And began to salute him, hail, king of the Jews! ] In a mock way, wishing him long life and prosperity, as if he was a king just come to his throne, and this was his coronation day.
16
The soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the headquarters build ing) and called together the whole battalion.
17
They dressed him in purple and wove thorn branches into a crown, which they put on him.
18
Then they began to salute him, "Hail to the King of the Jews!"
19
They hit him on the head with a stick, spat on him and kneeled in mock worship of him.
20
When they had finished ridiculing him, they took off the purple robe, put his own clothes back on him and led him away to be nailed to the execution-stake.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.