noon
The centurion answered for Joseph : yes , sir ; he died to-day at the ninth hour . I put a lance into him to make sure , and blood and water came from his side . At which statement Joseph trembled , for he was acquiescing in a lie ; but he did not dare to contradict the centurion , who was speaking in his favour for the sake of the money he had received , and in the hope of receiving more for the lie that he told . On the cross at noon and dead before the ninth hour ! Pilate muttered : he could but bear the cross for three hours ! After the scourging we gave him , Sir , the centurion answered , he was so weak and feeble that we had to pass on his cross to the shoulders of a Jew named Simon of Cyrene , who carried it to the top of the mount for him . If he be dead there is no reason for my not giving up the body , Pilate answered .