23 26 AS THEY LED HIM AWAY to execution they seized upon a man called Simon, from Cyrene, on his way in from the country, put the cross on his back, and made him walk behind Jesus carrying it. 23 27 Great numbers of people followed, many women among them, who mourned and lamented over him. 23 28 Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; no, weep for yourselves and your children. 23 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, "Happy are the barren, the wombs that never bore a child, the breasts that never fed one." 23 30 [ Hs.10.8. ] Then they will start saying to the mountains, "Fall on us", and to the hills, "Cover us." 23 31 For if these things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?'
23 32 There were two others with him, criminals who were being led away to execution; 23 33 and when they reached the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, and the criminals with him, one on his right and the other on his left. 23 34 [ Is.53.12, Ps.22.18. ] Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.' Some witnesses omit: Jesus said, 'Father ... doing.'
They divided his clothes among them by casting lots. 23 35 [ Ps.22.7. ] The people stood looking on, and their rulers jeered at him: 'He saved others: now let him save himself, if this is God's Messiah, his Chosen.' 23 36 The soldiers joined in the mockery and came forward offering him their sour wine. 23 37 'If you are the king of the Jews,' they said, 'save yourself.' 23 38 There was an inscription above his head which ran: 'This is the king of the Jews.'
23 39 One of the criminals who hung there with him taunted him: 'Are not you the Messiah? Save yourself, and us.' 23 40 But the other rebuked him: 'Have you no fear of God? You are under the same sentence as he. 23 41 For us it is plain justice; we are paying the price for our misdeeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' 23 42 And he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come to your throne.' Some witnesses read: come in royal power. 23 43 He answered, 'I tell you this: today you shall be with me in Paradise.'