¹⁷ They put a red gown on Jesus. They made a big ring of thorns like a crown and put it on his head.

¹⁸ Then they began to speak to him as if he were a king. They shouted, `Greetings, King of the Jews!'

¹⁹ They hit him on the head with a stick and spat on him. They kneeled down before him as if to give him great respect.