The life of Jesus · New Testament
The Story of the Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is condemned by Pilate, mocked by soldiers, crucified at Golgotha between two criminals, dies, and is buried by Joseph of Arimathea.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
All four Gospels tell of Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate, his crucifixion and his burial. Each includes details the others do not, including different words spoken from the cross; each account is shown here on its own. Mark 15:1–15John 19:16–30
Jesus dies at about the ninth hour. Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for the body and lays it in a tomb, watched by women who had followed Jesus from Galilee. Mark 15:33–47
Principal passages
People in this story
- Jesus The Story of Jesus
- Pontius Pilate The Story of Pontius Pilate
- Mary, mother of Jesus The Story of Mary, mother of Jesus
- Mary Magdalene The Story of Mary Magdalene
- Joseph of Arimathea The Story of Joseph of Arimathea
- Nicodemus The Story of Nicodemus
- Barabbas
- Simon of Cyrene
Places named
- Pilate’s headquarters (the Praetorium) Mark 15:16John 18:28
- Golgotha, “the place of a skull” Mark 15:22John 19:17
- A tomb in a garden near the place John 19:41–42
Only places the passages name. Locations are not guessed.
The story, event by event
In the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here.
Condemned by Pilate
The chief priests hand Jesus over to Pilate. Pilate questions him, finds no crime, and offers to release a prisoner, but the crowd asks for Barabbas and shouts for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate has him flogged and hands him over.
People: Jesus, Pontius Pilate, Barabbas
Mocked by the soldiers
The soldiers dress Jesus in purple, put a crown of thorns on his head, salute him as king of the Jews, strike him and spit on him.
People: Jesus
To Golgotha
Simon of Cyrene is made to carry the cross. Luke records Jesus speaking to the women of Jerusalem who mourn for him.
People: Jesus, Simon of Cyrene
Crucified
Jesus is crucified between two criminals. The charge above him reads “The King of the Jews”. Soldiers divide his clothes, passers-by and leaders mock him; Luke records one criminal asking to be remembered, and John records Jesus entrusting his mother to the beloved disciple.
Each Gospel records different words of Jesus from the cross; none records them all. A combined list and order is a later harmonisation, not a single Gospel’s account.
Jesus dies
Darkness covers the land from the sixth to the ninth hour. Jesus cries out and breathes his last; the temple curtain is torn in two, and the centurion says, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Women watch from a distance.
People: Jesus, Mary Magdalene
The burial
Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for the body, wraps it in linen and lays it in a tomb cut in rock; John adds that Nicodemus brought spices. Mary Magdalene and other women see where he is laid.
Related and parallel passages
- Matthew 27:11–26 Parallel account · Condemned by Pilate
- Luke 23:1–25 Parallel account · Condemned by Pilate
- John 18:28–19:16 Parallel account · Condemned by Pilate
- Matthew 27:27–31 Parallel account · Mocked by the soldiers
- John 19:1–3 Parallel account · Mocked by the soldiers
- Matthew 27:32–33 Parallel account · To Golgotha
- Luke 23:26–32 Parallel account · To Golgotha
- John 19:16–17 Parallel account · To Golgotha — John says Jesus went out bearing his own cross.
- Matthew 27:34–44 Parallel account · Crucified
- Luke 23:33–43 Parallel account · Crucified
- John 19:18–27 Parallel account · Crucified
- Matthew 27:45–56 Parallel account · Jesus dies
- Luke 23:44–49 Parallel account · Jesus dies
- John 19:28–37 Parallel account · Jesus dies
- Psalm 22:1 Supporting passage · Jesus dies — Jesus’ cry in Mark 15:34 quotes this verse.
- Matthew 27:57–61 Parallel account · The burial
- Luke 23:50–56 Parallel account · The burial
- John 19:38–42 Parallel account · The burial
Related stories
- The Resurrection of Jesus Continues the story
The women who saw where Jesus was laid return to the tomb on the first day of the week. Mark 15:47Mark 16:1
Later in the Bible
Later passages that recall or interpret this story. They are not events within it.
- Isaiah 53:3–12 Interpretive or typological connection (an interpretation, not a statement of the text) — The suffering servant passage; Acts 8:32-35 applies it to Jesus. An interpretive connection.
- Acts 2:22–24 Teaching or quotation mentioning them — Peter speaks of Jesus crucified and raised.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 Teaching or quotation mentioning them — “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried, he was raised.”
- Philippians 2:8 Teaching or quotation mentioning them — He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
- 1 Peter 2:24 Teaching or quotation mentioning them — He bore our sins in his body on the tree.
Connected themes
- Suffering
The suffering and death of Jesus. Mark 15:34
- Redemption
The New Testament explains Jesus’ death as a ransom. Mark 10:45
- Forgiveness
Luke records Jesus praying, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Some early manuscripts lack this sentence. Luke 23:34
Questions for study
Written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
- What does Pilate conclude about Jesus, and why does he still hand him over (Mark 15:14-15)?
- Compare the words from the cross in Mark 15:34, Luke 23:34-46 and John 19:26-30. What does each Gospel emphasise?
- Who stays near Jesus at the cross and at the burial?
- How do the later passages explain the meaning of Jesus’ death?
Use offline
Save this story on your device, then download the Bible books it uses in your version: Mark. The study keeps only its own notes and references; the Scripture comes from the books on your device, never a second copy.