THE DAY OF SUFFERING
The Agony In Gethsemane
And they come unto a place which
was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples, “Sit ye here, while
I pray.”
And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly
amazed, and sore troubled. And he saith unto them, “My soul is exceeding
sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch.”
And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if
it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.
And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this
cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt.”
And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as
it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.
And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found
them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto Peter, “Simon, sleepest thou?
Couldest thou not watch one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into
temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this
cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.”
And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And
he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying the
same words.
Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them. “Sleep on now, and
take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is
betrayed into the hands of sinners.
“Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.”
The Betrayal and Arrest
And straightway, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and
with him a multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and
the scribes and the elders.
Now he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, “Whomsoever I
shall kiss, that is he; take him, and lead him away safely.” And when he
was come, straightway he came to him, and saith, “Rabbi,” and kissed him.
But Jesus said unto him, “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a
kiss?’
Jesus, therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went
forth, and saith unto them, “Whom seek ye?”
They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus saith unto them, “I am he.”
And Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When therefore
he said unto them, “I am he,” they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Again therefore he asked them, “Whom seek ye?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me, let
these go their way”: that the word might be fulfilled which he spake, “Of
those whom thou hast given me I lost not one.”
And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord,
shall we smite with the sword?”
Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest’s
servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant’s name was Malchus.
But Jesus answered and said, “Suffer ye them thus far.” And he touched his
ear, and healed him.
Then saith Jesus unto Peter, “Put up again thy sword into its place: for
all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Or thinkest thou
that I cannot beseech my Father and he shall even now send me more than
twelve legions of angels? How then should the scriptures be fulfilled,
that thus it must be? The cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not
drink it’?”
And Jesus said unto the chief priests and captains of the temple, and
elders, that were come against him, “Are ye come out as against a robber,
with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye
stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the
power of darkness.”
Then all the disciples left him, and fled.
And a certain young man followed with him, having a linen cloth cast about
him over his naked body: and they lay hold on him; but he left the linen
cloth, and fled naked.
The Trial Before the Jewish Authorities
So the band and the chief captain, and the officers of the Jews, seized
Jesus and bound him, and led him to Annas first; for he was father in law
to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was he that gave
counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the
people.
And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that
disciple was known unto the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into
the court of the high priest; but Peter was standing at the door without.
So the other disciple, who was known unto the high priest, went out and
spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
The maid therefore that kept the door saith unto Peter, “Art thou also,
one of this man’s disciples?”
He saith, “I am not.”
Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire
of coals; for it was cold; and they were warming themselves; and Peter
also was with them standing and warming himself.
The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his
teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I ever
taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together;
and in secret spake I nothing. Why askest thou me? Ask them, that have
heard me, what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I
said.”
And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus
with his hand, saying, “Answerest thou the high priest so?”
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but
if well, why smitest thou me?”
Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus
to put him to death; and found it not. For many bare false witness against
him, and their witness agreed not together. And there stood up certain,
and bare false witness against him, saying, “We heard him say, I will
destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will
build another made without hands.” And not even so did their witness agree
together.
And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying,
“Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee?” But
he held his peace, and answered nothing.
And the high priest said unto him, “I adjure thee by the living God, that
thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God.”
And Jesus said, “I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the
right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
And the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, “What further need have
we of witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye?”
And they all condemned him to be worthy of death.
Then did they spit in his face and buffet him. And they blindfolded him
and smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, “Prophesy unto us,
thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?”
The Denial of Peter
And as Peter was beneath in the
court, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest; and seeing Peter
warming himself, she looked upon him, and saith, “Thou also wast with the
Nazarene, even Jesus.”
But he denied, saying, “I neither know nor understand what thou sayest,”
and he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
And after a little while they that stood by came and said to Peter, “Of a
truth thou also art one of them; for thy speech maketh thee known.”
Then began he to curse and to swear, “I know not the man.” And straightway
the cock crew.
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word
of the Lord, how that he said unto him, “Before the cock crow twice thou
shalt deny me thrice.”
And he went out, and wept bitterly.
And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and
scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and
carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate, the governor.
The Remorse of Judas
Then Judas, who betrayed him, when
he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the
thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have
sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.”
But they said, “What is that to us? See thou to it.”
And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed;
and he went away and hanged himself.
And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, “It is not
lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.” And
they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury
strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, “The field of blood,” unto
this day.
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet,
saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that
was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price; and they
gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.”
The Trial Before Pilate
They led Jesus therefore from
Caiaphas into the Praetorium: and it was early; and they themselves
entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might
eat the passover. Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, “What
accusation bring ye against this man?”
They answered and said unto him, “If this man were not an evil-doer, we
should not have delivered him up unto thee.”
Pilate therefore said unto them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him
according to your law.”
The Jews said unto him, “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death”:
that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying by
what manner of death he should die.
And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our
nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he
himself is Christ a king.”
