Who Crucified Jesus According To The Bible

Who is responsible in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ

QUESTION: Who bears the primary responsibility for the crucifixion of Christ? Answer: This subject has been disputed for ages and the discussion continues now – who was the genuine assassin of Jesus Christ. What does the Bible say about this? It is revealed in Matthew 27:22–25 that the Jewish authorities asked that Jesus be crucified. The Romans, on the other hand, were the ones who physically crucified Jesus (Matthew 27:27-37). Who has the ultimate responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?

Our sins were the cause of His death.

But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, according to the Bible’s verse Romans 5:8.

Pilate was the one who inquired.

• ‘Why?
• “Crucify him!” they cried out even louder, as if they had something to prove.
• ‘I am not responsible for this man’s blood,’ he insisted.
• They stripped him down to his underwear and draped him in a red robe before twisting a crown of thorns together and placing it on his head.
• ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they cried out in jubilation.
• After they had made fun of him, they stripped him of his robe and dressed him in his own clothing.
• ” “As they were about to leave, they came upon a man from Cyrene called Simon, whom they compelled to carry the cross for them.
• They offered Jesus wine laced with gall to drink there, but after tasting it, he refused to take any more from the cup.

After Jesus had been nailed to the cross, they divided his clothing by drawing lots for it. They sat down and kept a close eye on him from that position. A printed indictment against him was placed over his head, which read: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWISH GENTILES.”

Who was responsible for Christ’s death? Who killed Jesus?

QuestionAnswer The solution to this question has a number of different sides. In the first place, there is little question that the religious leaders of Israel were directly or indirectly responsible for Jesus’ killing. “The chief priests and the elders of the people convened in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they devised a plan to secretly capture Jesus and murder him,” according to Matthew 26:3–4. The Jewish authorities asked that Jesus be put to death from the Romans (Matthew 27:22–25).

• (John 11:53).
• It was a Roman form of execution approved and carried out by the Romans under the authority of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who sentenced Jesus to death on the cross.
• The people of Israel were also participants in Jesus’ execution, as was the Roman Empire.
• Crucify him!” “Crucify him!” the crowd chanted as He faced trial before Pilate (Luke 23:21).

When Peter told the men of Israel in Acts 2:22–23, he was confirming their suspicions: “You, with the assistance of evil men, put him to death by nailing him on the cross.” As it turned out, the murder of Jesus was part of an elaborate conspiratorial scheme that involved the Roman Empire, Herod’s Jewish leaders, and the Jewish people themselves, a diverse group of people who had never worked together before or since, but who came together this one time to plot and carry out an unthinkable act: the assassination of the only begotten Son of God.

• At the end of the day, and maybe quite astonishingly, it was God Himself who executed Jesus.
• Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross insured the redemption of untold millions of people and offered the sole means by which God could forgive sin without compromising His holiness and flawless righteousness, which was otherwise impossible.
• As opposed to being a win for Satan, or a needless tragedy, as some have indicated, it was the most gracious act of God’s grace and mercy, the greatest manifestation of the Father’s love for sinners.
• As the Bible says, “God caused him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that through him, we may become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• He died in order to pay the price for our sins (Romans 5:8; 6:23).

He did it this way to serve as a constant reminder to himself and everyone else that it was our faults that condemned Jesus to death on the cross. Questions regarding Jesus Christ (return to top of page) Who was to blame for the killing of Jesus Christ? Who was responsible for Jesus’ death?

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QuestionAnswer Many different aspects of the solution to this topic. First and foremost, there is little doubt that the religious leaders of Israel were directly responsible for Jesus’ execution on the cross. “The chief priests and the elders of the people convened in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,” Matthew 26:3–4, and “they devised a plan to secretly capture Jesus and murder him,” according to the Bible’s account. According to Matthew 27:22–25, the Jewish leaders asked that Jesus be killed by the Romans.

• (John 11:53).
• It was a Roman form of execution approved and carried out by the Romans under the authority of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who had sentenced Jesus to death.
• Jesus’ death was made possible by the complicity of the Israelites.
• ” “Crucify him!” the crowd chanted as He was brought before Pilate for trial and execution (Luke 23:21).
• “You, with the assistance of evil men, put him to death by nailing him on the cross,” Peter reminded the men of Israel in Acts 2:22–23, confirming the previous statement.
• Finally, and maybe somewhat astonishingly, it was God Himself who sentenced Jesus to death.
• This was the greatest act of divine justice ever carried out, and it was done for the highest good.
• God’s flawless purpose for the permanent salvation of His own was accomplished via Christ’s death and resurrection.
• God sent Jesus to the cross to die in our place so that we could live in sinless righteousness before Him, a righteousness that was only made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus.
• We who have come to Christ in faith are thus liable for the blood of Christ, which was shed on the cross in our place.
• Mel Gibson, the director of the film The Passion of the Christ, was the one whose hands you see driving the nails through Christ’s hands in the final scene.

