Jesus Brought before Pilate

27 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. ² They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.^(A)

The Suicide of Judas

³ When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus^[a] was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.^{(B) 4} He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent^[b] blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”^{(C) 5} Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.^{(D) 6} But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” ⁷ After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. ⁸ For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.^{(E) 9} Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah,^[c] “And they took^[d] the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set,^[e] on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price,^{(F) 10} and they gave^[f] them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

Pilate Questions Jesus

¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” ¹² But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.^{(G) 13} Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?”^{(H) 14} But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.^(I)

Barabbas or Jesus?

¹⁵ Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. ¹⁶ At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Jesus^[g] Barabbas. ¹⁷ So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus^[h] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”^{[i] 18} For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. ¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.”^{(J) 20} Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.^{(K) 21} The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²² Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”^[j] All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³ Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Pilate Hands Jesus Over to Be Crucified

²⁴ So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood;^[k] see to it yourselves.”^{(L) 25} Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”^{(M) 26} So he released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.^(N)

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters,^[l] and they gathered the whole cohort around him.^{(O) 28} They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and after twisting some thorns into a crown they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”^{(P) 30} They spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.^{(Q) 31} After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.^(R)

The Crucifixion of Jesus

³² As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.^{(S) 33} And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), ³⁴ they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.^{(T) 35} And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots;^{[m](U) 36} then they sat down there and kept watch over him.^{(V) 37} Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

³⁸ Then two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.^{(W) 39} Those who passed by derided^[n] him, shaking their heads^{(X) 40} and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”^{(Y) 41} In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, ⁴² “He saved others; he cannot save himself.^[o] He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.^{(Z) 43} He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to, for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ”^{(AA) 44} The rebels who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁵ From noon on, darkness came over the whole land^[p] until three in the afternoon.^{(AB) 46} And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^{(AC) 47} When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” ⁴⁸ At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink.^{(AD) 49} But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”^{[q] 50} Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.^{[r] 51} At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split.^{(AE) 52} The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. ⁵³ After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴ Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”^[s](AF)

⁵⁵ Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.^{(AG) 56} Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph,^[t] and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.^(AH)

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁷ When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who also was himself a disciple of Jesus.^{(AI) 58} He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth ⁶⁰ and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.^{(AJ) 61} Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

⁶² The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³ and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’^{(AK) 64} Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise, his disciples may go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵ Pilate said to them, “You have a guard^[u] of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.”^{[v](AL) 66} So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.^(AM)

Jesus before Pilate

15 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.^{(A) 2} Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” ³ Then the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” ⁵ But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.^(B)

Pilate Hands Jesus Over to Be Crucified

⁶ Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked.^{(C) 7} Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder during the insurrection. ⁸ So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. ⁹ Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.^{(D) 12} Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do^[a] with the man you call^[b] the King of the Jews?” ¹³ They shouted back, “Crucify him!” ¹⁴ Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” ¹⁵ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.^(E)

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

¹⁶ Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters), and they called together the whole cohort.^{(F) 17} And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and after twisting some thorns into a crown they put it on him. ¹⁸ And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. ²⁰ After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

²¹ They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.^{(G) 22} Then they brought Jesus^[c] to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). ²³ And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified him and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.^(H)

²⁵ It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. ²⁶ The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” ²⁷ And with him they crucified two rebels, one on his right and one on his left.^{[d] 29} Those who passed by derided^[e] him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days,^{(I) 30} save yourself, and come down from the cross!” ³¹ In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.^{(J) 32} Let the Messiah,^[f] the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.^(K)

The Death of Jesus

³³ When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land^[g] until three in the afternoon. ³⁴ At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^{[h](L) 35} When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” ³⁶ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.”^{(M) 37} Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. ³⁸ And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.^{(N) 39} Now when the centurion who stood facing him saw that in this way he^[i] breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”^[j](O)

⁴⁰ There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome,^{(P) 41} who followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him, and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.^(Q)

The Burial of Jesus

⁴² When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,^{(R) 43} Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.^{(S) 44} Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead, and summoning the centurion he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. ⁴⁵ When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.^{(T) 46} Then Joseph^[k] bought a linen cloth and, taking down the body,^[l] wrapped it in the linen cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body^[m] was laid.

