GOOD SHEPHERD MAJOR SEMINARY, KADUNA.

PASSION PLAY
ACT ONE: SCENE ONE
THE TEMPLE SCENE
People selling all kinds of things in the temple; goats, yams, money changers etc. Jesus enters
with His disciples making a whip, flogged and chased them away and turns the table of the
money changers, and having angered the Pharisees, they question Him.
ELDER 1: Tell us by what authority are you doing this?
JESUS: I will ask you a question, the baptism of John, was it of God or human origin?
(Elder 2 wanting to reply immediately but is stopped by Elder 1, they then convene for a
private discussion)
ELDER 1: You should not be quick to reply that question.
ELDER 3: Yes! Let us say it is of Divine origin.
ELDER 1: He will say why did we not believe in him?
ELDER 4: We should simply say it is of human origin.
ELDER 1: But the people hold him to be a Prophet........ We should simply say, we do not
know.
(All in affirmation nod and exclaim)
We do not know!
JESUS: Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing this.
Destroy this temple and in three days I will build up again.
ELDER 3: This temple that took our forefathers forty-six years to build?
(Wanting to look for what to use against Him, one of them ask Him)
ELDER 2: Rabbi, we know you are an honest man and that you fear no man, tell us now,
should we pay taxes to Caesar or not?
(Jesus being aware of their trick answers)
JESUS: Why do you want to trap me, bring me a coin you use in paying tax.
(One of the elders hands Him a denarius)
JESUS: Whose head and inscription is this?
(They reply together)

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Caeser’s
JESUS: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.
(Jesus continues)
JESUS: I tell most solemnly if you believe in me, you will become my disciples, you will
know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
(They reply)
ELDER 3: We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do
you mean by saying “you will be set free?”
JESUS: I tell you most solemnly, anyone who commit sin is a slave to sin, the slave does not
have a permanent place in the household but the son have a place there forever. So if the son
makes you free, you are free indeed
ELDER 1: Abraham is our father!
JESUS: If Abraham is your father then you would have done what he did but now you are
trying to kill me, a man who told you the truth.
ELDER 3: We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself
JESUS: If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and speak what he
commanded me. I tell you the truth whoever is from God hears the word of God. The reason
why you do not hear them is because you are not from God. And I tell the truth, whoever
keep my word will never see death.
ELDER 4: Now we know that you have a demon in you. (All elders exclaim yes in
agreement)
Abraham died and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘whoever keeps my word will never taste
death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham who died?
JESUS: Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.
ELDER 1: You are not fifty yet and you have seen Abraham?
JESUS: I tell you the truth, Before Abraham was, I am.
(Picking stone from the ground to stone Jesus, His disciples protects him from them and flees
with Him)

ACT ONE: SCENE TWO

JUDAS AND THE SANHEDRIN
(The Pharisees in session then the High Priest Ca’aphas walks in while the elders stand to
reverently welcome him)
CA’APHAS: What is this I hear about this man causing problems in our territory?

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ELDER 1: This man working miracles all over the place, what actions are we taking?
ELDER 2: But how do we get hold of him? The people respect him as a prophet.
ELDER 3: But then, if we let him go on in this way, soon everybody will believe in him and
the Romans will come and suppress the Holy place and our Nation and destroy us.
CA’APHAS: You know nothing at all; you fail to see that it is better that one man should die
for the people, rather than that the whole nation should perish.
ELDER 4: He would definitely come for the festivities then we can look out for him. But we
know that it must not however be during the festivities. But what if it causes disturbance
among the people.
CA’APHAS: Then what shall we do!
(Marcus the high Priest’s servant comes in)
MARCUS: High Priest, there is a man outside who claims to be the disciple of Jesus and he
wants to see you.
(Judas comes in)
CA’APHAS: Young man how may we help you.
JUDAS: I know that you want to get the Nazarene, Jesus. If I deliver him to you, how much
are you prepared to give me?
(All smile in approval)
ELDER 1: Let us give him 20.
JUDAS: (Sarcastically Judas reply) I am giving you the man Jesus.
ELDER 2: I think this man is going to do a good job, let us give him 25 pieces of silver.
CA’A PHAS: (Communicates with the elders and they bring out a small bag) I have thirty
pieces of Silver, have it and deliver Jesus to us.
CA’A PHAS: So how do you get him?
JUDAS: (Grabs the money bag) Give me a detachment of your guards and I will deliver him
to you.
CA’APHAS: (Calls his servant Marcus) Get me the Captain of the Temple guards.
(Marcus leaves and comes back with the Captain of the guards)
CA’APHAS: Captain, prepare your officers, follow this man (Pointing to Judas) and arrest a
Criminal, make sure you make no mistakes!
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARDS: No problem Sir. (Then facing Judas he ask) How do we get
him?

