Part 37

027:019 While he was sitting on the tribunal a message came to him from his wife. "Have nothing to do with that innocent man," she said, "for during the night I have suffered terribly in a dream through him."

027:020 The High Priests, however, and the Elders urged the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to demand the death of Jesus.

027:021 So when the Governor a second time asked them, "Which of the two shall I release to you?"--they cried, "Barabbas!"

027:022 "What then," said Pilate, "shall I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?" With one voice they shouted, "Let him be crucified!"

027:023 "Why, what crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they kept on furiously shouting, "Let him be crucified!"

027:024 So when he saw that he could gain nothing, but that on the contrary there was a riot threatening, he called for water and washed his hands in sight of them all, saying, "I am not responsible for this murder: you must answer for it."

027:025 "His blood," replied all the people, "be on us and on our children!"

027:026 Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he ordered to be scourged, and gave Him up to be crucified.

027:027 Then the Governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and called together the whole battalion to make sport of Him.

027:028 Stripping off His garments, they put on Him a general's short crimson cloak.

027:029 They twisted a wreath of thorny twigs and put it on His head, and they put a sceptre of cane in His right hand, and kneeling to Him they shouted in mockery, "Long live the King of the Jews!"

027:030 Then they spat upon Him, and taking the cane they repeatedly struck Him on the head with it.

027:031 At last, having finished their sport, they took off the cloak, clothed Him again in His own garments, and led Him away for crucifixion.

027:032 Going out they met a Cyrenaean named Simon; whom they compelled to carry His cross,

027:033 and so they came to a place called Golgotha, which means `Skull-ground.'

027:034 Here they gave Him a mixture of wine and gall to drink, but having tasted it He refused to drink it.

027:035 After crucifying Him, they divided His garments among them by lot,

027:036 and sat down there on guard.

027:037 Over His head they placed a written statement of the charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

027:038 At the same time two robbers were crucified with Him, one at His right hand and the other at His left.

027:039 And the passers-by reviled Him. They shook their heads at Him

027:040 and said, "You who would pull down the Sanctuary and build a new one within three days, save yourself. If you are God's Son, come down from the cross."

027:041 In like manner the High Priests also, together with the Scribes and the Elders, taunted Him.

027:042 "He saved others," they said, "himself he cannot save! He is the King of Israel! Let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.

027:043 His trust is in God: let God deliver him now, if He will have him; for he said, `I am God's Son.'"

027:044 Insults of the same kind were heaped on Him even by the robbers who were being crucified with Him.

027:045 Now from noon until three o'clock in the afternoon there was darkness over the whole land;

027:046 but about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is to say, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"