²³ But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison ^(A)for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, ^(B)but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion

^26 (C)And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were ^(D)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, ^(E)the days are coming when they will say, ^(F)‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ ^30 (G)Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ ³¹ For ^(H)if they do these things when ^(I)the wood is green, what will happen ^(J)when it is dry?”

^32 (K)Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ^33 (L)And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, ^(M)one on his right and one on his left.