³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads^{(A) 40} and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,^(B) save yourself!^(C) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”^{(D) 41} In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel!^(E) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe^(F) in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him^(G) now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus^(H)

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness^(I) came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^[a] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[b](J)

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar,^(K) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”