¹³ He ^(A)has delivered us from ^(B)the domain of darkness and transferred us to ^(C)the kingdom of ^(D)his beloved Son, ^14 (E)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

^15 (F)He is the image of ^(G)the invisible God, ^(H)the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by^[a] him all things were created, ^(I)in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(J)thrones or ^(K)dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created ^(L)through him and for him. ¹⁷ And ^(M)he is before all things, and in him all things ^(N)hold together. ¹⁸ And ^(O)he is the head of the body, the church. He is ^(P)the beginning, ^(Q)the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For ^(R)in him all the ^(S)fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and ^(T)through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, ^(U)making peace ^(V)by the blood of his cross.

²⁷ And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were ^(A)mourning 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, ^(B)the days are coming when they will say, ^(C)‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ ^30 (D)Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ ³¹ For ^(E)if they do these things when ^(F)the wood is green, what will happen ^(G)when it is dry?”

^32 (H)Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ^33 (I)And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, ^(J)one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, ^(K)forgive them, ^(L)for they know not what they do.”^[a] And they cast lots ^(M)to divide his garments. ³⁵ And ^(N)the people stood by, watching, ^(O)but ^(P)the rulers ^(Q)scoffed at him, saying, ^(R)“He saved others; ^(S)let him save himself, ^(T)if he is ^(U)the Christ of God, ^(V)his Chosen One!” ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and ^(W)offering him sour wine ³⁷ and saying, ^(X)“If you are ^(Y)the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ^38 (Z)There was also an inscription over him,^[b] “This is ^(AA)the King of the Jews.”

^39 (AB)One of the criminals who were hanged ^(AC)railed at him,^[c] saying, “Are you not ^(AD)the 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 ^(AE)when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in ^(AF)paradise.”