He did it this way to serve as a constant reminder to himself and the rest of the world that it was our faults that condemned Jesus to death. to:Jesus Christ: Do You Have Any Questions? Who was to blame for the killing of Jesus Christ. That was the assassin who murdered Jesus Christ?

The Crucifixion of Jesus and the Jews

Jesus was executed because he was a Jewish victim of Roman persecution. On this point, all documented authorities are in agreement. His execution was ordered by the Gentile Roman ruler, Pontius Pilate, who had him tortured and killed by Gentile Roman troops before he was executed. In fact, Jesus was one of thousands of Jews who were executed by the Romans. The New Testament not only attests to this fundamental reality, but it also provides for Jewish participation in two ways. A small group of high-ranking Jewish officials who owed their positions and authority to the Romans colluded with the Gentile leaders to have Jesus executed; they are claimed to have been envious of Jesus and to have regarded him as an existential danger to the status quo.

The number of individuals in this mob is not specified, nor is there any explanation provided for their actions (other than the fact that they had been “stirred up,” as stated in Mark 15:11).

As recorded in Matthew, the Roman ruler wipes his hands of Jesus’ blood, as the Jews exclaim, “His blood be upon us and upon our children!” (Matthew 27:25.) Throughout Jesus’ mission, the Jews are shown as desiring to murder him in John’s Gospel (John 5:18,John 7:1,John 8:37).

This shift in emphasis is not entirely clear, but one obvious possibility is that as the church spread throughout the world, Romans rather than Jews became the primary targets of evangelism; as a result, there may have been some motivation to “off-the-hook” the Romans and blame the Jews for Jesus’ death rather than the other way around.

However, by the middle of the second century, the apocryphal Gospel of Peter presents the Romans as Jesus’ supporters, and the Jews as those who crucify him, according to tradition.

As a result, anti-Semitism has fed such beliefs for ages, culminating in the crude demonization of Jews as “Christ-killers.” Christians have traditionally held, in opposition to such predictions, that the human actors responsible for Jesus’ execution are irrelevant: he offered his life voluntarily as a sacrifice for sin (Mark 10:45;John 18:11).

“Let his blood be upon us and upon our children!” cries out the congregation in most liturgical churches when Matthew’s PassionNarrativeis read during a worship service.

In most liturgical churches, when Matthew’s PassionNarrativeis read during a worship service, all members of the congregation are invited to echoMatt 27:25aloud, crying out, “Let his blood be upon us and upon our children!”

Contributors

Mark Allan Powell is a professor of New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota (Columbus, Ohio). He is the editor of the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary and the author of Introducing the New Testament (Baker, 2009) andJesus as a Figure in History (Westminster, 2009). He received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. John Knox Publishing Company, 2012). A gathering of individuals who are participating in religious services and are worshiping. The proclamation of “the good news” of Jesus Christ to the entire world.

1. spurious gospel purporting to have been authored by the apostle Peter, but which was rejected by the early Roman Catholic Church as part of the canonical New Testament canon because of its apocryphal nature.
2. A narrative that has been written, spoken, or recorded.
3. God’s character and actions are discussed through writing, conversation, or contemplation.
4. 15:1111 (Mark 15:1111) The leading priests, on the other hand, incited the mob to demand that Jesus release Barabbas for them instead.

27:2525 (KJV) Following that, the entire population exclaimed, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 5:1818 (John 5:1818) In order to assassinate him, the Jews increased their efforts even further, believing that he was not only violating the Sabbath but also referring to God as his own Father in the process.

• He did not want to travel about in Judea since the Jews were searching for an occasion to attack him and his family.
• 1 2:14-1514 (Thess 2:14-1514) Because you, brothers and sisters, were models for the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are located in Judea, because you experienced the same things from your own compa, you became imitators of those churches.
• Observe further information 10:45:45 (Mark 10:45:45) The Son of Man, after all, did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 18:1111 (John 18:1111) “Put your sword back into its sheath,” Jesus instructed Peter to do.
• God, on the other hand, demonstrates his love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
• More details may be found at1 Tim 1:515 p.m.

When it comes to Christ Jesus coming into the world to help sinners—of which I am the foremost—the phrase is certain and deserving of complete acceptance. Matt. 27:2525 (KJV) Following that, the entire population exclaimed, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

Why Did Pontius Pilate Have Jesus Executed?

“What is truth?” Pontius Pilate asks Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospel of John, and Jesus responds with a question. It’s a question that may be raised regarding Pilate’s own personal background as well. According to the New Testament of the Christian Bible, the Roman ruler of Judea was a shaky judge who originally exonerated Jesus before bowing to the will of the multitude and condemned him to death as a result of his actions. Non-Biblical sources, on the other hand, present him as a barbaric commander who wilfully rejected the traditions of the Jewish people under his command.

WATCH: JESUS: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE VaultJesus before Pilate, just before he was crucified.

