16. The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace. It was called the Praetorium. They called together the whole company of soldiers.
17. The soldiers put a purple robe on Jesus. Then they twisted thorns together to make a crown. They placed it on his head.
18. They began to call out to him, "We honor you, king of the Jews!"
19. Again and again they hit him on the head with a stick. They spit on him. They fell on their knees and pretended to honor him.
20. After they had made fun of him, they took off the purple robe. They put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to nail him to a cross.
21. A man named Simon from Cyrene was passing by. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Simon was on his way in from the country. The soldiers forced him to carry the cross.
22. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha. The word Golgotha means The Place of the Skull.
23. Then they gave him wine mixed with spices. But he did not take it.
24. They nailed him to the cross. Then they divided up his clothes. They cast lots to see what each of them would get.
25. It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him.
26. They wrote out the charge against him. It read, ~the king of the jews.=
27-28. They crucified two robbers with him. One was on his right and one was on his left.
29. Those who passed by shouted at Jesus and made fun of him. They shook their heads and said, "So you are going to destroy the temple and build it again in three days?