NgokukaMakhu 15:1-14, 16-32

Masinyane, ekuseni, abaphristi abakhulu, amalunga, izazimthetho nomkhandlu wonke bakha icebo, base bembopha uJesu, bamqhuba, bamnikela kuPilatu. UPilatu wambuza, wathi: “Wena uyinkosi yabaJuda na?” Waphendula wathi kuye: “Usushilo.” Abaphristi abakhulu bamethwesa amacala amaningi. UPilatu wabuye wambuza, wathi: “Awuziphenduleli ngalutho na? Bheka nje ukuthi maningi kangakanani amacala abakwethwesa wona.” Kepha uJesu akabuyanga waphendula utho, waze wamangala uPilatu. Kwakuthi njalo ngesikhathi somkhosi, uPilatu abakhululele isiboshwa sibe sinye abasicelileyo. Kwakukhona omunye owayebizwa ngoBharabha, owayeboshwe namahlubuka, okwathi ngesikhathi sokuhlubuka, babulala umuntu. Isixuku sakhuphuka saya kuPilatu siyomcela ukuba asenzele njengalokhu ayejwayele ukusenzela. Kepha uPilatu wabaphendula, wathi: “Nithanda ukuba nginikhululele inkosi yabaJuda na?” UPilatu wayazi kahle ukuthi abaphristi abakhulu bamnikele ngenxa yomona. Kepha abaphristi abakhulu babhebhezela isixuku ukuba sithi kungcono asikhululele uBharabha. UPilatu wabuye waphendula, wathi kubo: “Pho nithi angenzenjani ngalona enithi uyinkosi yabaJuda na?” Babuye bamemeza, bathi: “Mbethele esiphambanweni!” Kepha uPilatu wathi kubo: “Ngokuba wenze bubi buni na?” Kepha bamemeza kakhulu, bathi: “Mbethele!”

Amabutho ayesemhola, amngenisa endlini ethiwa iPhrethoriyu, aqoqela ndawonye lonke ibutho. Amembathisa ingubo ebukhwebezane, amethwesa umqhele ayeweluke ngameva. Aqala ukumkhulekela, athi: “Bayede, nkosi yabaJuda!” Amshaya ekhanda ngomhlanga, amkhafulela ngamathe, aguqa ngamadolo, akhuleka kuye. Esembhinqile, amhlubula ingubo ebukhwebezane, amembathisa izingubo zakhe, ayesephuma naye ukuba ayombethela esiphambanweni. Baphoqa umuntu owayedlula ngendlela, evela endle, okwakuthiwa uSimoni waseKhurene, uyise ka-Aleksandru noRufu, ukuba amthwalele isiphambano. Amabutho amyisa endaweni okuthiwa yiGolgotha okungukuthi: “INdawo Yekhanda.” Amnika iwayini elalixutshwe nemure, kodwa akalemukelanga. Ambethela esiphambanweni, abelana ngezingubo zakhe ngokwenza unkatho, ukuze kwazeke ukuthi yilowo nalowo uthathani. Kwase kuyihora lesithathu ngesikhathi embethela esiphambanweni. Umbhalo wecala abekwe lona wawulotshwe phezulu esiphambanweni sakhe, uthi: INKOSI YABAJUDA. Kwakunabaphangi ababili ababebethelwe kanye naye, omunye engakwesokunene sakhe, omunye engakwesokhohlo sakhe. Wagcwaliseka kanjalo umbhalo othi: “Wabalwa kanye nezelelesi.” Ababedlula lapho bamhlambalaza, benikina amakhanda, bethi: “Ashila, wena odiliza ithempeli ubuye ulakhe ngezinsuku ezintathu, zisindise, wehle esiphambanweni.” Kanjalo nabaphristi abakhulu nezazimthetho, bambhinqa, bathi: “Wasindisa abanye, kodwa akakwazi ukuzisindisa. UKhristu, iNkosi yakwa-Israyeli, makehle manje esiphambanweni, ukuze sibone, sikholwe.” Nababebethelwe naye, bamhlambalaza.