[23:26] The soldiers led Jesus away, and as they were going, they met a man from Cyrene named Simon who was coming into the city from the country. They seized him, put the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
[23:27] A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some women who were weeping and wailing for him.
[23:28] Jesus turned to them and said, “Women of Jerusalem! Don't cry for me, but for yourselves and your children.
[23:29] For the days are coming when people will say, ‘How lucky are the women who never had children, who never bore babies, who never nursed them!’
[23:30] That will be the time when people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Hide us!’
[23:31] For if such things as these are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
[23:32] Two other men, both of them criminals, were also led out to be put to death with Jesus.
[23:33] When they came to the place called “The Skull,” they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.
[23:34] Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.” They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice.
[23:35] The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders made fun of him: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!”
[23:36] The soldiers also made fun of him: they came up to him and offered him cheap wine,
[23:37] and said, “Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!”
[23:38] Above him were written these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
[23:39] One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
[23:40] The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did.
[23:41] Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.”
[23:42] And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!”
[23:43] Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.”