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JUDAS: The man I shall kiss is the one, arrest him!

ACT ONE: SCENE THREE

PASSOVER
(Jesus is sitting at the table with His Apostles chit chatting)
JESUS: I have ardently longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, because I tell you
shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
(He stands and wanting to wash the feet of His Apostles)
PETER: No! How can I allow my master to wash my feet, never!
JESUS: Peter you do not understand what I am doing but later you will.
PETER: Never will I allow you to wash my feet!
JESUS: Peter if I do not wash your feet you will have no part in me.
PETER: Well then master not only my feet but my head and hand as well.
JESUS: The one who has taken a bath is clean and do not need a wash; you too are clean,
though not all of you are.
(After he has finished washing their feet, he put on his cloak and took his place at the table
and said to them)
JESUS: Do you understand what I have done to you?
ALL: No! Master
JESUS: You call me Lord and Master and so I am. If I, your Lord and Master have washed
your feet, you too must do the same.
(He continues)
Peter and John, bring the meal

(Taking the bread and breaks it)

Take and share among yourselves, this is my body, given for you do this in remembrance of
me (gives the bread to them and each breaks and eats).

(Taking the Cup)

Take this and share among you, for this is my blood, do this in remembrance of me, because
from now on I tell you, I shall never drink wine until the kingdom of God comes.
(He hands the cup to them and after all has taken from it, He says sorrowfully)
But look here with me on the table is the hand of him who is betraying me. (The Apostles all
look at each other in amazement and then Jesus continues) I tell solemnly, one of you will
betray me.

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APOSTLES: (In turn) Not I surely, or is it I Lord? (or in similar expressions)
JUDAS: (In his turn) Surely not I Rabbi.
JESUS: (In answer to Judas’s inquiry) it is you who say it. Yes the son of man is going to his
fate as the scripture say he will, but alas for that man by whom he is betrayed! Better for that
man it he had never been born.
JOHN: (Reclining himself on Jesus) Whom is it Master?
JESUS: It is the one to whom I give the piece of bread that I dip into the dish. (He hands it to
Judas, who eats it and gets up to leave the Jesus calls out to him) Judas, what you are going to
do, do quickly
(After Judas had gone, he turns to Peter) Simon, Simon! Look Satan has got his wish to sift
you like wheat; but I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail and once you
have recovered, you in turn must strengthen your brothers.
PETER: Lord I would be ready to go to prison with you, and to death.
JESUS: I tell you Peter, by the time the cock crows today, you would have denied three times
that you know me.
PETER: If I have to die with you, I will never disown you.
JESUS: My soul is sorrowful to the point of death come with me. (Jesus leads the Apostles to
Gethsemane)

ACT ONE: SCENE FOUR

IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
JESUS: (To the Apostles) stay here while I go over there to pray. Peter, James, John come
with me (they move away a little; then to these three he says) My soul is sorrowful to the
point of death. Wait here and stay awake (Then He goes off to pray)
JESUS: My Father if it is possible let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless let it be as you and not
I would have it.
(He goes back and finds the Apostles asleep).
Peter, so you had not the strength to stay awake with me for one hour? Stay awake and pray
not to be put to the test. My Father, if this cup cannot pass by, but I must drink it, your will
be done!
(Goes to the Apostles and finds them asleep and he murmurs silently to himself) Indeed the
spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
(Going back to pray)
My Father, if this cup cannot pass by, but I must drink it, your will be done!
(Coming back the third time)
You can sleep on and have your rest. Look, the hour has come when the son of man is to be
betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let us go, Look my betrayer is near at hand.

