³² There were also two criminals led out with Jesus to be killed. ³³ They were led to a place called “The Skull.” There the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross. They also nailed the criminals to crosses beside Jesus—one on the right and the other on the left.

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”^[a]

The soldiers threw dice to divide Jesus’ clothes between them. ³⁵ The people stood there watching everything. The Jewish leaders laughed at Jesus. They said, “If he is God’s Chosen One, the Messiah, then let him save himself. He saved others, didn’t he?”

³⁶ Even the soldiers laughed at Jesus and made fun of him. They came and offered him some sour wine. ³⁷ They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ (At the top of the cross these words were written: “ this is the king of the jews.”)

³⁹ One of the criminals hanging there began to shout insults at Jesus: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Then save yourself, and save us too!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal stopped him. He said, “You should fear God. All of us will die soon. ⁴¹ You and I are guilty. We deserve to die because we did wrong. But this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you begin ruling as king!”

⁴³ Then Jesus said to him, “I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.”