Judas Hangs Himself

27 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed.^{(A) 2} So they bound him, led him away and handed him over^(B) to Pilate the governor.^(C)

³ When Judas, who had betrayed him,^(D) saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver^(E) to the chief priests and the elders. ⁴ “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”^(F)

⁵ So Judas threw the money into the temple^(G) and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.^(H)

⁶ The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” ⁷ So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸ That is why it has been called the Field of Blood^(I) to this day. ⁹ Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:^(J) “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, ¹⁰ and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”^[a](K)

Jesus Before Pilate^(L)

¹¹ Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”^(M)

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

¹² When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.^{(N) 13} Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”^{(O) 14} But Jesus made no reply,^(P) not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

¹⁵ Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner^(Q) chosen by the crowd. ¹⁶ At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus^[b] Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”^{(R) 18} For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat,^(S) his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent^(T) man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream^(U) because of him.”

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.^(V)

²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”^(W) Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar^(X) was starting, he took water and washed his hands^(Y) in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”^(Z) he said. “It is your responsibility!”^(AA)

²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”^(AB)

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged,^(AC) and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(AD)

²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium^(AE) and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,^{(AF) 29} and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.^{(AG) 30} They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.^{(AH) 31} After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.^(AI)

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(AJ)

³² As they were going out,^(AK) they met a man from Cyrene,^(AL) named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.^{(AM) 33} They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).^{(AN) 34} There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;^(AO) but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^{(AP) 36} And sitting down, they kept watch^(AQ) over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him,^(AR) one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads^{(AS) 40} and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,^(AT) save yourself!^(AU) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”^{(AV) 41} In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel!^(AW) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe^(AX) in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him^(AY) now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus^(AZ)

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness^(BA) came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[d](BB)

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar,^(BC) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.^(BD)

⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple^(BE) was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split^{(BF) 52} and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and^[e] went into the holy city^(BG) and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding^(BH) Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”^(BI)

⁵⁵ Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.^{(BJ) 56} Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,^[f] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.^(BK)

The Burial of Jesus^(BL)

⁵⁷ As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb^(BM) that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

⁶² The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ⁶³ “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’^{(BN) 64} So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body^(BO) and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

⁶⁵ “Take a guard,”^(BP) Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal^(BQ) on the stone^(BR) and posting the guard.^(BS)

Jesus Has Risen^(BT)

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene^(BU) and the other Mary^(BV) went to look at the tomb.

² There was a violent earthquake,^(BW) for an angel^(BX) of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone^(BY) and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.^{(BZ) 4} The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid,^(CA) for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.^(CB) Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.^(CC) There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them.^(CD) “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers^(CE) to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards^(CF) went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away^(CG) while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor,^(CH) we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.^{(CI) 17} When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.^{(CJ) 19} Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,^(CK) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,^{(CL) 20} and teaching^(CM) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you^(CN) always, to the very end of the age.”^(CO)

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire^(A) and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. ² For I can testify about them that they are zealous^(B) for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. ³ Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.^{(C) 4} Christ is the culmination of the law^(D) so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.^(E)

⁵ Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”^{[a](F) 6} But the righteousness that is by faith^(G) says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”^[b](H) (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”^[c](I) (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).^{(J) 8} But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”^[d](K) that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you declare^(L) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”^(M) and believe^(N) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,^(O) you will be saved.^{(P) 10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”^{[e](Q) 12} For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile^(R)—the same Lord is Lord of all^(S) and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord^(T) will be saved.”^[f](U)

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”^[g](V)

¹⁶ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.^(W) For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”^{[h](X) 17} Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,^(Y) and the message is heard through the word about Christ.^{(Z) 18} But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

¹⁹ Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

²⁰ And Isaiah boldly says,

²¹ But concerning Israel he says,

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!^(AF) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,^(AG) from the tribe of Benjamin.^{(AH) 2} God did not reject his people,^(AI) whom he foreknew.^(AJ) Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: ³ “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”^[m]?^{(AK) 4} And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^{[n](AL) 5} So too, at the present time there is a remnant^(AM) chosen by grace.^{(AN) 6} And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;^(AO) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

⁷ What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.^(AP) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,^{(AQ) 8} as it is written:

⁹ And David says:

Ingrafted Branches

¹¹ Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!^(AV) Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles^(AW) to make Israel envious.^{(AX) 12} But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,^(AY) how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

¹³ I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,^(AZ) I take pride in my ministry ¹⁴ in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy^(BA) and save^(BB) some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection brought reconciliation^(BC) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?^{(BD) 16} If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits^(BE) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ If some of the branches have been broken off,^(BF) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others^(BG) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ¹⁸ do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.^{(BH) 19} You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.^(BI) Do not be arrogant,^(BJ) but tremble.^{(BK) 21} For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

²² Consider therefore the kindness^(BL) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue^(BM) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.^{(BN) 23} And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.^{(BO) 24} After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,^(BP) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant^(BQ) of this mystery,^(BR) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:^(BS) Israel has experienced a hardening^(BT) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,^{(BU) 26} and in this way^[q] all Israel will be saved.^(BV) As it is written:

²⁸ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies^(BX) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,^{(BY) 29} for God’s gifts and his call^(BZ) are irrevocable.^{(CA) 30} Just as you who were at one time disobedient^(CB) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^[t] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ³² For God has bound everyone over to disobedience^(CC) so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,^(CK) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(CL) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform^(CM) to the pattern of this world,^(CN) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(CO) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(CP)—his good, pleasing^(CQ) and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ For by the grace given me^(CR) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,^{(CS) 5} so in Christ we, though many, form one body,^(CT) and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts,^(CU) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(CV) then prophesy in accordance with your^[x] faith;^{(CW) 7} if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;^{(CX) 8} if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^(CY) if it is giving, then give generously;^(CZ) if it is to lead,^[y] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere.^(DA) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.^{(DB) 10} Be devoted to one another in love.^(DC) Honor one another above yourselves.^{(DD) 11} Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,^(DE) serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope,^(DF) patient in affliction,^(DG) faithful in prayer.^{(DH) 13} Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.^(DI) Practice hospitality.^(DJ)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you;^(DK) bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.^{(DL) 16} Live in harmony with one another.^(DM) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[z] Do not be conceited.^(DN)

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^(DO) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.^{(DP) 18} If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^{(DQ) 19} Do not take revenge,^(DR) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[aa](DS) says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.