23 44 By now it was about midday and there came a darkness over the whole land, which lasted until three in the afternoon; the sun was in eclipse. 23 45 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 23 46 [ Ps.31.5. ] Then Jesus gave a loud cry and said, 'Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit'; and with these words he died. 23 47 The centurion saw it all, and gave praise to God. 'Beyond all doubt', he said, 'this man was innocent.' 23 48 The crowd who had assembled for the spectacle, when they saw what had happened, went home beating their breasts. 23 49 HIS FRIENDS had all been standing at a distance; the women who had accompanied him from Galilee stood with them and watched it all.