21
but they kept shouting, "Crucify! Crucify Him!"
22
A third time he said to them, "Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in Him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have Him whipped and [then] release Him."
23
But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices won out.
24
So Pilate decided to grant their demand
25
and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.
The Way to the Cross
26 As they led Him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.
27
A great multitude of the people followed Him, including women who were mourning and lamenting Him.
28
But turning to them, Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children.
29
Look, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!'
30
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'
31
For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"