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(Judas and the guards enter, he goes to meet Jesus and kisses him) Rabbi
JESUS: Judas, do you betray the son of man with a kiss? (The guards rush forward, and Peter
drawing his sword strikes one down, cutting off his ear)
JESUS: (To Peter) Peter put your sword back for all who draw the sword will die by the
sword. Or do you think I cannot appeal to my father, who would promptly send more than
twelve legions of Angels to my defense? But then how would the scripture be fulfilled that
says this is the way it must be. (Then facing the crowd, Jesus says) who are you looking for?
GUARDS: Jesus the Nazarene (as they answer, they all fall to the ground)
JESUS: (Jesus asked them for the second time and they answered exactly as before. He
continued) I have told you that I am He, so if I am the one you are looking for, let these men
go (the Apostles flee and the guards arrests Jesus)

ACT TWO: SCENE ONE

JESUS BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
ELDER 1: This man has been pervading the nation with his false teaching, starting from
Galilee down to this place.
ELDER 2: He goes about with tax collectors and sinners and teaches his disciples to do the
same. He even discourages people from paying taxes to our Emperor, he deserves to die!
ELDER 3: We heard him say that he is going to destroy the temple made by human hands
and in three days build another not made by human hands. The temple that took our fathers
46 good years to build.
ELDER 4: Oh yes! He claims to be the messiah, calling himself the son of God; therefore,
implying that our God is married.
HIGH PRIEST: Hmm.... What is all this evidence these men bring against you…. have you
no answer to them?... Youngman, tell us about yourself, your disciples and your teachings.
JESUS: I have spoken openly for the world to hear, I have always taught in the synagogues
and temple where the Jews meet together. I have said nothing in secret. Why ask me? Ask
my hearers what I taught, they know what I said. Those who listen to me, they know what I
told them.
CAPTAIN OF THE GUARDS: (Slapping Jesus)... is that the way you answer the High Priest?
JESUS: if there is some offence in what I said, point it out; but if not, why do you strike me?
HIGH PRIEST: I charge you by the name of the living God, tell us, are you the Christ... the
son of the Blessed one... the Messiah who is to come?
JESUS: If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you a question you will not answer, but
from now you will see the “Son of Man” sitting at the right hand of God with power.

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HIGH PRIEST: You are the son of God then?
JESUS: It is you who say I an.
HIGH PRIEST: (Tearing his garment) Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is one God. This is
blasphemy! You have all heard It, what other evidence do we need? He has said it with his
lips. (To the elders) what is your Judgment?
PRIEST: (chorusing) He deserves to die…. He must die! He has to die
HIGH PIRIEST: Take him to Pilate. (All Exit).

ACT TWO: SCENE TWO

PETER’S DENIAL
ACCUSSER 1: You too were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth!
PETER: I do not know what you are talking about.
ACCUSER 2: I think this man was really with them. Yes, I have seen him with the man quite
a number of times.
PETER: I am certain that I do not know the man.
ACCUSER 3: You are certainly one of them; even your accent is that of a Galilean.
PETER: I swear that I do not know the man you speak of... (Cock crows; Peter weeps and
exit).

ACT THREE: SCENE ONE

JESUS BEFORE PILATE
(Pilate walks in and sees how miserable Jesus has been treated; he looks at the Jews in
disdain)
PILATE: Is this how you treat a man before He is judged?
HIGH PRIEST: (Wanting to speak to justify the humiliating state of Jesus) Ehmm…
Governor… (He is immediately silenced by Pilate)
PILATE: What charges do you bring against this man?
HIGH PRIEST: If he were not a criminal we would not have handed him over to you (The
Jews disgustingly make side comments about Jesus).
PILATE: Then take him and judge him according to your law.
HIGH PRIEST: We are not allowed to put a man to death.
PILATE: Then what are your charges?

