The word is stauros {Noun}- Strongs # 4716  which primarily denotes an upright or stake like the one that is used in door jamb or window support - The method of execution that was borrowed by Greeks & Romans from Phoenicians denotes the Upright & cross beam & thus has a pagan origin. That's why Roman citizens were not allowed to be executed in such manner. The cruelty of it was to much to be placed upon natives of Roman empire - except in extreme cases like high treason.

Romans reserved this type of punishment for people of low status - namely, dangerous criminals, slaves & populace of foreign provinces. For Romans this was one way of asserting their authority & maintaining law & order. Thus in the province Judea it proved to be very effective weapon against resistance to Rome occupation.

The act of being crucified didn't damage any organs - yet it was a very slow way of dying as it didn't kill the person very quickly. usually the death w as by asphyxiation as  the muscles used for breathing suffered increasing fatigue. Often, as a further disgrace, the person who was crucified was denied burial and the body was left on the cross as a warning to others.

By the time Jesus came along Crucifixion was already understood in the terms of Deuteronomy 21: 22- 23. "If a man guilty of a capital offence is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree over night. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under  God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance."  Hence - Jesus was buried the same day as the Law reacquired it.

The offender was usually beheaded or killed & then hang on a tree - see Genesis 40: 19 & Ester 2: 23. Under Jewish Law Prolonged exposure gives undue attention to the  criminal & his crime, so the corps had to be removed. God condemned murder & hanging the criminal on a tree symbolized the God's judgement & rejection.

Christ accepted the full punishment of our sins, thus, becoming a curse for us. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'" Galatians 3: 13. See also Acts 5: 30; 13: 29. In  1 Peter 2: 24. we read: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

Hence Jesus was given such a send off by Romans !!  It's as if Romans would USE some other implement when they already had a horrific way of killing people. This word can be found in such passages as Matthew 10:28;  16: 24; 27: 40; 27: 42. Mk 8: 34; 15: 21; 15: 32.  Lk. 9:32; 14: 27; 23: 26.  John 19: 17; 19: 19; 19: 25; 19:31. 1 Cor 1: 17; 1: 18
Gal.  5: 11; 6: 12; 6: 14; Eph. 2: 16 Philippians 2: 8; 3: 18; Col 1: 20; 2: 14 Heb. 12 : 2

Then there is the Verbs like "stauroo" # 4717 which signifies an act of Crucifying  as in Matthew 20:19; 23 34;  26: 2; 27: 23 & 26 etc etc -- "sustauroo" # 4957 signifies To crucify with  - "anastauroo" # 388 as in Heb. 6: 6 refers to apostates - who as nominal Christians returned back to Judaism - were in effect guilty of crucifying Christ again.  "prospegnumi" as in Acts 2: 23 etc.

In all occasions NWT uses the word Stake!! While every other bible that I have 'KJV - NRSV - NIV - Life Application - Full Life" etc use the word Cross - as well as all interlinear & Greek & English Concordances & Strongs & Vines Dictionary - I have them all - as I needed to make sure of my facts.

Up until early 1920 WT's own publications have supported the theory of Cross & they have actually published it in few of their own writings - here is a exact Scan of the subject at hand. It is derived from  their own Book authored by J.F. Rutheford 1924 edition.

There are other books that WT published the similar information: In their book Creation 1927 edition on page 209 - But since that time they tried to alter the Bible facts & eventually they did.

Yet in their own publication "How Can Blood Save Your Life"  1990 page 7 they depict Romans crucifying early Christians on a Cross.

Again I ask - Why would Romans Change the way they Crucified Jesus to the way they Crucified His Followers?  HMV!!

AS David Reed puts in his book  "Answering Jehovah's Witness"  - "Distasteful as it may be, however, the Lord was in fact executed by pagan Romans, who would NOT have hesitated to use one of their pagan crosses as the Instrument of execution."  I recommend the Book highly for anyone who wants to talk & help JW's See the truth. Just go to the links on my page & click on "Comments from Friends" link.

Passages like John 20: 25 where disciples are telling unbelieving Thomas that they saw Jesus resurrected - Thomas replied: "Unless I see the Nail Marks in His hands and put my  finger where the Nails were and put my finger into His side, I will not believe it."

Note the words used - - Plural form!!  Interesting isn't it?  One would think that Thomas who was there would know how many nails were used & how Jesus was Crucified.

In matthew 27: 37 we read: " Above His HEAD they placed the written  charge against Him..."
 

If Jesus was Crucified on a stake then the writer would say - Above His Hands - & not His Head - REAson for this was that His hands were else where & not above His head.  Also in John 19: 17 we read that Jesus was carrying HIS OWN CROSS.

