Matthew 26:14-27:66
English Standard Version
Judas to Betray Jesus
14 (A)Then one of the twelve, whose name was (B)Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they (C)paid him (D)thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity (E)to betray him.
The Passover with the Disciples
17 (F)Now on (G)the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, (H)‘The Teacher says, (I)My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
20 (J)When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.[a] 21 And as they were eating, (K)he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, (L)“He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes (M)as it is written of him, but (N)woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! (O)It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, (P)Rabbi?” He said to him, (Q)“You have said so.”
Institution of the Lord's Supper
26 (R)Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and (S)after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; (T)this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he (U)had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for (V)this is my (W)blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for (X)many (Y)for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you (Z)in my Father's kingdom.”
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial
30 (AA)And when they had sung a hymn, (AB)they went out to (AC)the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will (AD)strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, (AE)I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 (AF)Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 (AG)Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, (AH)before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 (AI)Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 (AJ)Then Jesus went with them (AK)to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him (AL)Peter and (AM)the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, (AN)“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and (AO)watch[c] with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face (AP)and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let (AQ)this cup pass from me; (AR)nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 (AS)Watch and (AT)pray that you (AU)may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, (AV)your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for (AW)their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for (AX)the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.[d] See, (AY)the hour is at hand, and (AZ)the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 (BA)While he was still speaking, (BB)Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, (BC)Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, (BD)“Friend, (BE)do what you came to do.”[e] Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his (BF)sword and struck the servant[f] of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For (BG)all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 (BH)Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me (BI)more than twelve (BJ)legions of angels? 54 (BK)But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day (BL)I sat in the temple (BM)teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But (BN)all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” (BO)Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council
57 (BP)Then (BQ)those who had seized Jesus led him to (BR)Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And (BS)Peter was following him at a distance, as far as (BT)the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with (BU)the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council[g] (BV)were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, (BW)though many false witnesses came forward. At last (BX)two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, (BY)‘I am able to (BZ)destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”[h] 63 (CA)But Jesus remained silent. (CB)And the high priest said to him, (CC)“I adjure you by (CD)the living God, (CE)tell us if you are (CF)the Christ, (CG)the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, (CH)“You have said so. But I tell you, from now on (CI)you will see the Son of Man (CJ)seated at the right hand of Power and (CK)coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest (CL)tore his robes and said, (CM)“He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, (CN)“He deserves death.” 67 Then (CO)they spit in his face (CP)and (CQ)struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you (CR)Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Peter Denies Jesus
69 (CS)Now Peter was sitting outside (CT)in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus (CU)of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for (CV)your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, (CW)“Before the rooster crows, you will (CX)deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Jesus Delivered to Pilate
27 (CY)When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people (CZ)took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and (DA)led him away and (DB)delivered him over to (DC)Pilate the governor.
Judas Hangs Himself
3 Then when (DD)Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus[i] was condemned, (DE)he changed his mind and brought back (DF)the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? (DG)See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, (DH)he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into (DI)the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore (DJ)that field has been called the Field of Blood (DK)to this day. 9 (DL)Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, (DM)“And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.”
Jesus Before Pilate
11 (DN)Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you (DO)the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, (DP)“You have said so.” 12 (DQ)But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, (DR)“Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
15 (DS)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or (DT)Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out (DU)of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on (DV)the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with (DW)that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today (DX)in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to (DY)ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” (DZ)They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? (EA)What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that (EB)a riot was beginning, he took water and (EC)washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of (ED)this man's blood;[j] (EE)see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, (EF)“His blood be on us and (EG)on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having (EH)scourged[k] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
27 (EI)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the (EJ)governor's headquarters,[l] and they gathered the whole (EK)battalion[m] before him. 28 And they stripped him and put (EL)a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they (EM)mocked him, saying, “Hail, (EN)King of the Jews!” 30 And (EO)they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and (EP)led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
32 (EQ)(ER)As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to (ES)carry his cross. 33 (ET)And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 (EU)they offered him wine to drink, mixed with (EV)gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, (EW)they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and (EX)kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, (EY)the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two (EZ)robbers were crucified with him, (FA)one on the right and one on the left. 39 And (FB)those who passed by (FC)derided him, (FD)wagging their heads 40 and saying, (FE)“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! (FF)If you are (FG)the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 (FH)“He saved others; (FI)he cannot save himself. (FJ)He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 (FK)He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 (FL)And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
The Death of Jesus
45 Now from the sixth hour[n] there was darkness over all the land[o] until the ninth hour.[p] 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus (FM)cried out with a loud voice, saying, (FN)“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with (FO)sour wine, and put it on a reed and (FP)gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus (FQ)cried out again with a loud voice and (FR)yielded up his spirit.
51 And behold, (FS)the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And (FT)the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of (FU)the saints (FV)who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into (FW)the holy city and appeared to many. 54 (FX)When the centurion and those who were with him, (FY)keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, (FZ)“Truly this was the Son[q] of God!”
