35. The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes.
36. Then they sat down to guard him.
37. Above his head they put a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
38. The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.
39. People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and
40. shouted, “So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God's Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
41. The chief priests, the leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus. They said,
42. “He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the king of Israel, he should come down from the cross! Then we will believe him.
43. He trusted God, so let God save him, if he wants to. He even said he was God's Son.”
44. The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.
45. At midday the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o'clock.