32Going forth, now they found a man of Cyrene named Simon. Him they compelled, that he might carry His cross. [27:33] And having come to a place called Golgotha, which is called Place of a Skull, [27:34] they gave Him wine mingled with gall to drink; and having tasted it, He did not wish to drink it. [27:35] Now having crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots, so that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled: 'They divided my garments among themselves, and upon my clothing they cast lots.' [27:36] And sitting down, they were guarding Him there. [27:37] And they put up over His head His accusation, written: 'THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.' [27:38] At the same time two robbers are crucified with Him, one at the right and one at the left. [27:39] Now those passing by were denigrating Him, wagging their heads [27:40] and saying, 'You who are destroying the temple and building it in three days — save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, descend from the cross!' [27:41] Likewise also the chief priests, mocking, with the scribes and elders, and the Pharisees also were saying, [27:42] 'Others He saved — Himself He is not able to save. If He is King of Israel, let him descend now from the cross, and we will believe in him. [27:43] He has trusted in God — let Him deliver him now, if He wants him; for he said, "Of God I am the Son."' [27:44] And the same reproach the robbers also, those crucified with Him, were casting at Him.
MAT 27:32-44
The Crucifixion
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st century, crucifixion was a Roman method of execution reserved for slaves, rebels, and the lowest classes, designed to publicly humiliate and deter insurrection. The act of Simon of Cyrene being compelled to carry Jesus’ cross reflects the Roman practice of forced labor, often imposed on bystanders. The offering of wine mixed with gall may have been a gesture of mockery or a crude attempt to dull pain, as gall was associated with bitterness and medicinal properties in Greco-Roman thought. The division of Jesus’ garments by casting lots aligns with the soldiers’ customary claim to the possessions of the condemned. The accusation posted above Jesus’ head, labeling Him as “King of the Jews,” would have been seen as a political charge, mocking Jewish aspirations for independence. The mockery from passersby and religious leaders reflects the honor-shame culture, where public disgrace was a severe social punishment. The term (bandit) could imply Jesus was perceived as a revolutionary threat to Roman authority.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MAT 27:32
- KJV
- And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
- BSB
- Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- Going forth, now they found a man of Cyrene named Simon. Him they compelled, that he might carry His cross.
MAT 27:33
- KJV
- And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
- BSB
- And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull,
- Koinōnos
- And having come to a place called Golgotha, which is called Place of a Skull,
MAT 27:34
- KJV
- They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
- BSB
- they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it.
- Koinōnos
- they gave Him wine mingled with gall to drink; and having tasted it, He did not wish to drink it.
MAT 27:35
- KJV
- And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
- BSB
- When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.
- Koinōnos
- Now having crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots, so that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled: 'They divided my garments among themselves, and upon my clothing they cast lots.
MAT 27:36
- KJV
- And sitting down they watched him there;
- BSB
- And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.
- Koinōnos
- And sitting down, they were guarding Him there.
MAT 27:37
- KJV
- And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- BSB
- Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- Koinōnos
- And they put up over His head His accusation, written: 'THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
MAT 27:38
- KJV
- Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
- BSB
- Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right and the other on His left.
- Koinōnos
- At the same time two robbers are crucified with Him, one at the right and one at the left.
MAT 27:39
- KJV
- And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
- BSB
- And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
- Koinōnos
- Now those passing by were denigrating Him, wagging their heads
MAT 27:40
- KJV
- And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
- BSB
- and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
- Koinōnos
- and saying, 'You who are destroying the temple and building it in three days — save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, descend from the cross!
MAT 27:41
- KJV
- Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
- BSB
- In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying,
- Koinōnos
- Likewise also the chief priests, mocking, with the scribes and elders, and the Pharisees also were saying,
MAT 27:42
- KJV
- He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
- BSB
- “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.
- Koinōnos
- Others He saved — Himself He is not able to save. If He is King of Israel, let him descend now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
MAT 27:43
- KJV
- He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
- BSB
- He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
- Koinōnos
- He has trusted in God — let Him deliver him now, if He wants him; for he said, "Of God I am the Son."
MAT 27:44
- KJV
- The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
- BSB
- In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him.
- Koinōnos
- And the same reproach the robbers also, those crucified with Him, were casting at Him.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Tacitus, AnnalsAnn. 15.44
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 20.8.5
›Tacitus, Annals Ann. 15.44
“Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus”
Cited to ground: Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 20.8.5
“the country was again filled with robbers and impostors, who deluded the multitude. Yet did Felix catch and put to death many of those impostors every day, together with the robbers.”
Cited to ground: The term (bandit) could imply Jesus was perceived as a revolutionary threat to Roman authority.
Translator's notes
MAT 27:32
- they compelled:The word translated 'they compelled' refers to the Persian system of forced service, where couriers or soldiers could conscript civilians and their animals for transport or labor. It implies an involuntary, legally enforced demand.
MAT 27:34
- gall:The word translated 'gall' refers to a bitter, poisonous substance, often associated with bile or venom. In this context, it likely indicates a bitter, possibly narcotic, drink offered to dull pain.
MAT 27:38
- robbers,:The word translated 'robbers' often referred to violent bandits or insurgents, not just petty thieves. It could even imply revolutionaries or rebels against Roman authority, suggesting a more serious crime than simple theft.
MAT 27:39
- were denigrating:The word translated 'were denigrating' means to speak in a way that is abusive, slanderous, or blasphemous. It implies a deliberate act of reviling or insulting, often with an intent to dishonor.