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.