The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(A)

²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium^(B) and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,^{(C) 29} and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.^{(D) 30} They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.^{(E) 31} After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.^(F)

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father,^(A) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[a](B) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^(C)

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.^(D) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”^(E)