Bible / Luke

Luke 23

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

1 The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.

2 They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” CCC

3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “So you say.”

4 Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

5 But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.”

6 But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean.

7 When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.

9 He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.

10 The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.

11 Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.

12 Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,

14 and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and behold, having examined him before you, I found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.

15 Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.

16 I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

17 Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.

18 But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!” –

19 one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder. CCC

20 Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus,

21 but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

22 He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

23 But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed.

24 Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done.

25 He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.

26 When they led him away, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry it after Jesus.

27 A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.

28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. CCC

29 For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’

30 Then they will begin to tell the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and tell the hills, ‘Cover us.’

31 For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?”

32 There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.

33 When they came to the place that is called “The Skull”, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. CCC · Fathers

35 The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”

36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,

37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

38 An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

39 One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” CCC

40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? CCC

41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” CCC

42 He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” CCC

43 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” CCC

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

45 The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

46 Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last. CCC · Fathers

47 When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” CCC

48 All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their chests.

49 All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.

50 Behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man

51 (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom.

52 This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.

53 He took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid.

54 It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.

55 The women who had come with him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.

56 They returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

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
    • CCC 596 “The religious authorities in Jerusalem were not unanimous about what stance to take towards Jesus. The Pharisees threatened to excommunicate his followers.…”
  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
    • CCC 2635 “Since Abraham, intercession - asking on behalf of another has been characteristic of a heart attuned to God's mercy. In the age…”
  4. Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • CCC 597 “The historical complexity of Jesus' trial is apparent in the Gospel accounts. the personal sin of the participants (Judas, the Sanhedrin, Pilate)…”
    • 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 2635 “Since Abraham, intercession - asking on behalf of another has been characteristic of a heart attuned to God's mercy. In the age…”
    • “And from this fact, that He exclaimed upon the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,”

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

  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…”
    • CCC 2616 “Prayer to Jesus is answered by him already during his ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of his death and Resurrection:…”
  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 2266 “The State's effort to contain the spread of behaviors injurious to human rights and the fundamental rules of civil coexistence corresponds to…”
    • CCC 2616 “Prayer to Jesus is answered by him already during his ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of his death and Resurrection:…”
  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…”
    • CCC 2266 “The State's effort to contain the spread of behaviors injurious to human rights and the fundamental rules of civil coexistence corresponds to…”
    • CCC 2616 “Prayer to Jesus is answered by him already during his ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of his death and Resurrection:…”
  8. 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 2266 “The State's effort to contain the spread of behaviors injurious to human rights and the fundamental rules of civil coexistence corresponds to…”
    • CCC 2616 “Prayer to Jesus is answered by him already during his ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of his death and Resurrection:…”
  9. 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 1021 “Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ.…”
    • CCC 2266 “The State's effort to contain the spread of behaviors injurious to human rights and the fundamental rules of civil coexistence corresponds 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…”
    • CCC 2616 “Prayer to Jesus is answered by him already during his ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of his death and Resurrection:…”
  10. Read the Catechism and Fathers
    • 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 1011 “In death, God calls man to himself. Therefore the Christian can experience a desire for death like St. Paul's: "My desire is…”
    • 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…”
    • “For when Christ was giving up His spirit on the cross, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,”

      Quoted in Dialogue with Trypho, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 160), Chapter CV. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  11. Read the Catechism
    • CCC 441 “In the Old Testament, "son of God" is a title given to the angels, the Chosen People, the children of Israel, and…”