Pilate’s early life is a mystery.

Jesus of Nazareth is confronted with the question, “What is truth?” by Pontius Pilate in the Gospel of John. One might even ask the same inquiry regarding Pilate’s own personal past if they knew what he was talking about. According to the New Testament of the Christian Bible, the Roman ruler of Judea was a shaky judge who originally exonerated Jesus before bowing to the will of the multitude and condemned him to death as a result of the public’s outrage. Non-Biblical sources, on the other hand, portray him as a barbaric commander who wilfully disobeyed the traditions of the Jewish people under his command.

JESUS: A HISTORICAL DISCUSSION OF HIS LIFE Before his execution, Jesus appeared before Pilate.

Pilate clashed with the Jewish population in Jerusalem.

A pair of golden shields emblazoned with the name of the Roman Emperor Tiberius were allowed into King Herod’s ancient residence in Jerusalem, according to Philo, despite Jewish tradition. Writing more than a half-century later, the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus related a similar story, claiming that Pilate let troops bearing military standards with the likeness of the emperor into Jerusalem, despite Jewish law prohibiting the carrying of images in the holy city. A large number of people journeyed to the Judean city of Caesarea to express their displeasure, and they laid prostrate outside Pilate’s palace for five days until he finally yielded.

This account has the ring of a rookie governor experimenting with his powers and entirely underestimating the depth of local opposition to graven images.

Josephus related another event, this one with a bloodier conclusion, in which Pilate used cash from the Temple treasury to construct an aqueduct to provide water to Jerusalem.

They were successful. When he gave the signal, they withdrew clubs disguised in their clothing and beat many of the demonstrators to death with the clubs they had removed. More information may be found at: Where Is the Head of Saint John the Baptist?

The Gospels portray an indecisive Pilate.

Josephus also referred to Pilate’s well-known role in agreeing to Jesus’ death, which he had played previously. After being gravely concerned by his teachings, the Sanhedrin (an elite council of priestly and lay elders) arrested Jesus while he was celebrating the Jewish festival of Passover, according to the Gospels. They hauled Jesus before Pilate to be prosecuted for blasphemy, accusing him of claiming to be the King of the Jews, which they said was false. And they exerted pressure on Pilate, the only person who had the authority to sentence someone to death, to order his crucifixion.

According to the Gospel of Mark, Pilate intervened on Jesus’ behalf before caving in to the demands of the mob.

MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT: Discovering the Early Christian Church’s Conversion Tactics from Within “Mark’s goal isn’t truly historical in nature,” Patterson explains.

Mark blamed the Jewish rulers in Jerusalem for the city’s collapse since the high priests and officials had turned their backs on Jesus when he had arrived in the city.

courtesy of DeAgostini/Getty Images Following this, according to the Gospel of Matthew, Pilate washed his hands in front of the assembled throng before declaring, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; take care of yourself.” When the Jewish people heard this, they yelled out, “His blood be on us and our children.” For millennia, it would be used to punish the Jewish people, and it is still being utilized now.

As Bond explains, “Matthew claims that, while Romans were accountable for carrying out the action, the Jews were liable—a line of thought that, of course, has had fatal ramifications ever since.” When Jesus was making problems during a gathering like Passover, when the city was packed to capacity, I don’t believe Pilate would have spent much time worrying about what to do with him.

According to the Gospels, the people preferred the criminal Barabbas than Jesus.

The so-called custom of freeing a prisoner on Passover has been investigated by scholars, but so far, according to Patterson, “they have not discovered anything in regard to this so-called ritual.” More information may be found at: Early Christians Didn’t Always Take the Bible Literally (Discovery).

Pilate disappears from history after his rule.

Following the use of disproportionate force to quell a suspected Samaritan rebellion, Pilate was dismissed from office and transported back to Rome, according to Josephus and the Roman historian Tacitus. Pilate vanished from the historical record as soon as he arrived in Rome. According to various legends, he was either executed by Emperor Caligula or committed suicide, with his remains being thrown into the Tiber River after his death. In fact, the early Christian author Tertullian said that Pilate had become a disciple of Jesus and had attempted to convert the emperor to Christian beliefs.

A portion of a carved stone with Pilate’s name and title etched in Latin on it was discovered face down in an antique theater, where it had been used as a stair.

According to a November 2018 article in Israel Exploration Journal, improved photography showed Pilate’s name engraved in Greek on a 2,000-year-old copper alloy ring recovered at Herodium, which was previously thought to be a Roman coin.

