26Then he released unto them Barabbas: but having scourged Jesus, he delivered him up to be crucified. 27Thereupon the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus away to the Prætorium, gathered around him the whole band: 28and stripping him, put about him a scarlet cloak. 29And platting a crown of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a cane in his right hand: and bowing the knee before him, mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! 30And spitting upon him, they took the cane, and struck him upon his head. 31And when they had insulted him, they took off from him the cloak, and put his own garments on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32And as they were going out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to carry his cross.

33And when they were come to a place called Golgotha (which is called the place of a skull), 34they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and having tasted it, he refused to drink. 35Then having crucified him, they parted his garments, casting the lot: that it might be fulfilled, what was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and for my vesture they threw the lot. 36And sitting down, they guarded him there. 37And they placed over his head his accusation in writing, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Then were crucified with him two robbers, one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

39And they who were passing by reviled him, shaking their heads, 40and saying, Thou that canst pull down the temple, and build it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, descend from the cross. 41And with similar language also did the chief priests, insulting him, with the scribes and elders, and Pharisees, 42say, He saved others, himself he is unable to save. If he be the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him. 43He trusted in God; let him now deliver him, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44And in the same manner also, did the robbers who were crucified with him, revile him.

45Now from the fifth hour darkness fell upon all the land, unto the ninth hour. 46But about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with an exceeding loud cry, saying, Eli! Eli! lama, sabacthani? that is, My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me? 47Then some of those who stood there, hearing him, said, This man is calling out for Elias. 48And immediately one of them, running, and taking a sponge, and filling it with vinegar, and fastening it to a pole, put it to him to drink. 49The others said, Let him alone, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

50Then Jesus crying again with a loud voice gave up the ghost. 51And, lo! the vail of the temple was rent in two, from the upper part to the bottom; and the earth was shaken; and the rocks were rent; 52and the sepulchres were opened; and many bodies of saints, who slept, arose; 53and coming out of the sepulchres after his resurrection, entered into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

54Then the centurion, and they who were with him, guarding Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things which were done, were exceedingly terrified, saying, Assuredly this was the Son of God.

55Now there were many women on the spot, looking on at a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

57But when the evening was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, whose name was Joseph, who himself also was a disciple of Jesus: 58he going in to Pilate, begged for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered the body to be given him. 59And Joseph receiving the body, wrapped it in clean linen; 60and laid it in his own new sepulchre, which he had hewn out in a rock: and rolling a vast stone against the door of the sepulchre, departed. 61And Mary Magdalen, and the other Mary, were there sitting opposite the sepulchre.

62Now on the morrow, which is the day after the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came in a body to Pilate, 63saying, Sir, we have reflected, that this deceiver, when yet alive, said, After three days I will rise again. 64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made perfectly secure until the third day, lest his disciples coming by night, steal him, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead, so the last delusion would be worse than the first. 65Then said Pilate unto them, Ye have a guard, go and make it as secure as ye think fit. 66So they went and made the sepulchre secure, putting a seal upon the stone, after placing the guard.

[CHAP. XXVIII.]