³⁹ Those who passed by were yelling insults at^[a] him, shaking their heads^{(A) 40} and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” ^{(B) 41} In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders,^[b] mocked him and said, ⁴² “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel!^(C) Let him^[c] come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God; let God rescue him now—if he takes pleasure in him!^[d] For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

³⁵ The^(A) people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing:^(B) “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” ^{(C) 36} The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine^{(D) 37} and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,^(E) save yourself!”

³⁸ An inscription was above him:^[a] This Is the King of the Jews.