The Crucifixion

21 A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene,[a] was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.) 22 And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 23 They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.

24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice[b] to decide who would get each piece. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 Two revolutionaries[c] were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.[d]

29 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:21 Cyrene was a city in northern Africa.
  2. 15:24 Greek cast lots. See Ps 22:18.
  3. 15:27a Or Two criminals.
  4. 15:27b Some manuscripts add verse 28, And the Scripture was fulfilled that said, “He was counted among those who were rebels.” See Isa 53:12; also compare Luke 22:37.

21 Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country just then, was pressed into service to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon is the father of Alexander and Rufus.)

22 And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha. (Golgotha means skull.) 23 Wine drugged with bitter herbs was offered to him there, but he refused it. 24 And then they crucified him—and threw dice for his clothes.

25 It was about nine o’clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place.

26 A signboard was fastened to the cross above his head, announcing his crime. It read, “The King of the Jews.”

27 Two robbers were also crucified that morning, their crosses on either side of his. 28 [a]And so the Scripture was fulfilled that said, “He was counted among evil men.”

29-30 The people jeered at him as they walked by, and wagged their heads in mockery.

“Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “Sure, you can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! If you’re so wonderful, save yourself and come down from the cross.”

31 The chief priests and religious leaders were also standing around joking about Jesus.

“He’s quite clever at ‘saving’ others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!”

32 “Hey there, Messiah!” they yelled at him. “You ‘King of Israel’! Come on down from the cross and we’ll believe you!”

And even the two robbers dying with him cursed him.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 15:28 This verse is omitted in some of the ancient manuscripts. The quotation is from Isaiah 53:12.