The Crucifixion

26As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene,*23:26 Cyrene was a city in northern Africa. happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. 28But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’*23:30 Hos 10:8. 31For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?*23:31 Or If these things are done to me, the living tree, what will happen to you, the dry tree?”

32Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33When they came to a place called The Skull,*23:33 Sometimes rendered Calvary, which comes from the Latin word for “skull.” they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.

34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”*23:34a This sentence is not included in many ancient manuscripts. And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.*23:34b Greek by casting lots. See Ps 22:18.

35The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”

39One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

40But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”