Crucifixion of Jesus – Bible Story

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the four New Testament writings that contain the story of Jesus’ death on the cross; they are known as the Gospels. This Bible tale serves as a succinct summation of the salvation message of Jesus Christ. “From that time on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life,” according to Matthew, who wrote, “from that time on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and As a result, Jesus saw that his death would be necessary as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

• During the height of Jesus’ career and miracles, a large number of Jews came to believe that he was the Messiah and the Son of God.
• Roman soldiers apprehended Jesus with the assistance of Judas Iscariot, and he was placed on trial for claiming to be the Jewish king, which he denied.
• When it came to the penalty for Jesus, the Roman ruler Pontius Pilate was apprehensive about the idea.
• Jesus was turned over to be beaten and whipped after Pilate washed his hands in front of a mob to demonstrate that he was not accepting responsibility for the slaughter that had taken place.

In addition to being forced to carry his cross along the walk to the hill where he would be killed, Jesus was also beaten with whips and whipping cords. The site of Jesus’ crucifixion is known as Calvary, which is derived from the Latin phrase meaning “a place of skull.”

Jesus on the Cross

Crowds had assembled to grieve and witness the death of Jesus. In addition to being nailed on the cross between two criminals, Jesus’ sides were wounded by a sword. After being mocked for a while, one of the convicts approached him and requested Jesus to remember him. Jesus answered by saying, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” “Forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing,” Jesus said as he raised his eyes to the heavens. When Jesus took his last breath, he said the following: “Father, I entrust my spirit into your capable hands.

The Last Words of Jesus Christ on the Cross

1. According to Matthew 27:46, at around the ninth hour, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you deserted me?” 2. 2. “Father, please forgive them since they are completely unaware of what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). 3. I swear to you that from this day forward, you’ll be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43). 4. “Dear Lady, please accept this as your son!” “Here is your mother!” says the other. When Jesus saw His mother standing near the cross with the Apostle John, He committed the care of His mother to John’s care, saying, “I trust you to look after her.” (See also John 19:26–27.) 5.

1. In this instance, Jesus was responding to the Messianic prophesy from Psalm 69:21, which stated, “They put gall in my food and vinegar in my thirst.” 6.
2. ” (See John 19:30.) The mission that His Father had given Him to carry out, which included teaching the Gospel, performing miracles, and bringing His people back together, was successfully completed.
3. 7.
4. (Matthew 23:46) Jesus freely laid down his life for us.
5. This was a terrible and difficult assignment, yet Jesus volunteered to take on the challenge.
6. In the hands of those who crucified him, Jesus was not helpless; he was the only one who had the authority to put an end to his life.
7. (Revelation 13:8).

It is still a heinous crime against humanity.

Death was visited upon the creator of life by nefarious men (Acts 2:23).

The death of Jesus was distinguished by extraordinary occurrences.

When Jesus took his last breath, the ground shook, the temple curtain broke in half from top to bottom, and the graves of saints were opened, their bodies being lifted from the grave.

The sin of mankind would necessitate the offering of a sacrifice.

The complete Bible account of the crucifixion can be found in the Scriptures listed below.

Read the entire narrative of Jesus’ crucifixion in the scriptural text below, as well as articles, videos, and audio sermons that are related to this moving story. Image courtesy of Getty Images/mbolina

Pontius Pilate

Pontius Pilate was a Roman governor who served under Tiberius the Great during the first century AD. His most well-known role is that of the judge in Jesus’ trial.

Who Was Pontius Pilate?

Pontius Pilate is thought to have originated from the Samnium area of central Italy, where he was imprisoned. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judaea from 26 to 36 A.D. throughout his reign. He accused Jesus of treason and said that Jesus considered himself to be the King of the Jews, and he ordered Jesus’ execution. Pilate died in the year 39 A.D. The exact reason of his death has not been determined. His presence was proved by an item discovered in 1961.

Prefect of Judea

Pontius Pilate was appointed prefect of the Roman provinces of Judaea, Samaria, and Iduma by the Roman Emperor Tiberius in 26 A.D., although Pilate is best remembered for his leadership of the Roman province of Judaea. While the average tenure for a Roman prefect was one to three years, Pilate was to keep his position as the fifth Roman procurator for a period of ten years, which was unprecedented at the time. Pontius Pilate became the successor of Valerius Gratus when he assumed his position.

His responsibilities as a prefect included routine activities like as tax collecting and project management for building projects.

Pontius Pilate made every effort to achieve this goal by whatever means necessary.

Jesus’ Crucifixion

Pontius Pilate, as governor of Judaea, was confronted with a clash of interests between the Roman Empire and the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious council. When Pontius inquired as to whether Jesus was the King of the Jews, he asserted that Jesus had accepted the title, which he never had done. The Roman authority regarded this claim as treasonous and prosecuted the accuser accordingly. Pontius Pilate, according to some historians, worked in collaboration with Jewish officials, who considered Jesus’ claim to authority as a political danger, when it came to pursuing Jesus.

All four of the Gospels portray him as a weak man who eventually caves in to the Jewish rulers’ demand to put Jesus on the cross.

Only Matthew 27:24 describes Pontius Pilate as refusing to participate in Jesus’ crucifixion: “So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves,” he said.

