{They took} (parelabon). Second aorist active indicative
of paralamban(935c), they took Jesus from Pilate. Cf.  1:11  14:3 .
This is after the shameful scourging between 6 A.M. and 9 A.M.
when the soldiers insult Jesus _ad libitum_ ( Mr 15:16-19  Mt
27:27-30 ).

{Bearing the cross for himself} (astaz(936e) haut(9369) ton stauron).
Cf.  Lu 14:27  for this very picture in the words of Jesus. The
dative case of the reflexive pronoun haut(9369) "for himself" is in
strict accord with Roman custom. "A criminal condemned to be
crucified was required to carry his own cross" (Bernard). But
apparently Jesus under the strain of the night before and the
anguish of heart within him gave out so that Simon of Cyrene was
impressed to carry it for Jesus ( Mr 15:21f.  Mt 27:32f.  Lu
23:26 ). See  Mr 15:22f.  Mt 27:33f.  Lu 23:33  for the meaning
of "place of a skull" or Calvary and Golgotha in Hebrew
(Aramaic). Luke has simply Kranion (Skull), a skull-looking
place.