The four Gospels narrate Jesus’ arrest, proceedings involving religious authorities and Pontius Pilate, Roman crucifixion and burial. They share a central account of execution, while differing in important details. The meaning Christians give his death is a further question.
Compare the accounts directly
Read Mark 15, Matthew 27, Luke 23 and John 19. Note what each account actually includes: the charge, the people present, the words attributed to Jesus and the burial. Mark omissions separately from direct conflicts.
Avoid turning a reconstruction into a quotation
An account combining details from different Gospels may be a proposed reconstruction. It is not necessarily the sequence narrated by any one Gospel. The essay on Gospel differences works through the cross-bearing, inscription, final words and timing questions in more detail.
Keep responsibility precise
These accounts concern particular people and authorities in a particular setting. They must never be used to assign collective blame to Jewish people. Jesus and his earliest followers were themselves Jewish. Christian interpretations of sacrifice, reconciliation and salvation should also be clearly identified as theological interpretations, rather than conclusions established simply by describing an execution.
Sources and reading notes
Scripture is evidence for what a text says. Its interpretation and historical reliability require further assessment.
Editorial overview · Updated 20 October 2026. Method and review status.