Jesus before the Council

⁶⁶ When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council.^{(A) 67} They said, “If you are the Messiah,^[a] tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe,^{(B) 68} and if I question you, you will not answer.^{[b] 69} But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” ⁷⁰ All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.”^{(C) 71} Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”

Jesus before Pilate

23 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus^[c] before Pilate.^{(D) 2} They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man inciting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”^{[d](E) 3} Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.”^{(F) 4} Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.”^{(G) 5} But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”

Jesus before Herod

⁶ When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. ⁷ And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.^{(H) 8} When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign.^{(I) 9} He questioned him at some length, but Jesus^[e] gave him no answer. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.^{(J) 12} That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.^(K)

Jesus Sentenced to Death

¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people, and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.^{(L) 15} Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”^[f](M)

¹⁸ Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!”^{(N) 19} (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city and for murder.) ²⁰ Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²² A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.”^{(O) 23} But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

²⁶ As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.^{(P) 27} A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.^{(Q) 28} But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.^{(R) 29} For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ ³⁰ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’^{(S) 31} For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”^(T)

³² Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.^{(U) 33} When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus^[g] there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]]^[h] And they cast lots to divide his clothing.^{(V) 35} And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah^[i] of God, his chosen one!”^{(W) 36} The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine^{(X) 37} and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ There was also an inscription over him,^[j] “This is the King of the Jews.”

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding^[k] him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?^[l] Save yourself and us!”^{(Y) 40} But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”^{(Z) 42} Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in^[m] your kingdom.” ⁴³ He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(AA)

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land^[n] until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ while the sun’s light failed,^[o] and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.^{(AB) 46} Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.^{(AC) 47} When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”^{[p](AD) 48} And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹ But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.^(AE)

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁰ Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph who, though a member of the council, ⁵¹ had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.^{(AF) 52} This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. ⁵⁴ It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.^{[q](AG) 55} The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid.^{(AH) 56} Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.^(AI)

Jesus before Pilate

²⁸ Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.^{(A) 29} So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” ³⁰ They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” ³¹ Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” ³² (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)^(B)

³³ Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”^{(C) 34} Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”^{(D) 37} Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”^{(E) 38} Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”

Jesus Sentenced to Death

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.^{(F) 39} But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”^{(G) 40} They shouted in reply, “Not this man but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a rebel.^(H)

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.^{(I) 2} And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe.^{(J) 3} They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face.^{(K) 4} Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.”^{(L) 5} So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate^[a] said to them, “Behold the man!”^{(M) 6} When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.”^{(N) 7} The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”^(O)

⁸ Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. ⁹ He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.^{(P) 10} Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and power to crucify you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”^{(Q) 12} From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against Caesar.”^(R)

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat^[b] on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew^[c] Gabbatha.^{(S) 14} Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover, and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”^{(T) 15} They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” ¹⁶ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

So they took Jesus,^{(U) 17} and carrying the cross by himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew^[d] is called Golgotha.^{(V) 18} There they crucified him and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. ¹⁹ Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth,^[e] the King of the Jews.” ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew,^[f] in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹ Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ”^{(W) 22} Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” ²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,

²⁵ And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.^{(Y) 26} When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”^{(Z) 27} Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

²⁸ After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.”^{(AA) 29} A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.^(AB)

Jesus’s Side Is Pierced

³¹ Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed.^{(AC) 32} Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him.^{(AD) 33} But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.^{(AE) 35} (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows^[g] that he tells the truth, so that you also may continue^[h] to believe.)^{(AF) 36} These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.”^{(AG) 37} And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”^(AH)