INRI was a Latin abbreviation for Jesus’ given name as well as his title as King of the Jews. Some feel that the term was intended to be sarcastic, in order to criticize Jesus for his lofty assertion.

Mysterious Death

The circumstances surrounding Pontius Pilate’s death, which occurred about 39 A.D., remain a mystery and a matter of debate. According to some legends, the Roman emperor Caligula ordered Pontius Pilate’s death by execution or suicide, which was carried out. According to some stories, Pontius Pilate was exiled and eventually committed suicide of his own free will. Some stories hold that after committing himself, his body was thrown into the Tiber River, which is where he is buried. Others, on the other hand, feel that Pontius Pilate’s destiny was tied to his conversion to Christianity and his canonization.

Whatever happened to Pontius Pilate in the end, one thing has been established: that he was a real person who lived in the first century A.D.

Antonio Frova discovered a piece of limestone etched with Pontius Pilate’s name in Latin, establishing a link between Pilate and Emperor Tiberius’ reign in the city.

Romans are to blame for death of Jesus

Among religious specialists and laypeople alike, the soon-to-be-released Mel Gibson film “The Passion of the Christ” is causing quite a commotion in the media. Many people believe the film contains anti-Semitic implications. Although the Jews are often believed to have been involved in Jesus’ death, according to Dr. Frank K. Flinn of Washington University in St. Louis’ department of religious studies, the Romans are truly to blame for the death of Jesus. Frank Flinn is a songwriter and musician from the United Kingdom.

“Crucifications could only be authorized by the Roman authorities, and they frequently did so on a brutal, mass scale.” In the opinion of Flinn, an expert on Catholicism, Gibson’s film appears to merge all of the gospel stories about the Passion into one epic, a made-for-the-big-screen story that fails to show how opinions about the Jews’ role in the crucifixion have changed dramatically over time, as has been shown in other films about the Passion.

• The author points out that our oldest accounts of the crucifixion, such as the Gospel of Mark, which was written about 60-70 C.E., make it apparent that Pilate was the one who ordered Christ’s execution.
• “Matthew, most likely as a result of inter-Jewish competition, places the ultimate responsibility fully on the shoulders of the Jewish leadership,” Flinn explained.
• When it came to Jewish persecution and murder throughout the Middle Ages, the label “Christ-killers” became a rhetorical club to legitimize the ghettoization, persecution, and slaughter of Jews.
• A Guide to Taking in the Show Mel Gibson’s next film Written by Frank K.
• In his books The Jewish War and Jewish Antiquities, Josephus, the Jewish historian, records several incidents.
• Only the Roman authorities had the authority to order crucifixions, and they did it on a brutal and enormous scale on a regular basis.
• The first Galilean disciples of Jesus regarded him as a prophet similar to Elijah, who wandered the Galilean hills healing the sick and reviving the dead, as did the prophet Elijah.
• Sadducees and Pharisees were among the Jewish leaders who owed their positions to their patron-client relationship with the Roman rulers (notice the word “some”).
• In addition to the teachers and prophets in rural Galilee and the Dead Sea Scrolls community at Qumran, other Jewish groups and individuals either rejected or rebelled against the corrupt relationship between Jerusalem and Rome.
• Along with the Temple tax, this tax was collected for Rome by the Temple officials, who distributed it to tax farmers.
• Due to the annual ordinance of Jubilee, it should have been possible for the rich in Jerusalem to restore this territory to the original tribes, but they failed to do so.

According to Leviticus 19:4, “render unto Caesar” means “return to Caesar” his own coin with Caesar’s image on it (a blasphemy to the pious Jew!) and “return to God” what is God’s, which is the land itself, which God ultimately owns and which God gave directly to Israel in the covenant (Joshua 24:13)!” The message of Jesus was both spiritually and politically dangerous, first to the Roman rulers and then, secondary, to their client appointees in Jerusalem, who were first threatened by it.

1. The Gospel of Mark, the earliest Gospel we know, was written between 60 and 70 CE.
2. Matthew and Luke were written considerably later, in the year 80-95, and show a wide range of interests and points of view.
3. Aside from his status as a Jewish disciple of Jesus (Antioch being the site of the first use of the term “Christian”), Matthew also comments on the era following the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE, when tensions broke out between rabbinic Yavneh Jews and Jewish followers of Jesus.
4. It’s possible that the rabbis weren’t all that successful.
5. (I constantly point out to my pupils that a Christian may attend any Jewish Sabbath service and participate fully in all of the prayers with complete religious commitment.) Matthew goes to great lengths to disassociate himself from the actions of the Roman authority.
6. Perhaps as a result of intra-Jewish competition, the phrase “His blood be upon us and our offspring” is added to place the ultimate responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the Jewish leadership (Matthew 24:25).
7. The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts should be read together as a single piece of literature.

We can now use the name “Christian,” which appears for the first time in Acts 11:26, but the term was probably definitely coined as a derogatory slur in its original context.