And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered
nothing. Then saith Pilate unto him, “Hearest thou not how many things
they witness against thee?” And he gave him no answer, not even to one
word: insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and called Jesus, and
said unto him, “Art thou the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee
concerning me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests
delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of
this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered
to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
Pilate therefore said unto him, “Art thou a king then?”
Jesus answered, “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been
born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness
unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice:
Pilate saith unto him, “What is truth?”
And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto
them. “I find no crime in him.”
But they were the more urgent, saying, “He stirreth up the people,
teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee, even unto this
place.”
But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilean, And
when he knew that he was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod,
who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.
Jesus Before Herod
Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was
exceeding glad; for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he
had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him.
And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the
chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. And Herod
with his soldiers set him at nought and mocked him, and arraying him in
gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate.
And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for
before they were at enmity between themselves.
The Trial Before Pilate Resumed
And Pilate called together the
chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said unto them, “Ye
brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people: and behold,
I, having examined him before you, found no fault in this man touching
those things whereof ye accuse him; no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him
back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him. I
will therefore chastise him, and release him.”
Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one
prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called
Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the
insurrection had committed murder. And the multitude went up and began to
ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them.
And Pilate answered them, saying, “Will ye that I release unto you the
King of the Jews?” For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had
delivered him up.
Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they
should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
But the governor answered and said unto them, “Which of the two will ye
that I release unto you?”
And they said, “Barabbas.”
Pilate saith unto them, “What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called
Christ?”
They all say, “Let him be crucified!’
And he said unto them a third time, “Why, what evil hath this man done? I
have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise and release
him!’
Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
And the soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium;
and they call together the whole band.
And they stripped him, and arrayed him in a purple garment. And they
platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his
right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying:
“Hail, King of the Jews!” and they struck him with their hands. And they
spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him upon the head.
And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, “Behold, I bring him out
to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him.”
Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple
garment. And Pilate saith unto them, “Behold, the man!”
When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out,
saying, “Crucify him, crucify him!”
Pilate saith unto them, “Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find
no crime in him.”
The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law he ought to die,
because he made himself the Son of God.”
When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid; and he
entered into the Praetorium again, and saith unto Jesus, “Whence art
thou?”
But Jesus gave him no answer.
Pilate therefore saith unto him, “Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou
not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee?”
Jesus answered him, “Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it
were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath
greater sin.”
Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying,
“If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar’s friend: every one that
maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”
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.
And while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him,
saying, “Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have
suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.”
Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour.
And he saith unto the Jews, “Behold, your King.”
They therefore cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!”
Pilate saith unto them, “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!’
So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was
arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying,
“I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it.”
And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us, and on our
children.”
And they were urgent with loud voices asking that he might be crucified.
And their voices prevailed.
And Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, gave sentence that what they
asked for should be done. And he released into them Barabbas, him that for
insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for;
but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on
him his garments, and led him away to crucify him.
The Sorrowful Way
They took Jesus therefore: and he
went out, bearing the cross for himself.
And as they came out, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, the father
of Alexander and Rufus, who was passing by, coming from the country; him
they compelled to go with them, and laid on him the cross, that he might
bear it after Jesus.
And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who
bewailed and lamented him.
But Jesus turning unto them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for
me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days
are coming, in which they shall say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the
wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck.’ Then shall
they begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover
us.’ For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in
the dry?”
And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to
death.
The Crucifixion
And when they were come unto a
place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull, they gave him
wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not
drink.
There they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and
the other on the left.
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
And Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. And there was
written: Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews.
But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s
sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore
saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto
his mother, “Woman, behold thy son!”
Then saith he to the disciple, “Behold thy mother!”
And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home.
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,
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” 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.”
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the
scripture might be accomplished, saith, “I thirst.”
There was set there a vessel full of vinegar: so they put a sponge full of
the vinegar upon hyssop, and brought it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore
had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.”
And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I
commend my spirit,” and having said this, he gave up the ghost.
And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the
bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent; and the tombs
were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were
raised; and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they
entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.
Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they
saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly,
saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld
the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts. And many women
were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee,
ministering unto him; among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother
of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should
not remain on the cross upon the sabbath (for the day of that sabbath was
a high day), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that
they might be taken away.
The soldiers therefore came, and brake the legs of the first and of the
other that was crucified with him: but when they came to Jesus, and saw
that he was dead already, they brake not, his legs; howbeit one of the
soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out
blood and water. And he that hath seen hath borne witness, and his witness
is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye also may believe. For
these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled, “A bone
of him shall not be broken.” And again another scripture saith, “They
shall look on him whom they pierced.”
The Burial
And after these things, when even
was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, a councilor
of honorable estate, a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the
Jews; and he boldly went in unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the
centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he
learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph.
He came therefore, and took away his body. And there came also Nicodemus,
he who at the first, came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and
aloes, about a hundred pounds. So they took the body of Jesus, and bound
it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden: and in the
garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid. There then because of
the Jews’ Preparation (for the tomb was nigh at hand), they laid Jesus;
and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus beheld the tomb, and how
his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
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