Luke 23:26–49

The Crucifixion of Jesus

²⁶As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.^{* 27}A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.^{* 28}But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.^{* 29}For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ ³⁰Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’^{* 31}For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”^*

³²Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.^{* 33}When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus^u there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[³⁴Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]]^v And they cast lots to divide his clothing.^{* 35}And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah^w of God, his chosen one!”^{* 36}The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine^{* 37}and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸There was also an inscription over him,^x “This is the King of the Jews.”

³⁹One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding^y him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?^z Save yourself and us!”^{* 40}But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”^{* 42}Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in^a your kingdom.” ⁴³He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^*

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁴It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land^b until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵while the sun’s light failed,^c and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.^{* 46}Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.^{* 47}When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”^{d* 48}And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.^*