4. Pilate told the high priests and the accompanying crowd, “I find nothing wrong here. He seems harmless enough to me.”
5. But they were vehement. “He’s stirring up unrest among the people with his teaching, disturbing the peace everywhere, starting in Galilee and now all through Judea. He’s a dangerous man, endangering the peace.”
36-37. The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine: “So you’re King of the Jews! Save yourself!”
38. Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the jews.
39. One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: “Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!”
40-41. But the other one made him shut up: “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this.”
42. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”
43. He said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.”
44-46. By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, “Father, I place my life in your hands!” Then he breathed his last.
47. When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: “This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!”