Luke 23:26–49

The Way to the Cross

²⁶As ^ythey led Him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, ^zwho was coming in from the country, and laid the cross ^aon him to carry behind Jesus. ²⁷A large crowd of people followed Him, including women who were mourning and lamenting Him. ^b28But turning to them, Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, ^cdo not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children. ²⁹Look, the days are coming ^dwhen they will say, ‘The women without children, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed, are fortunate!’ ^e30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ ^fg31For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” ^h

Crucified between Two Criminals

³²Two others—criminals ⁱ—were also led away to be executed with Him. ³³When ^jthey arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. [³⁴Then Jesus said, “Father, ^kforgive ^lthem, because they do not know what they are doing.” ^m] ⁿAnd they divided His clothes and cast lots. ^o

³⁵The ^ppeople stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing: ^q“He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” ^r36The soldiers also mocked Him. They came offering Him sour wine ^s37and said, “If You are the King of the Jews, ^tsave Yourself!”

³⁸An inscription was above Him: ^u

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹Then ^vone of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at ^wHim: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!”

⁴⁰But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, ^xsince you are undergoing the same punishment? ⁴¹We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” ^y42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me ^zawhen You come into Your kingdom!” ^b

⁴³And He said to him, “^•I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.” ^c

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁴It ^dwas now about noon, ^eand darkness came over the whole land ^funtil three, ^g45because the sun’s light failed. ^hThe curtain ⁱof the sanctuary was split down the middle. ⁴⁶And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” ^jkSaying this, He breathed His last.

⁴⁷When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify ^lGod, saying, “This man really was righteous!” ⁴⁸All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests. ^mn49But ^oall who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, ^pwatching these things.