Against the backdrop of Roman criticism, Luke is attempting to defend Christianity against the charge of “superstition” leveled against it.

The paragraphs about Jesus being crowned with thorns and being mocked have been omitted.

“But Jesus hedelivered over to theirwill,” says Luke, elaborating on Pilate’s guilt (Luke 23:26).

In its present form (ca.

100-110 CE) is that John does not place the blame for Jesus’ death solely on Pilate, or Pilate’s Jewish authorities, or even the Jewish authorities alone, but on “Jews” collectively (John 19:12).

The stage is laid for the later, tragic accusation that “the Jews murdered Jesus,” despite the fact that John does not state so explicitly.

It was not until after Constantine brought about a thorough break with Judaism as such that the expression “Christ-killers” was put to use.

Bishop John Chrysostom of Constantinople (ca.

By the Middle Ages, the label “Christ-killers” had evolved into a linguistic club used to legitimize the ghettoization, persecution, and death of Jews around the world, particularly in Europe.

My argument establishes a chronological order for determining who was responsible for Jesus’ killing, as well as the appropriate terminology for each stage: Romans Leaders of the Romans and Jews The High Priest, the Scribes, and the Elders/Romans Chief Priest, Scribes, Elders, and the general populace/Pilate (sort of) Jews are a group of people who live in a community that is surrounded by other Jews (in general) “Stiff-necked Individuals” “Christ-killers.” According to what I’ve read about Mel Gibson’s movie in published accounts, it appears to be similar to many other films about Jesus in that it combines all of the gospel tales about the passion into a single narrative.

As I’ve demonstrated above, the multiple gospels express quite different messages.

This makes it seem eerily similar to the infamous traditional Catholic Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany, which was in its original form grossly stereotyped and anti-Semitic in its content.

Most crucially, the inclination in virtually all Christian interpretations of Jesus’ death is to adopt as one’s frame of reference, not the first phrase in the sequence I listed above, but the last term in the series. But, to be fair, we’ll have to wait till the film is out before we can find out.

Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 27:32-56 – New International Version

Among religious professionals and plain people alike, the soon-to-be-released Mel Gibson film “The Passion of the Christ” is causing quite a commotion in the media. Numerous critics have claimed that the film contains anti-Semitic undercurrents. Although the Jews are often believed to have been involved in Jesus’ death, according to Dr. Frank K. Flinn of Washington University in St. Louis’ Department of Religious Studies, the Romans are truly to blame for the death of Jesus. Frank Flinn is a musician and songwriter from the United Kingdom.

1. Flinn, a Catholic expert, said Gibson’s film appears to combine all of the gospel accounts about the Passion into a single epic, a made-for-the-big-screen scenario that fails to demonstrate how attitudes of the Jews’ part in the crucifixion have shifted radically over time.
2. Even though Matthew and Luke were written considerably later, they show a variety of interests and opinions, with each gospel placing more blame on Jews.
3. ‘In Luke, the “whitewashing” of the Romans comes close to being finished.
4. All of us are well aware of the conclusion to this tragic chapter.” Who was the assassination victim?
5. Flinn’s contribution Because Jesus posed a political threat to the Romans, they executed him, just as they had done with a large number of other prophets, brigands, and rebels throughout the first century.
6. It is likely that Jesus would have been stoned if the Jewish authorities had been actively engaged, as Stephen was in Acts 7.
7. They have demonstrated their brutal authority via the insurrection and crucifixion of Sparticus’ troops.

The Messiah, like all of the prophets before him, called for a renewal of the conditions of the covenant (Leviticus 19), a restoration of the land to its original tribal owners (the law of Jubilee), and he spoke out against the corrupt leadership in Jerusalem on a number of occasions.

The procurator of Judea was selected by the emperor, and the High Priest was appointed by him.

Julius Caesar had previously excused Jews from participating in imperial worship by requiring them to pay a special fee to the Roman government in exchange for their exemption.

Poor farmers in Galilee were forced to mortgage their ancestral properties to the powers that be in Jerusalem as a result of the persecution they suffered under the Roman occupation.

Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God in the same way that the prophets of old had done in their time.

It was Jesus’ teaching that was both spiritually and politically dangerous, first to the Roman rulers and then to their client appointees in Jerusalem, who were first and foremost targets of Jesus’ message.

However, Mark 15:15 makes it obvious that Pilate was the one who ordered Jesus’ murder, whereas he portrays it as a sort of 50/50 cooperation between the corrupted leaders and Pilate.

Using Moses as an example, Matthew describes Jesus as a “Super Teacher” or “Rabbi.” Aside from his status as a Jewish disciple of Christ (Antioch being the site of the first use of the term “Christian”), Matthew comments on a period following the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE, when tensions broke out between rabbinic Yavneh Jews and Jewish followers of Jesus.

