²⁷ Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace. All the soldiers gathered around Jesus. ²⁸ They took off his clothes and put a red robe on him. ²⁹ Then the soldiers used thorny branches to make a crown. They put this crown of thorns on Jesus’ head. They put a stick in his right hand. Then the soldiers bowed before Jesus and made fun of him. They said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ They spit on Jesus. Then they took his stick and hit him on the head many times. ³¹ After they finished making fun of Jesus, the soldiers took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led Jesus away to be killed on a cross.