16-19 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read:

jesus the nazarene
the king of the jews.

20-21 Many of the Jews read the sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was right next to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Jewish high priests objected. “Don’t write,” they said to Pilate, “‘The King of the Jews.’ Make it, ‘This man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”

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16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.(A)

The Crucifixion of Jesus(B)

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross,(C) he went out to the place of the Skull(D) (which in Aramaic(E) is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others(F)—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth,(G) the king of the jews.(H) 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city,(I) and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.

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31-34 Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn’t stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other. When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out.

35 The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe.

36-37 These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “They will stare at the one they pierced.”

* * *

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31 Now it was the day of Preparation,(A) and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses(B) during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.(C) 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced(D) Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.(E) 35 The man who saw it(F) has given testimony, and his testimony is true.(G) He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled:(H) “Not one of his bones will be broken,”[a](I) 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”[b](J)

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Footnotes

  1. John 19:36 Exodus 12:46; Num. 9:12; Psalm 34:20
  2. John 19:37 Zech. 12:10