Chapter 15

  And forthwith in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.  

  And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering, said to him, Thou sayest it.  

  And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.  

  And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they testify against thee.  

  But Jesus yet answered nothing: so that Pilate marveled.  

  Now at that feast he released to them one prisoner, whom they desired.  

  And there was one named Barabbas, who lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.  

  And the multitude crying aloud, began to desire him to do as he had ever done to them.  

  But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release to you the King of the Jews?  

  (For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.)  

  But the chief priests moved the people that he should rather release Barabbas to them.  

  And Pilate answered, and said again to them, What will ye then that I shall do to him whom ye call the King of the Jews?  

  And they cried out again, Crucify him.  

  Then Pilate said to them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.  

  And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.  

  And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Pretorium; and they call together the whole band;  

  And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,  

  And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!  

  And they struck him on the head with a reed, and spit upon him, and bowing their knees, worshiped him.  

  And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.  

  And they constrain one Simon, a Cyrenian, who was passing by, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.  

  And they bring him to the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.  

  And they gave him to drink, wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.  

  And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.  

  And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.  

  And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.  

  And with him they crucify two thieves, the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.  

  And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.  

  And they that passed by, railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,  

  Save thyself, and come down from the cross.  

  Likewise also the chief priests mocking, said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others, himself he cannot save.  

  Let Christ the king of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him, reviled him.  

  And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land, until the ninth hour.  

  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama, sabacthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?  

  And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah.  

  And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.  

  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and expired.  

  And the vail of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.  

  And when the centurion who stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and expired, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.  

  There were also women looking on at a distance, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger, and of Joses, and Salome;  

  Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him; and many other women who came with him to Jerusalem.  

  And now, when the evening was come, (because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath)  

  Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counselor, who also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly to Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.  

  And Pilate wondered if he was already dead: and calling the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.  

  And when he knew it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.  

  And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone to the door of the sepulcher.  

  And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses, beheld where he was laid.