22. Pilate spoke to them for the third time. "Why?" he asked. "What wrong has this man done? I have found no reason to have him put to death. So I will just have him whipped and let him go."
23. But with loud shouts they kept calling for Jesus to be crucified. The people's shouts won out.
24. So Pilate decided to give them what they wanted.
25. He set free the man they asked for. The man had been thrown in prison for murder and for fighting against the authorities. Pilate gave Jesus over to them so they could carry out their plans.
26. As they led Jesus away, they took hold of Simon. Simon was from Cyrene. He was on his way in from the country. They put a wooden cross on his shoulders. Then they made him carry it behind Jesus.
27. A large number of people followed Jesus. Some were women whose hearts were filled with sorrow. They cried loudly because of him.
28. Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children.
29. The time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the women who can't have children! Blessed are those who never gave birth or nursed babies!'
30. It is written, " 'The people will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" They'll say to the hills, "Cover us!" ' (Hosea 10:8)
31. People do these things when trees are green. So what will happen when trees are dry?"
32. Two other men were also led out with Jesus to be killed. Both of them had broken the law.
33. The soldiers brought them to the place called The Skull. There they nailed Jesus to the cross. He hung between the two criminals. One was on his right and one was on his left.
34. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing." The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35. The people stood there watching. The rulers even made fun of Jesus. They said, "He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
36. The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him. They offered him wine vinegar.