisted thorn branches into a crown and placed it on his head.

18They began giving him a royal greeting: “Greetings, king of the Jews!”

19They repeatedly struck his head with a reed and spat on him. Then they knelt and bowed before him as if honoring a king.

20When they had finished mocking him, they removed the purple robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

21A man named Simon from Cyrene was passing by as he came in from the countryside. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.

22They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means “Skull Place.”

23They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, a fragrant resin, but he did not take it.

24They crucified Jesus and divided his clothes among themselves. They drew lots, using chance to decide what each person would receive.

25It was about nine in the morning when they crucified him.

26The written charge stating the reason for his execution read: “The King of the Jews.”

27They crucified two robbers with Jesus, one on his right and one on his left.

29People passing by insulted Jesus and shook their heads at him. They said, “Ha! So you are the one who tears down the Temple and rebuilds it in three days!

30They continued, “Save yourself and come down from the cross!”

31The leading priests and the experts in Jewish law also mocked Jesus among themselves. They said, “He rescued others, but he cannot rescue himself!

32They continued, “Let God’s chosen king—the king of Israel—come down from the cross now. Then we will see and believe!” The two men crucified beside Jesus also insulted him.

33At noon, darkness came over the entire land and lasted until three in the afternoon.

34At three o’clock Jesus cried out loudly, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” This means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

35When some of the people standing nearby heard this, they said, “Listen! He is calling the prophet Elijah.”

36Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He placed it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink. He said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.”

37Then Jesus gave a loud cry and died.

38The curtain inside the Temple tore in two from top to bottom.

39A Roman army officer was standing in front of Jesus. When he saw how Jesus died, he said, “This man truly was God’s Son.”

40Some women were also watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene; Mary, the mother of James the younger and Joses; and Salome.

41While Jesus was in Galilee, these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had traveled with him to Jerusalem were also there.

42Evening had already come. It was Preparation Day, the day before the Sabbath.

43Joseph from Arimathea arrived. He was a respected member of the ruling council and was waiting for God’s kingdom to come—for God to rule as king. He gathered his courage, went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.

44Pilate was surprised that Jesus had already died. He called the Roman army officer and asked whether Jesus had been dead for some time.

45After the officer confirmed Jesus’ death, Pilate gave the body to Joseph.

46Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Jesus down, and wrapped him in it. He laid Jesus in a tomb cut out of rock and rolled a stone against the tomb’s entrance.

47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where Jesus was laid.