55 There were also (GA)many women there, looking on (GB)from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, (GC)ministering to him, 56 among whom were (GD)Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and (GE)the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Jesus Is Buried
57 (GF)When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and (GG)laid it in his own new tomb, (GH)which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled (GI)a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and (GJ)the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, that is, after the day of (GK)Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how (GL)that impostor said, while he was still alive, (GM)‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, (GN)lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have (GO)a guard[r] of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by (GP)sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Footnotes
- Matthew 26:20 Some manuscripts add disciples
- Matthew 26:28 Some manuscripts insert new
- Matthew 26:38 Or keep awake; also verses 40, 41
- Matthew 26:45 Or Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?
- Matthew 26:50 Or Friend, why are you here?
- Matthew 26:51 Or bondservant
- Matthew 26:59 Greek Sanhedrin
- Matthew 26:62 Or Have you no answer to what these men testify against you?
- Matthew 27:3 Greek he
- Matthew 27:24 Some manuscripts this righteous blood, or this righteous man's blood
- Matthew 27:26 A Roman judicial penalty, consisting of a severe beating with a multi-lashed whip containing embedded pieces of bone and metal
- Matthew 27:27 Greek the praetorium
- Matthew 27:27 Greek cohort; a tenth of a Roman legion, usually about 600 men
- Matthew 27:45 That is, noon
- Matthew 27:45 Or earth
- Matthew 27:45 That is, 3 p.m.
- Matthew 27:54 Or a son
- Matthew 27:65 Or Take a guard
Matthew 26:14-27:66
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver.(A) 16 And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
The Passover with the Disciples
17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ”(B) 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.(C)
20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve disciples,[a] 21 and while they were eating he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.(D) 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it[b] he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”(E) 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the[c] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.(F) 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”(G)
30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.(H)
Peter’s Denial Foretold
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away[d] because of me this night, for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’(I)
32 “But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”(J) 33 Peter said to him, “Even if all fall away[e] because of you, I will never fall away.”[f] 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”(K) 35 Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.(L)
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated.(M) 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.”(N) 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”(O) 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?(P) 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial;[g] the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(Q) 42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”(R) 43 Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Now the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.(S) 46 Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.(T) 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.”[h] Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.(U) 51 Suddenly one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword.(V) 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?(W) 54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?”(X) 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.(Y)
Jesus before the High Priest
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.(Z) 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward(AA) 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”(AB) 62 The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah,[i] the Son of God.”(AC) 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you,
From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven.”(AD)
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.(AE) 66 What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death.”(AF) 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him, and some slapped him,(AG) 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah![j] Who is it that struck you?”
Peter’s Denial of Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A female servant came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he went out to the porch, another female servant saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”[k] 72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.(AH)
Jesus Brought before Pilate
27 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. 2 They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.(AI)
The Suicide of Judas
3 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus[l] was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.(AJ) 4 He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent[m] blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”(AK) 5 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.(AL) 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” 7 After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. 8 For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.(AM) 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah,[n] “And they took[o] the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set,[p] on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price,(AN) 10 and they gave[q] them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Pilate Questions Jesus
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.(AO) 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?”(AP) 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.(AQ)
Barabbas or Jesus?
15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Jesus[r] Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus[s] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”[t] 18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.”(AR) 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.(AS) 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”[u] All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
Pilate Hands Jesus Over to Be Crucified
24 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood;[v] see to it yourselves.”(AT) 25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”(AU) 26 So he released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.(AV)
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters,[w] and they gathered the whole cohort around him.(AW) 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and after twisting some thorns into a crown they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”(AX) 30 They spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.(AY) 31 After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.(AZ)
The Crucifixion of Jesus
32 As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.(BA) 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.(BB) 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots;[x](BC) 36 then they sat down there and kept watch over him.(BD) 37 Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
38 Then two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.(BE) 39 Those who passed by derided[y] him, shaking their heads(BF) 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”(BG) 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself.[z] He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.(BH) 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to, for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ”(BI) 44 The rebels who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land[aa] until three in the afternoon.(BJ) 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”(BK) 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink.(BL) 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”[ab] 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.[ac] 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split.(BM) 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”[ad](BN)
55 Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.(BO) 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[ae] and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.(BP)
The Burial of Jesus
57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who also was himself a disciple of Jesus.(BQ) 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60 and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.(BR) 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’(BS) 64 Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise, his disciples may go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard[af] of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.”[ag](BT) 66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.(BU)
Footnotes
- 26.20 Other ancient authorities lack disciples
- 26.26 Other ancient authorities read after giving thanks
- 26.28 Other ancient authorities add new
- 26.31 Or stumble
- 26.33 Or stumble
- 26.33 Or stumble
- 26.41 Or into testing
- 26.50 Or Why are you here?
