11 Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mockedr him, dressed him in bright clothing,s and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.E,t Previously, they had been enemies.

JESUS OR BARABBAS

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,u 14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people.v But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no groundsw to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. 15 Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will have him whippedF,x and then release him.”*

18 Theny they all cried out together, “Take this man away!z Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus,aa Pilate addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?ab I have found in him no groundsac for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”

23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voicesH won out. 24 Soad Pilate decided to grant their demandae 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.af

THE WAY TO THE CROSS

26 Asag they led him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian,ah who was coming in from the country, and laid the crossai on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people followed him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him.aj 28 But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem,ak do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. 29 Look, the days are comingal when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’am 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’I,an 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”ao

CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO CRIMINALS

32 Two others—criminalsap—were also led away to be executed with him. 33 Whenaq they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father,a forgiveb them, because they do not know what they are doing.”A,c And they divided his clothes and cast lots.d

35 Thee people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing:f “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”g 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wineh