15. Nor did Herod, for he sent Him back to us. Indeed, He has done nothing that is worthy of death.
16. Therefore I will scourge Him and release Him.”
17. [footnote: Some mss. add: Now Pilate needed to release one prisoner to them at the feast.]
18. But they shouted out all together, saying, “Take this fellow away! Release to us Bar-Abba!”
19. (He was someone who had been thrown into prison for a rebellion in the city and murder.)
20. Again Pilate addressed them, wanting to release Yeshua;
21. but they kept shouting out, saying, “Execute, execute Him!”
22. And a third time he spoke to them, “Why? What evil has this One done? I have found in Him no fault deserving of death. Therefore, I will scourge and release Him.”
23. But they were insistent, demanding with loud shouts that He be executed. And their voices prevailed.
24. So Pilate decreed that their demand be put into effect.
25. And He released the one they were asking for, the one thrown in jail for insurrection and murder. But he handed over Yeshua to their will.
26. As they led Him away, they grabbed a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the countryside. They placed on him the cross-beam, to carry behind Yeshua.
27. Now a great multitude of people was following Him, including women who were mourning and singing dirges for Him.
28. But Yeshua, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but for yourselves and your children.
29. For indeed, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are barren, and the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that did not feed.’