Joseph Reassures His Brothers

¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge^(A) against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”^{(B) 16} So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions^(C) before he died: ¹⁷ ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins^(D) and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’^(E) Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.^(F)” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.^(G)

¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.^(H) “We are your slaves,”^(I) they said.

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?^{(J) 20} You intended to harm me,^(K) but God intended^(L) it for good^(M) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.^{(N) 21} So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.^(O)” And he reassured them and spoke kindly^(P) to them.

The Death of Joseph

²² Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years^{(Q) 23} and saw the third generation^(R) of Ephraim’s^(S) children.^(T) Also the children of Makir^(U) son of Manasseh^(V) were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.^[a](W)

²⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die.^(X) But God will surely come to your aid^(Y) and take you up out of this land to the land^(Z) he promised on oath to Abraham,^(AA) Isaac^(AB) and Jacob.”^{(AC) 25} And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath^(AD) and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones^(AE) up from this place.”^(AF)

²⁶ So Joseph died^(AG) at the age of a hundred and ten.^(AH) And after they embalmed him,^(AI) he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

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.