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ELDER 1: We found this man inciting the people to revolt, opposing of payment of tribute to
Caesar.
ELDER 2: He said he will give us his body to eat and his blood to drink, are we cannibals?
ELDER 3: He has been stirring people with his teaching: he even blasphemed the name of
our God, claiming he is Christ, a King!
(Pilate then signals one of his Roman officer to bring Jesus to the Praetorium, Jesus is handed
over to the Roman officers by the Temple Guards)
PILATE: (Turning to Jesus) Are you the king of the Jews?
JESUS: Do you say this of your own accord or have others spoken to you about me?
PILATE: Am I a Jew? It is your own people and High Priest that have handed you over to
me. What have you done?
JESUS: Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men
would have fought to prevent me from being surrendered to the Jews. As if is my Kingdom
does not belong here.
PILATE: So then you are a king?
JESUS: It is you who say that I am a king, for this, I was born and for this, I came into the
world for this to bear witness to the truth, and all who are on the side of the truth listen to
my voice.
PILATE: Truth... what truth? What is that truth (Turning to the Jews) I find no case against
this man, but according to a custom or yours I should release one prisoner at the Passover;
would you like me then to release for you the king of the Jews?
HIGH PRIEST: Not this man but Barabbas!
JEWS: (Agitating) Barabbas!
PILATE: (Looking disturbed) Get me Barabbas! (He orders for the release of Barabbas, then
turns to the Jews) What then shall I do with the man you call the king or the Jews?
HIGH PRIEST: Crucify him!
JEWS: Crucify him! Crucify him!
PILATE: Why? What evil has he done? I will have him scourged and then released.
(Jesus is then taken by the Roman officers to be scourged)

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 ACT THREE: SCENE TWO
THE SCOURGING
(The Roman officers strike Jesus many times, then they blindfold him and mock Him; urging
Him to prophesy. They further clothe him with a purple robe and place a crown made of
thorns on His head; they then mock Him in homage)

ACT THREE: SCENE THREE

SECOND APPEARANCE BEFORE PILATE
PILATE: Look, I am going to bring him out to you to let you see that 1 find no case against
him.
(Jesus is brought in and Pilate continues)
Here is the man.
HIGH PRIEST: Away with him!
JEWS AND ELDERS: Away with him!
HIGH PRIEST: Crucify him!
JEWS AND ELDERS: Crucify him!
PILATE: Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no case against him.
HIGH PRIEST: We have a law; and according to the law he ought to be put to death because
he claimed to be “Son of God!”
PILATE: (Looking at Jesus, he ask Him) Where do you come from?
(Jesus is silent) Are you refusing to speak to me? Surely you know I have the power to release
you and I have the power to crucify you.
JESUS: You would have no power over me at all if it had not been given you from above; and
that is why the man who handed me over to you has the greater guilt.
PILATE: (Shaken, confused and afraid he starts to think aloud about releasing Jesus).
HIGH PRIEST: (Noticing Pilate’s indecisive state exclaims as if to warn him). If you set him
free, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who makes himself king is defying Caesar!
PILATE: (To a servant) Get me water!
(Then washing his hands, he says) I wash my hands for I am innocent of this man’s blood.
HIGH PRIEST: Let his blood be upon us and on our children!
JEWS: And our children’s children.
PILATE: (Sarcastically in the hope that the Jews change their request) Here is your king.
HIGH PRIEST: Away with him,

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JEWS: Away with him! Crucify him! Crucify him!
PILATE: Shall I crucify your king?
JEWS: We have no king except Caesar (Spontaneously many exclaim only Caesar!)
PILATE: Very well then, take him and crucify him.
STATIONS ANNOUNCER: The First Station: Jesus is condemned to death...
(In subsequent stations, the announcer announces the stations then the reading for the
station is taken by an actor while featuring in the persona of the Book or Gospel writer. It is
then followed by the “words of our Lord” by Jesus. The actions for each station is acted and
in between scenes with characters like the Virgin Mary, Veronica, the women of Jerusalem
and Simon of Cyrene are inclusive)

