Luke 23:26–43

²⁶As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and they put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.

²⁷A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him. ²⁸But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹Look, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed!’ ³⁰At that time

‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”

and to the hills, “Cover us!”’^c

³¹For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

³²Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.

³³When they came to the place called The Skull,^d they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.

³⁴Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^e And they divided up His garments by casting lots.^f

³⁵The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him,^g saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

³⁶The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.^{h 37}“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”

³⁸Above Him was posted an inscription:ⁱ

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”

⁴⁰But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me^j when You come into Your kingdom!”

⁴³And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”