New International Reader's Version

Matthew 27:25-35 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

25. All the people answered, "We and our children will accept the guilt for his death!"

26. Pilate let Barabbas go free. But he had Jesus whipped. Then he handed him over to be nailed to a cross.

27. The governor's soldiers took Jesus into the palace, which was called the Praetorium. All the rest of the soldiers gathered around him.

28. They took off his clothes and put a purple robe on him.

29. Then they twisted thorns together to make a crown. They placed it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand. Then they fell on their knees in front of him and made fun of him. "We honor you, king of the Jews!" they said.

30. They spit on him. They hit him on the head with the stick again and again.

31. After they had made fun of him, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to nail him to a cross.

32. On their way out of the city, they met a man from Cyrene. His name was Simon. They forced him to carry the cross.

33. They came to a place called Golgotha. The word Golgotha means The Place of the Skull.

34. There they mixed wine with bitter spices and gave it to Jesus to drink. After tasting it, he refused to drink it.

35. When they had nailed him to the cross, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.