Luke 23:26–49

Jesus Is Led Away to Be Crucified

²⁶As the soldiers led Jesus away, they grabbed a man named Simon, who was from the city of Cyrene. Simon was coming into Jerusalem. They laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 

²⁷A large crowd followed Jesus. The women in the crowd cried and sang funeral songs for him. ²⁸Jesus turned to them and said, “You women of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me! Rather, cry for yourselves and your children! ²⁹The time is coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the women who couldn’t get pregnant, who couldn’t give birth, and who couldn’t nurse a child.’ ³⁰Then people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ ³¹If people do this to a green tree, what will happen to a dry one?” 

³²Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be executed with him. 

The Crucifixion—Matthew 27:31–44; Mark 15:20–32; John 19:16b–24

³³When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him. The criminals were also crucified, one on his right and the other on his left. 

³⁴Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”^b

Meanwhile, the soldiers divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice. 

³⁵The people stood there watching. But the rulers were making sarcastic remarks. They said, “He saved others. If he’s the Messiah that God has chosen, let him save himself!” ³⁶The soldiers also made fun of him. They would go up to him, offer him some vinegar, ³⁷and say, “If you’re the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 

³⁸A written notice was placed above him. It said, “This is the king of the Jews.” 

Criminals Talk to Jesus

³⁹One of the criminals hanging there insulted Jesus by saying, “So you’re really the Messiah, are you? Well, save yourself and us!” 

⁴⁰But the other criminal scolded him: “Don’t you fear God at all? Can’t you see that you’re condemned in the same way that he is? ⁴¹Our punishment is fair. We’re getting what we deserve. But this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 

⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.” 

⁴³Jesus said to him, “I can guarantee this truth: Today you will be with me in paradise.” 

Jesus Dies on the Cross—Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:33–41; John 19:28–30

⁴⁴Around noon darkness came over the entire land and lasted until three in the afternoon. ⁴⁵The sun had stopped shining. The curtain in the temple was split in two. 

⁴⁶Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” After he said this, he died. 

⁴⁷When an army officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, “Certainly, this man was innocent!” ⁴⁸Crowds had gathered to see the sight. But when all of them saw what had happened, they cried and returned to the city. ⁴⁹All his friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance and watched everything.