The Crucifixion

Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry Jesus’ cross. The soldiers bring Jesus to Golgotha, offer him wine mixed with myrrh, crucify him, note the third hour, post the charge against him, and place two robbers on either side of him.

N²¹ow Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. ²²They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull. ²³There they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. ²⁴And they crucified Him. ²⁵It was the third hour when they crucified Him. ²⁶And the charge inscribed against Him read: ²⁷Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left.

Those passing by insult Jesus and challenge him to come down from the cross. The chief priests and scribes mock him in the same way, and even the men crucified with him join in the abuse.

²⁹And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, ³⁰come down from the cross and save Yourself!” ³¹In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! ³²Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.