19
(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20
Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.
21
But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22
For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23
But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.
24
So Pilate decided to grant their demand.
25
He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27
A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
28
Jesus turned and said to them,
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.
29
For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’