The Crucifixion

21  The soldiers forced a passerby to carry his cross, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country (he was the father of Alexander and Rufus). 22  They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which is translated, “Place of the Skull”). 23  They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24  Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, throwing dice for them, to decide what each would take. 25  It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26  The inscription of the charge against him read, “The king of the Jews.” 27  And they crucified two outlaws with him, one on his right and one on his left. 28 [fn] 29  Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30  save yourself and come down from the cross!” 31  In the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law – were mocking him among themselves: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 32  Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.