• However, it is possible that the rabbis were not particularly effective.
• (I often remind my pupils that a Christian may attend any Jewish Sabbath service and participate in all of the prayers with complete religious commitment.) A great deal of effort is expended by Matthew to disassociate himself from the Roman rulers.
• He adds the sentence “His blood be upon us and our offspring,” which is most likely a result of intra-Jewish strife, to place ultimate responsibility squarely on the shoulders of Jewish authority (Matthew 24:25).
• The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts should be read together as a single piece of literature.
• Even though we can today use the name “Christian,” which appears for the first time in Acts 11:26, the term was probably definitely intended to be used as a derogatory epithet at the time of its invention.
• Against the backdrop of Roman criticism, Luke is attempting to defend Christianity against the charge of “superstition” leveled against it.
• There are no longer any texts about Jesus being crowned with thorns or being mocked.

“But Jesus hedelivered over to their will,” Luke says of Pilate’s duty (Luke 23:26).

In its present form (ca.

100-110 CE) is that John does not place the blame for Jesus’ death solely on Pilate, or Pilate’s Jewish authorities, or even the Jewish authorities alone, but on “Jews” in general (John 19:12).

Despite the fact that John did not mention so, the stereotype is established for the later, disastrous allegation of “the Jews killed Jesus.” The “Jews” were characterized by Christian apologists as a “stiff-necked people” who refused to see the light of redemption in the years that followed.

A fascinating subtext may be found in each situation.

398-407) was the first to accuse Jews of being “Christ-killers,” but he did so because his Christian congregants were continuing to attend the local synagogue, no doubt because the rabbis were more learned than many priests and were better biblical preachers than the priests themselves.

All of us are well aware of the tragic conclusion to this saga.

The High Priest, the Scribes, the Elders/Romans, and other officials Priests in authority, scribes, elders, and the general populace/pilate (sort of) Jews are a group of people who live in a country that is mostly Jewish (in general) Christ-killers.” “Stiff-necked People” I’ve read enough about Mel Gibson’s movie to conclude that, like many other films about Jesus, it will combine all of the gospel stories about the passion into a single narrative.

I’m looking forward to seeing it.

Second, according to Gibson himself, the film is brutal and horrific, and it places a strong emphasis on the role of Mary in a way that is not reflected in the gospel accounts.

What’s more, the inclination in practically all Christian interpretations of Jesus’ death is to adopt as one’s frame of reference not the first phrase in the sequence I’ve listed above but the last term in the series We’ll have to wait till the film is out before we can find out for certain.

The Death of Jesus Q)”>(Q)

45From midday till three o’clock in the afternoon, darkness R)”>(R) descended upon the entire country. “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?,” Jesus called out in a loud voice at about 3 p.m., about three hours after the resurrection. (which translates as “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”) S)”>(S) Some of those there remarked, “He’s summoning Elijah,” as they realized what was happening. 48 As soon as they saw the sponge, one of them dashed to get it. Filling the vessel with wine vinegar, he T)”>(T)strung it on a stick and presented it to Jesus for drinking.

1. “Let’s see if Elijah shows up to save him.” 50And when Jesus cried out in a loud voice for the third time, he surrendered his spirit.
2. The ground trembled, and the rocks cracked.
3. Many pious persons who had died were brought back to life by the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. The centurion and those with him, who were guarding Y)”>(Y)Jesus, were horrified when they saw the earthquake and all that had happened, and they cried, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Z)”>Z)Jesus was the Son of God!
5. They had followed Jesus all the way from Galilee in order to meet his necessities.
6. AA)”>(AA)56 AB)”>(AB) Read the entire chapter.
7. All rights are retained around the world.
8. Zondervan has copyright protection till the year 2019.

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19After that, Pilate arrested Jesus and had him flogged. B)”>(B)2The soldiers wrapped a crown of thorns over his head and fastened it with a rope. They dressed him in a purple robe3and continued to approach him, exclaiming, “Hail, king of the Jews!” again and over again. After that, they smacked him in the face. C)”>(C) “Look, I’m bringing him out E)”>(E)to you to let you know that I have found no foundation for laying a complaint against him,” Pilate stated to the crowd of Jews assembled there once more.

• Crucify!” “Take him and put him on the cross,” Pilate said, dismissively.
• 8)When Pilate heard this, he became even more terrified, and he returned to the palace.
• L)”>(L)”Where did you come from?” he inquired of Jesus, but received no response from Jesus.
• “Don’t you know that I have the ability to either release you or crucify you?” says the villain.
• 14It was around noon on the day of Passover Preparation S)”>(S), and it was the day of the Passover.
• 15However, they cried out, “Take him away!

