16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace. It was called the Praetorium. They called together the whole company of soldiers.
17 The soldiers put a purple robe on Jesus. Then they twisted thorns together to make a crown. They placed it on his head.
18 They began to call out to him, "We honor you, king of the Jews!"
19 Again and again they hit him on the head with a stick. They spit on him. They fell on their knees and pretended to honor him.
20 After they had made fun of him, they took off the purple robe. They put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to nail him to a cross.
21 A man named Simon from Cyrene was passing by. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Simon was on his way in from the country. The soldiers forced him to carry the cross.
22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha. The word Golgotha means The Place of the Skull.