2 UPhilathu wambuza wathi, “Uyinkosi yamaJuda na?”
3 Abaphristi abakhulu bamethesa amacala amanengi. 4 Ngakho uPhilathu wambuza njalo wathi, “Kanti kungani ungaphenduli na? Khangela, bakubeka amacala amanengi.”
5 Kodwa uJesu wala elokhu ethule, uPhilathu wamangala.
6 Kwakungumkhuba ukuthi ngomkhosi kukhululwe isibotshwa esasizabe sicelwe ngabantu. 7 Indoda eyayithiwa nguBharabhasi yayisentolongweni kanye labahlamuki ababebulele abantu kulowomvukela. 8 Ixuku labantu leza kuPhilathu ukuthi abenzele leyo nhlalayenza.
9 “Lifuna ukuthi ngilikhululele inkosi yamaJuda na?” UPhilathu wabuza, 10 esazi ukuthi kwakungenxa yomhawu okwenza abaphristi abakhulu banikela uJesu kuye. 11 Kodwa abaphristi abakhulu badunga abantu babakhuthaza ukuthi bacele uPhilathu abakhululele uBharabhasi.
12 UPhilathu wasebabuza wathi, “Pho ngithini ngalo elimbiza ngokuthi uyinkosi yamaJuda na?”
13 Bamemeza bathi, “Mbethele!”
14 UPhilathu wabuza wathi, “Yindaba? Woneni?”
15 UPhilathu wasebakhululela uBharabhasi ngoba wayefuna ukusuthisa ixuku labantu. Wathi uJesu katshaywe, ngemva kwalokho wasebapha ukuba bambethele.
25 Kwakulihola lesithathu isikhathi abambethela ngaso. 26 Umbhalo wecala lakhe wawusithi:
27 Babethela kanye laye abaphangi ababili, omunye kwesokunene sakhe, omunye kwesokhohlo. [ 28 Kwagcwaliseka umbhalo othi, “Wabalwa ndawonye lezephulamthetho.”][a] 29 Labo ababedlula lapho babemthuka benikina amakhanda abo besithi, “Ehe! Wena ozadiliza ithempeli ulakhe ngezinsuku ezintathu, 30 yehla esiphambanweni uzisindise!” 31 Ngaleyondlela labaphristi abakhulu labafundisi bomthetho bamklolodela behlekisana ngaye phakathi kwabo. Bathi, “Wasindisa abanye, kodwa uyehluleka ukuzisindisa yena! 32 Ake kuthi uKhristu lo, iNkosi le yako-Israyeli, yehle esiphambanweni ukuze sibone, sikholwe.” Lalabo ayebethelwe kanye labo, labo babemhlambaza.
35 Kwathi abanye balabo ababemi eduzane bekuzwa lokho bathi, “Zwanini, ubiza u-Elija.”
36 Enye indoda yagcwalisa uzipho ngewayini elimunyu, yaluxhumela oluthini, yasiluqhubela uJesu ukuthi anathe. Yasisithi, “Ake simyekele manje, kesibone ingabe u-Elija uzakuza azomehlisa.”
37 Ngomkhosi omkhulu, uJesu waphefumula okokucina.
38 Ikhetheni lethempeli ladabuka kabili lisuka phezulu kusiya phansi. 39 Kwathi induna yekhulu eyayimi khonapho phambi kukaJesu isizwa ukukhala kwakhe njalo ikubonile ukuthi ufe kanjani yathi, “Ngeqiniso indoda le ibe iyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu!”
40 Abanye abesifazane babebukele bebucwala. Phakathi kwabo kwakuloMariya Magadalini loMariya unina kaJakhobe omncinyane lokaJosefa loSalome. 41 Laba abesifazane babemlandele bemsebenzela eseGalile. Labanye abesifazane abanengi ababeze laye eJerusalema labo babekhona.