13
They yelled, "Nail him to a cross!"
14
Pilate objected, "But for what crime?" But they yelled all the louder, "Nail him to a cross!"
15
Pilate gave the crowd what it wanted, set Barabbas free and turned Jesus over for whipping and crucifixion.
16
The soldiers took Jesus into the palace (called Praetorium) and called together the entire brigade.
17
They dressed him up in purple and put a crown plaited from a thorn bush on his head.
18
Then they began their mockery: "Bravo, King of the Jews!"
19
They banged on his head with a club, spit on him, and knelt down in mock worship.
20
After they had had their fun, they took off the purple cape and put his own clothes back on him. Then they marched out to nail him to the cross.
21
There was a man walking by, coming from work, Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. They made him carry Jesus' cross.
22
The soldiers brought Jesus to Golgotha, meaning "Skull Hill."
23
They offered him a mild painkiller (wine mixed with myrrh), but he wouldn't take it.