Jesus levado à presença de Pilatos e Herodes
(Mt 27.1-2, 11-14; Mc 15.1-5; Jo 18.28-38)
1Então levaram Jesus à presença de Pilatos, o governador. 2E começaram a acusá-lo: “Este homem tem manipulado o povo dizendo-lhe que não pague impostos a César e afirmando que é Cristo, o rei.”
3Pilatos perguntou-lhe: “És o rei dos judeus?” Jesus respondeu: “Sim, é como tu dizes.”
4Pilatos voltou-se para os principais sacerdotes e para a multidão e disse: “Mas isto não constitiui um crime!”
5E insistiram: “É que ele anda também a provocar tumultos contra o governo, para onde quer que vá, por toda a Judeia, desde a Galileia até Jerusalém.”
6“Então ele é galileu?”, perguntou Pilatos ouvindo falar na Galileia. 7Quando lhe disseram que sim, Pilatos mandou-o a Herodes, porque a Galileia achava-se sob a jurisdição deste; além de que Herodes se encontrava em Jerusalém naquela altura.
8Herodes ficou muito satisfeito com esta oportunidade de ver Jesus, porque ouvira falar muito nele e esperava vê-lo realizar qualquer sinal. 9Todavia, embora fizesse a Jesus muitas perguntas, não obteve resposta. 10Entretanto, os principais sacerdotes e os especialistas na Lei não arredavam pé, continuando a gritar acusações. 11Herodes e os seus soldados começaram também a troçar de Jesus. E vestindo-lhe um traje a fingir de rei, devolveram-no a Pilatos. 12Naquele dia, Herodes e Pilatos, que antes não se davam, tornaram-se bons amigos.
Jesus condenado à morte
(Mt 27.15-26; Mc 15.6-15; Jo 18.39–19.16)
13Então Pilatos reuniu os principais sacerdotes, os magistrados e o povo, 14e disse-lhes: “Vocês trouxeram-me este homem acusando-o de chefiar uma revolta contra o governo romano. Examinei-o demoradamente sobre este ponto e verifico que está inocente. 15Também Herodes chegou à mesma conclusão e mandou-o de novo para mim, pois nada do que fez exige a pena de morte. 16Portanto, vou mandá-lo castigar e soltá-lo.” 17Ele era obrigado a soltar-lhes um preso durante a festa.
18Nesse instante, ouviu-se um clamor da multidão, que a uma só voz gritou: “Mata-o e solta-nos Barrabás!” 19Barrabás encontrava-se preso, acusado de provocar uma revolta em Jerusalém e também por homicídio. 20Pilatos ainda discutiu com eles, pois queria soltar Jesus. 21Mas eles gritavam: “Crucifica-o! Crucifica-o!”
22De novo, pela terceira vez, Pilatos perguntou: “Mas porquê? Que mal fez ele? Não encontrei qualquer motivo para o condenar à morte! Portanto, vou açoitá-lo e pô-lo em liberdade.” 23Mas eles gritavam sempre mais alto, reclamando que Jesus fosse crucificado, e a sua vontade prevaleceu. 24Por fim, Pilatos condenou Jesus à morte, tal como lho exigiam. 25A pedido deles soltou-lhes Barrabás, o homem que estava preso, acusado de insurreição e homicídio. Mas entregou Jesus à multidão para que fizesse dele o que lhe apetecesse.
A crucificação
(Mt 27.32-44; Mc 15.21-32; Jo 19.17-27)
26Quando levavam Jesus para ser morto, Simão, um cireneu que acabava de entrar em Jerusalém vindo do campo, foi forçado a acompanhá-los, transportando a cruz de Jesus. 27Atrás seguia um grande cortejo, incluindo muitas mulheres vergadas pelo desgosto. 28Mas Jesus voltou-se e disse-lhes: “Filhas de Jerusalém, não chorem por mim, mas por vocês e pelos vossos filhos. 29Porque vêm aí dias em que as mulheres sem filhos serão consideradas felizes. 30As pessoas começarão a clamar às montanhas: ‘Caiam sobre nós!’, e às colinas: ‘Escondam-nos!’ 31Porque se a mim, a árvore viva, me tratam assim, o que não farão a vocês?”
A acusação contra Jesus
(Mt 27.35-44; Mc 15.24-32; Jo 19.18-24)
32E dois criminosos foram levados para serem executados no mesmo local, 33chamado “A Caveira”. Aí foram crucificados os três; Jesus ao centro e os dois criminosos um de cada lado.
34E Jesus dizia: “Pai, perdoa-lhes, porque não sabem o que fazem!” Entretanto, os soldados lançavam sortes para ver quem ficaria com as suas roupas.
35A multidão assistia à cena e os líderes judaicos riam-se e faziam troça. “Ajudava tanto os outros”, diziam. “Vamos a ver se se salva a si mesmo, se é realmente o Cristo, o escolhido de Deus.” 36Também os soldados troçavam dele. E deram-lhe vinho azedo a beber, 37gritando-lhe: “Se és o rei dos judeus, salva-te a ti mesmo!” 38Por cima dele estava esta inscrição:
este é o rei dos judeus.
39Um dos malfeitores pendurados ao seu lado também zombava: “Se és o Cristo, salva-te a ti mesmo e também a nós!”
40Mas o outro criminoso repreendeu-o: “Não tens temor de Deus, nem mesmo sofrendo a mesma condenação? 41Nós merecemos a morte pelos maus atos que cometemos, mas este homem nada fez de mal.” 42E acrescentou: “Jesus, lembra-te de mim quando entrares no teu reino.”
43E Jesus respondeu: “Garanto-te que hoje estarás comigo no paraíso.”
