The Skeptics Annotated Bible (834 page)

71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

23
And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

11 And
Herod with his men of wa
r set him at nought, and mocked him, and
arrayed him in a gorgeous robe
, and sent him again to Pilate.

(23.11)
“Herod with his men of war … arrayed him in a gorgeous robe.”
391 “Who put the robe on Jesus?

12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

26 And as they led him away,
they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian
, coming out of the country,
and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

(23.26) “They laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian … and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.”
393 Who carried Jesus’ cross?

27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

36 And
the soldiers also mocked him
, coming to him, and
offering him vinegar,

(23.36)
“The soldiers also mocked him … offering him vinegar.”
394 What did the soldiers give Jesus to drink?

37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38 And
a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

(23.38)
“A superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
395 What did the sign over Jesus say?

(23.39-42)
396 Did both thieves revile Jesus?

39 And
one of the malefactors
which were hanged
railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

(23.39)
“One of the malefactors … railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”

40 But
the other
answering
rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God
, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

(23.40)
“The other … rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God?”

41 And we indeed justly; for
we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

(23.41)
“We receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”

42
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

(23.42)
“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee,
To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

(23.43)
“To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Jesus tells the “good thief” that they will both be in heaven “today.” But how can that be since it’s only Friday and , according to the gospels, Jesus lay dead in the tomb Friday night and all day Saturday.
434 Can thieves go to heaven?

44 And
it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

(23.44-45a) When Jesus was crucified, there was three hours of complete darkness “over all the earth.” It is strange that there is no record of this extraordinary event outside of the gospels.