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 assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, ‘We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and 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 announced to the chief priests and the crowd, ‘I find no basis for a charge against this man.’
5But they insisted, ‘He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.’
6On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends – before this they had been enemies.
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.’ 1723:17 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 27:15 and Mark 15:6.
18But the whole crowd shouted, ‘Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!’ 19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21But they kept shouting, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’
22For the third time he spoke to them: ‘Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.’
23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
The crucifixion of Jesus
26As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the time will come when you will say, “Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!” 30Then
‘ “they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’
and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ ”23:30 Hosea 10:8
31For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?’
32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’23:34 Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence. And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.’
36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’
38There was a written notice above him, which read:
This is the king of the Jews.
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’
40But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’
42Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.23:42 Some manuscripts come with your kingly power’
43Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’
The death of Jesus
44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’23:46 Psalm 31:5 When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.’ 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
The burial of Jesus
50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no-one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
