The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(A)

²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium^(B) and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,^{(C) 29} and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.^{(D) 30} They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.^{(E) 31} After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.^(F)

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(G)

³² As they were going out,^(H) they met a man from Cyrene,^(I) named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.^{(J) 33} They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).^{(K) 34} There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;^(L) but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^{(M) 36} And sitting down, they kept watch^(N) over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him,^(O) one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads^{(P) 40} and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,^(Q) save yourself!^(R) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”^{(S) 41} In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel!^(T) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe^(U) in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him^(V) now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus^(W)

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness^(X) came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^[a] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[b](Y)

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar,^(Z) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.^(AA)

⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple^(AB) was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split^{(AC) 52} and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and^[c] went into the holy city^(AD) and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding^(AE) Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”^(AF)

⁵⁵ Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.^{(AG) 56} Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,^[d] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.^(AH)

The Burial of Jesus^(AI)

⁵⁷ As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb^(AJ) that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

⁶² The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ⁶³ “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’^{(AK) 64} So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body^(AL) and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

⁶⁵ “Take a guard,”^(AM) Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal^(AN) on the stone^(AO) and posting the guard.^(AP)

The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(A)

¹⁶ The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace^(B) (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷ They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. ¹⁸ And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”^{(C) 19} Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. ²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out^(D) to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(E)

²¹ A certain man from Cyrene,^(F) Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus,^(G) was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.^{(H) 22} They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). ²³ Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh,^(I) but he did not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots^(J) to see what each would get.

²⁵ It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. ²⁶ The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.^(K)

²⁷ They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. ^{[28] [a] 29} Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads^(L) and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,^{(M) 30} come down from the cross and save yourself!” ³¹ In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him^(N) among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! ³² Let this Messiah,^(O) this king of Israel,^(P) come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus^(Q)

³³ At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.^{(R) 34} And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[b](S)

³⁵ When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

³⁶ Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar,^(T) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

³⁷ With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.^(U)

³⁸ The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.^{(V) 39} And when the centurion,^(W) who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,^[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”^(X)