ACT FOUR
10th STATION: After Jesus is stripped, he is nailed to the cross.
11th STATION: After Jesus says the word, “When I am lifted up…” the cross is raised. Then
the soldiers proceed to divide his clothes.
JESUS: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they are doing
(The Jews then mock Jesus).
ELDER 1: He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Messiah.
ELDER 2: Aha! You, who will destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself
and come down from the cross
ELDER 3: If he is the king of Israel, Let him come down from the cross and we will believe
him.
ELDER 4: He trust in God: let God deliver him now, has he not been saying. “I am the son of
God.”
(Pilate approaches and gives the inscription that is hung, it reads “Jesus the Nazarene, king of
the Jews”)
HIGH PRIEST: (Sarcastically reads the inscription aloud) “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the
Jews?”
(He then turns to Pilate) You should not have written, “The King of the Jews”, but that this
man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”
PILATE: What I have written, I have written.
(The Jews continue to jeer at him with statements like those above)
1st CRIMINAL: Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well!

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2nd CRIMINAL: Have you no fear of God? You got the same sentence as he did, but in our
case we deserve it, we are paying for what we did; this man has done nothing wrong.
(He then turns to Jesus and says)
Remember me in you kingdom.
JESUS: In Truth I tell you; today you will be with me in paradise.
(The Virgin Mary and John the Beloved disciple comes before Christ)
JESUS: (To His Mother) Woman, behold your son. (To the Beloved disciple) Behold your
Mother.
ANNOUNCER: The 12th Station, Jesus dies on the cross.
JESUS: Eloi…eloi…lema...sabach...thani!
ELDER 2: Listen... he is calling on Elijah (They mockingly laugh at Jesus).
ELDER 3: Let us wait and see if Elijah will come and save him.
JESUS: I am thirsty.
ELDER 1: Quick! Quick! Give him some of that vinegar lest he dies of thirst! (The Jews laugh
while a Soldier puts some vinegar to Jesus’ mouth using a hyssop stick)
JESUS: (Panting) Father... into your hands I commend my spirit... It is...finished!
ALL KNEEL, ACTORS IN SHOCK... WORDS OF OUR LORD, ETC.

ACT FIVE
CENTURION: Truly, this man was the Son of God
ROMAN OFFICER: Tomorrow is their Sabbath. Break their bones so that they may die
quickly and we may be able to take them down.
(Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus arrives)
CENTURION: You! What is your business here?
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA: I am Joseph of Arimathea; I have permission from Pilate to
remove the body of Jesus.
ELDER 3: The body of a criminal? This has never been done... it is good for the vultures.
(The Centurion receives the scroll and goes through it)
CENTURION: Break their bones! (The Soldiers break the bones of the two robbers; and then
they get to that of Jesus)
ROMAN OFFICER: Sir, this one is already dead.
CENTURION: Are you sure? Check using a lance. (Jesus’ side is pierced).

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ROMAN OFFICER: He is indeed dead sir!
CENTURION: (To Joseph of Arimathea) You can take him now.
13th STATION: (The station is announced before action resumes. Jesus is placed on Mary’s
laps, etc) Jesus is taken down from the Cross
MARY: (Sobbing) Where shall we place him now?
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA: There is a new tomb in the garden over there. We can put him
there until after the Sabbath.
NICODEMUS: I have brought some myrrh and aloes for anointing the body. Let us take him
to the tomb. (They exit while carrying the body)
14th STATION: The Burial is done by Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and John the Beloved.
ELDER 2: I hear that this man claimed he can rise from the dead after three days.
HIGH PRIEST: (To the Centurion) Please give us some of your men to keep watch over this
tomb, lest his disciples comes and steals his body at night claiming he has risen.
The Centurion gives a command to two of his guards to take position and leaves with the
others. All leave one after the other. Mary and the beloved disciple exits last leaving the two
guards behind.
CONCLUDING PRAYER AND FINAL BLESSING

EDITED AND REPRINTED IN 2022 BY;

Joseph Hyallamanyi Bitrus
(Drama Dir. 2021/2022 session)
Martin Bature
Nathaniel Umaru Paul
Miracle Adah
Peter Mafeng

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