First of - The Stake would be at least 5 - 6 feet in the ground so to be able to support the weight of  a Fully grown man.

Second - The body was at least 5 - 6 feet of the Ground that gives us at least 10 feet so far & may be 12.

Thirdly - The height Of Jesus would be in the range of 6 feet give or take few inches - that takes it up to 16 to 18 feet now.

Then we have to add at least 3 feet for the extension of the arms above Jesus' head now we have  19 - 21 feet.

Then there is the sign which was placed above His head - Add another 3 feet { 1 just for the sign Height - 1 for the measure above His Hands & 1 just as a extra = Now we are up to 21 to 24 feet of Timber that would have to be carried.

Final part is this:  The stake would have to be at least the width of the shoulders say 8 inches as 6 wouldn't be strong enough to support  human body.

Now add all that up - a stake at least 21 - feet long - more them likely 24 -  which is 8 inches in thickens - HMV!!!  Do you think that a man who was beaten to death by Roman soldiers - had a Crown of thorns placed around His head - etc be able to carry a Stake the size of a telephone post some 2 miles from the Herod's place to his place of Execution. we are talking some 250 pounds on timber at least!!

I say no - how about you??
 

Now - lets look at the other scenario - Man carrying a 8 inch beam the length of his arms fully stretched out some  7 feet - plus 1 foot either side as an extra measure.  Sounds more to the TRUTH.

Also - Roman soldiers all ready had the Stakes in place & then it was easier for them to nail the man through each palm on  each side of the cross beam & then lift Him up to already existing upright.

All Gospels attest to the crucifixion of Jesus on Friday - a day before Sabbath - Matthew 27: 57, 62; Mk. 15: 42; Luke 23: 54; John 19: 31, 42.

When  we compare some of the OT writings & what happened to Jesus we can see this: Jesus garments were divided Psalm 22: 18, Jesus was crucified with two criminals Isaiah 53: 12, Jesus was mocked Psalm 22: 7 ; 703. Jesus was taunted Psalm 42: 10, Jesus was offered a drink  Psalm 69: 21; Proverbs 31: 6, Jesus cried out from the cross Psalm 22: 1; 31: 5, Jesus is acclaimed as God's Son {Wis. 2, 4 -5} Isaiah 53: 11, Jesus is vindicated after maltreatment Isaiah 52: 13; 53: 10-12 - Thus proving that Jesus died according to OT writings.

The chief priests and rulers delivered Jesus up to death sentence. They crucified Him - even though they hoped that He would redeem Israel - Luke 24: 20: 21.  By not explicitly identifying the "thy" responsibility for crucifixion in this text, Luke continues in his strategy of exonerating the Roman authorities while implicating the Jewish leaders. The cross is represented as the culmination of His mission Mark 10: 45; Luke 24: 25- 27' John 12: 23 - 28. Paul confirms this in Romans 4: 25 where he tells us that Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification see also 1 Corinthians 15: 3-5 & Gal 2: 20-21.

Jesus was crucified under Romans orders - but the charges were brought up against Him by the Jewish authorities as we find in Luke 23: 2 & 5 "And they began to accuse him, saying, ';we have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ a king.'"   Then they continued in verse 5 "He stirs up the people all over Judea by HIs teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."

Pilot did question Jesus - & in all occasions didn't find fault - yet Jewish people had Jesus committed just as it was written by OT prophets.
 

Jesus death - is also interesting fact to observe - Jesus died first of the 3.- The curtain of the temple was torn in wo from top to bottom - Mark 15: 38 & Matthew 27: 51 - Showing us that the end of OT sacrifices is over - The Lamb of God has died for all. Also, Very interesting thing happened when Roman soldiers broke the legs of the criminals they came to Jesus & saw that Jesus was already dead - one of them pierced the side of Jesus & Blood & Water came out - John 19: 34.

This is extremely important - When a person is dead - his or hers heart STOPS Working & in turn there is no Pump operating to push the Blood around the body - yet Blood & Water Gushed out. Wouldn't you say that this is very interesting!! What mad the blood & Water Gush out ?  There was No Heart beat to do it!!

Also - when discussing with JW's The issue of Blood & Flesh can not inherit the Kingdom of God & that Jesus' body didn't assigned in to heaven - - We Must remember that Jesus' blood wasn't in His Body - it gushed out.  Jesus tells us that  Spirit does not have Flesh & Bones  - Luke 24: 39 - Not Flesh & Bones & Not Flesh & Blood - - Hope you find that Interesting & that you point it out to JW's.

Jesus had Immortal body without sinful blood that we inherit from our fathers during conception time.