Take him away from me! “Put him to death!” “Do you want me to crucify your king?” Pilate was the one who inquired. In response, the leading priests stated, “We have no monarch save Caesar.” 16At long last, Pilate delivered him over to them, who crucified him. V)”>(V)

The Crucifixion of Jesus W)”>(W)

As a result, the soldiers were in command of Jesus. 17Carrying his own cross, X)”>(X)he walked out to the site of the Skull Y)”>(Y)(which is known as Golgotha in Aramaic Z)”>(Z)), where he was crucified. 18They nailed him on the cross, along with two others AA)”>(AA) —one on each side of him, with Jesus in the center of them. 19Pilate had a note made and attached on the cross in advance of the ceremony. It said:Jesus of Nazareth, AB)”>(AB)the king of the Jews, and it was true. AC)”>(AC) 20This sign was read by a large number of Jews because the site of Jesus’ crucifixion was close to the city, AD)”>(AD), and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek languages.

1. “I have written what I have written,” Pilate said.
2. This garment was seamless, meaning it was woven from top to bottom in a single piece.
3. “Let’s draw lots to see who gets it,” says the group.
4. AJ)”>(AJ)26 After seeing his mother AK)”>(AK) there, and the disciple whom he adored AL)”>(AL) standing close, Jesus said to her, “Woman, here is your son,”27 and then to the disciple, “Woman, here is your disciple.” “Here is your mother,” the teacher says to the disciple.

The Death of Jesus AM)”>(AM)

28Later, seeing that all had been completed, AN) expressed gratitude “So that Scripture would be fulfilled, and in order to ensure that AO) The abbreviation for “Another One” is “AO.” “When Jesus remarked, “I am thirsty,” the crowds applauded. 29A jar of wine vinegar (optional) “>(AP)was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, placed the sponge on a stem of the hyssop plant, and elevated the sponge to Jesus’ lips to kiss him. 30After receiving the cup, Jesus declared, “It is done.” AQ) AQ) “(AQ)He bent his head and surrendered his spirit as a result of this.

AS) Because the Jewish officials did not want the bodies to be left on the crosses “Over the course of the Sabbath, they petitioned Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies brought down.

At the time of writing, AT is abbreviated as AT “>(AT)33However, when they arrived at Jesus’ location and saw that he had already died, they did not break his legs.

AV)”>(AV)35The guy who witnessed it AW)”>(AW)has testified, and his evidence is reliable.

36These events occurred in order for the scripture to be fulfilled: AY)”>(AY)”Not one of his bones will be broken,”AZ)”>(AZ)37 “Not one of his bones will be broken,”AZ)”>(AZ)38 In addition, according to another text, “They will cast their gaze towards the one who has been wounded. ”BA)”>(BA)

The Burial of Jesus BB)”>(BB)

38After thereafter, Joseph of Arimathea approached Pilate and requested the corpse of Jesus. Now, Joseph was a follower of Jesus, but he did so in secret because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. (British Columbia) “>(BC)With Pilate’s permission, he arrived and removed the body from the scene. He was joined by Nicodemus, according to BD) “>(BD)the man who had previously visited Jesus in the middle of the night. Nicodemus arrived with a combination of myrrh and aloes weighing around seventy-five pounds.

(Belgium) “According to Jewish burial practices, this was done in conformity with the law.

Because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation BG)”>(BG) and because the tomb was close by, BH)”>(BH) they buried Jesus in the tomb on that day.

Passion Narratives:The Four Gospel Accounts of the Crucifixion of Jesus

The Temple Incident was arrested before the Sanhedrin Trial, which was held before Pilate.

Mark 15(Verses 15-47)15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barab’bas; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the praetorium); and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they struck his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and they knelt down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. 21 And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyre’ne, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Gol’gotha (which means the place of a skull). 23 And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour, when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. /28 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests mocked him to one another with the scribes, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. 33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “E’lo-i, E’lo-i, la’ma sabach-tha’ni?” which means, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Eli’jah.” 36 And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Eli’jah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” 40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Mag’dalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salo’me, 41 who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him; and also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. 42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathe’a, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Mag’dalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

John 19(Verses 16-42)16 Then hehanded him over to them to be crucified. 17 So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Gol’gotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 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. 21 The chief priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.'” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfil the scripture, “They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” 25 So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Mag’dalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; 33 but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness-his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth-that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of him shall be broken.” 37 And again another scripture says, “They shall look on him whom they have pierced.” 38 After this Joseph of Arimathe’a, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicode’mus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight. 40 They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Matthew 27(Verses 26-66)26 Then hereleased for them Barab’bas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, 29 and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyre’ne, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Gol’gotha (which means the place of a skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots; 36 then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.'” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, la’ma sabach-tha’ni?” that is, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “This man is calling Eli’jah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Eli’jah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; 52 the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” 55 There were also many women there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; 56 among whom were Mary Mag’dalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zeb’edee. 57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathe’a, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 Mary Mag’dalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre. 62 Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Therefore order the sepulchre to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the sepulchre secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Luke 23(Verses 24-56)24 So Pilate gave sentence that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will. 26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyre’ne, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things. 50 Now there was a man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathe’a. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their purpose and deed, and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid; 56 then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.