Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
18 1But they all cried out together,
2"Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"--
19
a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and
3for murder
20
Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus,
21
but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!
22
A third time he said to them, "Why,
4what evil has he done?
5I have found in him no guilt deserving death.
6I will therefore punish and release him."
23
But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.
24
So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.
25
He released the man who had been thrown into prison
7for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked,
8but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
The Crucifixion
26 9And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
27
And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were
10mourning and lamenting for him.
28
But turning to them Jesus said,
"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29
For behold, 11the days are coming when they will say, 12'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'
30
13Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'
31
For 14if they do these things when 15the wood is green, what will happen 16when it is dry?"
32
17Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
33
18And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals,
19one on his right and one on his left.
34
And Jesus said,
"Father, 20forgive them, 21for they know not what they do." And they cast lots
22to divide his garments.
35
And
23the people stood by, watching,
24but
25the rulers
26scoffed at him, saying,
27"He saved others;
28let him save himself,
29if he is
30the Christ of God,
31his Chosen One!"
36
The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and
32offering him sour wine
37
and saying,
33"If you are
34the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
38
35There was also an inscription over him,"This is
36the King of the Jews.
39
37One of the criminals who were hanged
38railed at him, saying, "Are you not
39the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40
But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41
And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
42
And he said, "Jesus, remember me
40when you come into your kingdom."
43
And he said to him,
"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in 41Paradise."