A morte de Jesus
(Mt 27.45-56; Mc 15.33-41; Jo 19.28-30)
44Era quase por volta do meio-dia e a terra inteira ficou em trevas, que duraram até às três horas daquela tarde. 45A luz do sol desapareceu e o véu do templo rasgou-se em dois. 46Jesus disse com voz forte: “Pai, entrego-te o meu espírito.” E com estas palavras morreu.
47Quando o oficial romano viu o que sucedera, deu glória a Deus e disse: “Não há dúvida de que este homem estava inocente!” 48A multidão que tinha vindo para assistir à crucificação, depois de Jesus ter morrido, voltou para casa profundamente triste23.48 Literalmente, batendo no peito, que era sinal de tristeza e pesar.. 49Entretanto, os amigos de Jesus, incluindo as mulheres que o tinham seguido desde a Galileia, encontravam-se à distância a observar a cena.
O corpo de Jesus no túmulo
(Mt 27.57-61; Mc 15.42-47; Jo 19.38-42)
50Um homem chamado José, membro do supremo tribunal, homem de bem e justo, 51vindo da cidade de Arimateia, na Judeia, não concordara com as decisões e medidas dos outros judeus, mas esperava a vinda do reino de Deus. 52Foi ter com Pilatos e pediu-lhe o corpo de Jesus. 53Assim, desceu o corpo de Jesus e envolveu-o num lençol de linho, colocando-o num túmulo ainda por estrear, escavado numa rocha. 54Isto aconteceu ao fim de uma tarde de sexta-feira, o dia de preparação para o sábado.
55Enquanto o corpo era levado, as mulheres da Galileia acompanharam-no e viram-no ser transportado para dentro do túmulo. 56Depois, voltando para casa, prepararam os produtos e perfumes necessários para o ungirem. Quando terminaram, era já sábado, pelo que descansaram todo aquele dia, com exigia a Lei judaica.
1Then the whole group got up and led Jesus off to Pilate. 2They began to bring charges against Jesus. They said, “We have found this man misleading our people. He is against paying taxes to Caesar. And he claims to be Messiah, a king.”
3So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
4Then Pilate spoke to the chief priests and the crowd. He announced, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
5But they kept it up. They said, “His teaching stirs up the people all over Judea. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”
6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was from Galilee. 7He learned that Jesus was from Herod’s area of authority. So Pilate sent Jesus to Herod. At that time Herod was also in Jerusalem.
8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very pleased. He had been wanting to see Jesus for a long time. He had heard much about him. He hoped to see Jesus perform a sign of some kind. 9Herod asked him many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there. With loud shouts they brought charges against him. 11Herod and his soldiers laughed at him and made fun of him. They dressed him in a beautiful robe. Then they sent him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends. Before this time they had been enemies.
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people. 14He said to them, “You brought me this man. You said he was turning the people against the authorities. I have questioned him in front of you. I have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Herod hasn’t either. So he sent Jesus back to us. As you can see, Jesus has done nothing that is worthy of death. 16-17So I will just have him whipped and let him go.”
18But the whole crowd shouted, “Kill this man! But let Barabbas go!” 19Barabbas had been thrown into prison. He had taken part in a struggle in the city against the authorities. He had also committed murder.
20Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. So he made an appeal to the crowd again. 21But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22Pilate spoke to them for the third time. “Why?” he asked. “What wrong has this man done? I have found no reason to have him put to death. So I will just have him whipped and let him go.”
23But with loud shouts they kept calling for Jesus to be crucified. The people’s shouts won out. 24So Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. 25He set free the man they asked for. The man had been thrown in prison for murder and for fighting against the authorities. Pilate handed Jesus over to them so they could carry out their plans.
Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross
26As the soldiers led Jesus away, they took hold of Simon. Simon was from Cyrene. He was on his way in from the country. They put a wooden cross on his shoulders. Then they made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large number of people followed Jesus. Some were women whose hearts were filled with sorrow. They cried loudly because of him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Weep for yourselves and for your children. 29The time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the women who can’t have children! Blessed are those who never gave birth or nursed babies!’ 30It is written,
“ ‘The people will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
They’ll say to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ (Hosea 10:8)
31People do these things when trees are green. So what will happen when trees are dry?”
32Two other men were also led out with Jesus to be killed. Both of them had broken the law. 33The soldiers brought them to the place called the Skull. There they nailed Jesus to the cross. He hung between the two criminals. One was on his right and one was on his left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35The people stood there watching. The rulers even made fun of Jesus. They said, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him. They offered him wine vinegar. 37They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38A written sign had been placed above him. It read,
This is the King of the Jews.
39One of the criminals hanging there made fun of Jesus. He said, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself! Save us!”
40But the other criminal scolded him. “Don’t you have any respect for God?” he said. “Remember, you are under the same sentence of death. 41We are being punished fairly. We are getting just what our actions call for. But this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”
42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43Jesus answered him, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus Dies
44It was now about noon. Then darkness covered the whole land until three o’clock. 45The sun had stopped shining. The temple curtain was torn in two. 46Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my life.” After he said this, he took his last breath.
47The Roman commander saw what had happened. He praised God and said, “Jesus was surely a man who did what was right.” 48The people had gathered to watch this sight. When they saw what happened, they felt very sad. Then they went away. 49But all those who knew Jesus stood not very far away, watching these things. They included the women who had followed him from Galilee.
Jesus Is Buried
50A man named Joseph was a member of the Jewish Council. He was a good and honest man. 51Joseph had not agreed with what the leaders had decided and done. He was from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He himself was waiting for God’s kingdom. 52Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53Joseph took it down and wrapped it in linen cloth. Then he placed it in a tomb cut in the rock. No one had ever been buried there. 54It was Preparation Day. The Sabbath day was about to begin.
55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was placed in it. 56Then they went home. There they prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath day in order to obey the Law.
