Bible / John

John 19

World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations

1 So Pilate then took Jesus and flogged him.

2 The soldiers twisted thorns into a crown and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple garment.

3 They kept saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they kept slapping him.

4 Then Pilate went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”

5 Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!”

6 When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.”

7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

8 When therefore Pilate heard this saying, he was more afraid.

9 He entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 Pilate therefore said to him, “Aren’t you speaking to me? Don’t you know that I have power to release you and have power to crucify you?”

11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin.” CCC · Fathers

12 At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!” CCC

13 When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Pavement”, but in Hebrew, “Gabbatha.”

14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, at about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!”

15 They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” CCC · Fathers

16 So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away.

17 He went out, bearing his cross, to the place called “The Place of a Skull”, which is called in Hebrew, “Golgotha”,

18 where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle.

19 Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. There was written, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” CCC

20 Therefore many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. CCC

21 The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘he said, “I am King of the Jews.”’” CCC

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” CCC

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

24 Then they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to decide whose it will be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, “They parted my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.

25 But standing by Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. CCC

26 Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” CCC

27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home. 1 CCC

28 After this, Jesus, seeing that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty!” CCC

29 Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop, and held it at his mouth.

30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. CCC

31 Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. CCC

32 Therefore the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with him;

33 but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs.

34 However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. CCC · Fathers

35 He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe.

36 For these things happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “A bone of him will not be broken.” CCC

37 Again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they pierced.” CCC

38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body. CCC

39 Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds.

40 So they took Jesus’ body, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden. In the garden was a new tomb in which no man had ever yet been laid.

42 Then, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day (for the tomb was near at hand), they laid Jesus there. CCC

Where our lessons quote this chapter

  1. Verse 27: Mary: honored, not worshiped

This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church

Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.

  1. Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 600 “To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of "predestination", he includes…”
    • “… no means at rest, He saith to him: "To thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." Thus did He in like manner speak to Pilate: "Thou shouldest have no power at all against Me, unless it were given thee from above;”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  2. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 596 “The religious authorities in Jerusalem were not unanimous about what stance to take towards Jesus. The Pharisees threatened to excommunicate his followers.…”
  3. Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 596 “The religious authorities in Jerusalem were not unanimous about what stance to take towards Jesus. The Pharisees threatened to excommunicate his followers.…”
    • “first-born, when his brother looked on them with contempt; even as also the younger nation received Him, Christ, the first-begotten, when the elder nation rejected Him, saying, "We have no king but Cæsar.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  4. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 440 “Jesus accepted Peter's profession of faith, which acknowledged him to be the Messiah, by announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of…”
  5. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 440 “Jesus accepted Peter's profession of faith, which acknowledged him to be the Messiah, by announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of…”
  6. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 440 “Jesus accepted Peter's profession of faith, which acknowledged him to be the Messiah, by announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of…”
    • CCC 596 “The religious authorities in Jerusalem were not unanimous about what stance to take towards Jesus. The Pharisees threatened to excommunicate his followers.…”
  7. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 440 “Jesus accepted Peter's profession of faith, which acknowledged him to be the Messiah, by announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of…”
  8. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 495 “Called in the Gospels "the mother of Jesus", Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before…”
    • CCC 726 “At the end of this mission of the Spirit, Mary became the Woman, the new Eve ("mother of the living"), the mother…”
    • CCC 2618 “The Gospel reveals to us how Mary prays and intercedes in faith. At Cana, The mother of Jesus asks her son for…”
  9. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 501 “Jesus is Mary's only son, but her spiritual motherhood extends to all men whom indeed he came to save: "The Son whom…”
    • CCC 726 “At the end of this mission of the Spirit, Mary became the Woman, the new Eve ("mother of the living"), the mother…”
    • CCC 964 “Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. "This union of the mother…”
    • CCC 2605 “When the hour had come for him to fulfill the Father's plan of love, Jesus allows a glimpse of the boundless depth…”
    • CCC 2618 “The Gospel reveals to us how Mary prays and intercedes in faith. At Cana, The mother of Jesus asks her son for…”
  10. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 501 “Jesus is Mary's only son, but her spiritual motherhood extends to all men whom indeed he came to save: "The Son whom…”
    • CCC 726 “At the end of this mission of the Spirit, Mary became the Woman, the new Eve ("mother of the living"), the mother…”
    • CCC 964 “Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. "This union of the mother…”
    • CCC 2605 “When the hour had come for him to fulfill the Father's plan of love, Jesus allows a glimpse of the boundless depth…”
    • CCC 2618 “The Gospel reveals to us how Mary prays and intercedes in faith. At Cana, The mother of Jesus asks her son for…”
    • CCC 2677 “Holy Mary, Mother of God: With Elizabeth we marvel, "and why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should…”
  11. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 544 “The kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly, which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts. Jesus is sent to…”
    • CCC 607 “The desire to embrace his Father's plan of redeeming love inspired Jesus' whole life, for his redemptive passion was the very reason…”
    • CCC 2561 “You would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." Paradoxically our prayer of petition is a response to…”
    • CCC 2605 “When the hour had come for him to fulfill the Father's plan of love, Jesus allows a glimpse of the boundless depth…”
  12. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 607 “The desire to embrace his Father's plan of redeeming love inspired Jesus' whole life, for his redemptive passion was the very reason…”
    • CCC 624 “By the grace of God" Jesus tasted death "for every one". In his plan of salvation, God ordained that his Son should…”
    • CCC 730 “At last Jesus' hour arrives: he commends his spirit into the Father's hands 118 at the very moment when by his death…”
    • CCC 2605 “When the hour had come for him to fulfill the Father's plan of love, Jesus allows a glimpse of the boundless depth…”
  13. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 641 “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because…”
  14. Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 478 “Jesus knew and loved us each and all during his life, his agony and his Passion, and gave himself up for each…”
    • CCC 694 “Water. the symbolism of water signifies the Holy Spirit's action in Baptism, since after the invocation of the Holy Spirit it becomes…”
    • CCC 766 “The Church is born primarily of Christ's total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on…”
    • CCC 1225 “In his Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of his Passion, which he was…”
    • “And how, again, supposing that He was not flesh, but was a man merely in appearance, could He have been crucified, and could blood and water have issued from His pierced side?”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  15. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 608 “After agreeing to baptize him along with the sinners, John the Baptist looked at Jesus and pointed him out as the "Lamb…”
  16. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1432 “The human heart is heavy and hardened. God must give man a new heart. Conversion is first of all a work of…”
  17. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 575 “Many of Jesus' deeds and words constituted a "sign of contradiction", but more so for the religious authorities in Jerusalem, whom the…”
  18. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 624 “By the grace of God" Jesus tasted death "for every one". In his plan of salvation, God ordained that his Son should…”
    • CCC 641 “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because…”