Matthew 27:27-44

New International Reader's Version

The Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus

²⁷ The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the palace, which was called the Praetorium. All the rest of the soldiers gathered around him. ²⁸ They took off his clothes and put a purple robe on him. ²⁹ Then they twisted thorns together to make a crown. They placed it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand. Then they fell on their knees in front of him and made fun of him. “We honor you, king of the Jews!” they said. ³⁰ They spit on him. They hit him on the head with the stick again and again. ³¹ After they had made fun of him, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to nail him to a cross.

Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross

³² On their way out of the city, they met a man from Cyrene. His name was Simon. They forced him to carry the cross. ³³ They came to a place called Golgotha. The word Golgotha means the Place of the Skull. ³⁴ There they mixed wine with bitter spices and gave it to Jesus to drink. After tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ When they had nailed him to the cross, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶ They sat down and kept watch over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him. It read,

This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.

³⁸ Two rebels against Rome were crucified with him. One was on his right and one was on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by shouted at Jesus and made fun of him. They shook their heads ⁴⁰ and said, “So you are going to destroy the temple and build it again in three days? Then save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders made fun of him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said. “But he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross! Then we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him. He’s the one who said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were being crucified with Jesus also made fun of him.