Luke 23, side by side
Our retelling next to the Bible text it comes from. Each row lines up one scene with the verses it retells.
Between scenesVerses 1 to 25
This part isn't retold as its own scene.
1Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.” 3So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 5But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.” 6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. 7And learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle. 9Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer. 10Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him. 11And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies. 13Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death. 16Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.” 17 18But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19(Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) 20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, 21but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” 22A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.” 23But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed. 24So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met. 25As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and handed Jesus over to their will.
Scene 1: The Road to the CrossVerses 26 to 32
Roman soldiers led Jesus away. On the road, they grabbed a man named Simon, from the city of Cyrene. They made Simon carry the cross behind Jesus.
A large crowd followed. Some women in the crowd were crying loudly for Jesus.
Jesus turned to them. He told them not to cry for him. He said hard days were coming for them and their children.
Two criminals were led out with Jesus. They were going to be put to death too.
26As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. 27A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him. 28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ 30At that time ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ 31For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.
Scene 2: The CrossVerses 33 to 34
They came to a place called The Skull. There the soldiers crucified Jesus.
To crucify someone meant nailing them to a wooden cross and leaving them to die. It was one of the cruelest ways Rome put people to death.
They crucified the two criminals too, one on each side of Jesus.
Then Jesus prayed. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (23:34).
The soldiers split up his clothes. They cast lots to decide who got what.
33When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
Scene 3: MockedVerses 35 to 38
People stood watching. Some of the leaders made fun of him. They said he saved others, so he should save himself.
The soldiers mocked him too. They offered him sour wine. "If you are the King of the Jews," they said, "save yourself."
A sign hung above his head. It said, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS" (23:38).
Here's what you know that the soldiers did not. The sign was meant as a joke. But it was true.
35The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine. 37“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!” 38Above Him was posted an inscription: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Scene 4: Two CriminalsVerses 39 to 43
One of the criminals shouted insults at Jesus. "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
The other criminal told him to stop. He said they deserved their punishment. But Jesus had done nothing wrong.
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!" (23:42).
Jesus answered, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (23:43). Paradise means being with God.
The man brought Jesus nothing. He had only a few hours left, and a request. Jesus gave him a promise.
39One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!” 40But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? 41We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Scene 5: DarknessVerses 44 to 49
At about noon, darkness covered the whole land. It stayed dark until about three in the afternoon.
In the temple, a huge curtain tore down the middle.
Jesus called out in a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit" (23:46). Then he died.
The Roman officer in charge saw it all. He praised God. He said this man was truly innocent.
The crowd went home beating their chests. Back then, that showed deep sadness.
Jesus's friends stood far off, watching. The women who had followed him from Galilee were there.
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. 45The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. 46Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last. 47When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts. 49But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.
Scene 6: The TombVerses 50 to 56
A man named Joseph came to help. He was a member of the Jewish council, "a good and righteous man" (23:50). He had not agreed with what the council did to Jesus.
Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus's body. He took it down from the cross. He wrapped it in linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb cut into the rock.
It was Friday afternoon. The Sabbath, the weekly day of rest, was about to begin.
The women from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the tomb and how the body was laid inside.
They went home to prepare spices and perfumes for the body. Then they rested on the Sabbath, as God's law said.
50Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man, 51who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed. 56Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.
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