- 26.63 Or Christ
- 26.68 Or Christ
- 26.71 Gk Nazorean
- 27.3 Gk he
- 27.4 Other ancient authorities read righteous
- 27.9 Other ancient authorities read Zechariah or Isaiah
- 27.9 Or I took
- 27.9 Or the price of the precious One
- 27.10 Other ancient authorities read I gave
- 27.16 Other ancient authorities lack Jesus
- 27.17 Other ancient authorities lack Jesus
- 27.17 Or the Christ
- 27.22 Or the Christ
- 27.24 Other ancient authorities read this righteous blood or this righteous man’s blood
- 27.27 Gk the praetorium
- 27.35 Other ancient authorities add in order that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
- 27.39 Or blasphemed
- 27.42 Or is he unable to save himself?
- 27.45 Or earth
- 27.49 Other ancient authorities add And another took a spear and pierced his side, and out came water and blood
- 27.50 Or gave up his spirit
- 27.54 Or a son of God
- 27.56 Some ancient authorities read Joses
- 27.65 Or Take a guard
- 27.65 Gk you know how
Matthew 26:14-27:66
The Message
14-16 That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests and said, “What will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They settled on thirty silver pieces. He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over.
The Traitor
17 On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?”
18-19 He said, “Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.’” The disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal.
20-21 After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, he said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.”
22 They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?”
23-24 Jesus answered, “The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”
25 Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”
Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.”
The Bread and the Cup
26-29 During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:
Take, eat.
This is my body.
Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:
Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
God’s new covenant poured out for many people
for the forgiveness of sins.
“I’ll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I’ll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father.”
30 They sang a hymn and went directly to Mount Olives.
Gethsemane
31-32 Then Jesus told them, “Before the night’s over, you’re going to fall to pieces because of what happens to me. There is a Scripture that says,
I’ll strike the shepherd;
dazed and confused, the sheep will be scattered.
But after I am raised up, I, your Shepherd, will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee.”
33 Peter broke in, “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.”
34 “Don’t be so sure,” Jesus said. “This very night, before the rooster crows up the dawn, you will deny me three times.”
35 Peter protested, “Even if I had to die with you, I would never deny you.” All the others said the same thing.
36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”
39 Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”
40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”
42 He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”
43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.
45-46 When he came back the next time, he said, “Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners. Get up! Let’s get going! My betrayer is here.”
With Swords and Clubs
47-49 The words were barely out of his mouth when Judas (the one from the Twelve) showed up, and with him a gang from the high priests and religious leaders brandishing swords and clubs. The betrayer had worked out a sign with them: “The one I kiss, that’s the one—seize him.” He went straight to Jesus, greeted him, “How are you, Rabbi?” and kissed him.
50-51 Jesus said, “Friend, why this charade?”
Then they came on him—grabbed him and roughed him up. One of those with Jesus pulled his sword and, taking a swing at the Chief Priest’s servant, cut off his ear.
52-54 Jesus said, “Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords. Don’t you realize that I am able right now to call to my Father, and twelve companies—more, if I want them—of fighting angels would be here, battle-ready? But if I did that, how would the Scriptures come true that say this is the way it has to be?”
55-56 Then Jesus addressed the mob: “What is this—coming out after me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal? Day after day I have been sitting in the Temple teaching, and you never so much as lifted a hand against me. You’ve done it this way to confirm and fulfill the prophetic writings.”
Then all the disciples cut and ran.
False Charges
57-58 The gang that had seized Jesus led him before Caiaphas the Chief Priest, where the religion scholars and leaders had assembled. Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Then he slipped in and mingled with the servants, watching to see how things would turn out.
59-60 The high priests, conspiring with the Jewish Council, tried to cook up charges against Jesus in order to sentence him to death. But even though many stepped up, making up one false accusation after another, nothing was believable.
60-61 Finally two men came forward with this: “He said, ‘I can tear down this Temple of God and after three days rebuild it.’”
62 The Chief Priest stood up and said, “What do you have to say to the accusation?”
63 Jesus kept silent.
Then the Chief Priest said, “I command you by the authority of the living God to say if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 Jesus was curt: “You yourself said it. And that’s not all. Soon you’ll see it for yourself:
The Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One,
Arriving on the clouds of heaven.”
65-66 At that, the Chief Priest lost his temper, ripping his robes, yelling, “He blasphemed! Why do we need witnesses to accuse him? You all heard him blaspheme! Are you going to stand for such blasphemy?”
They all said, “Death! That seals his death sentence.”
67-68 Then they were spitting in his face and knocking him around. They jeered as they slapped him: “Prophesy, Messiah: Who hit you that time?”
Denial in the Courtyard
69 All this time, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. One servant girl came up to him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean.”
70 In front of everybody there, he denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
71 As he moved over toward the gate, someone else said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”
72 Again he denied it, salting his denial with an oath: “I swear, I never laid eyes on the man.”
73 Shortly after that, some bystanders approached Peter. “You’ve got to be one of them. Your accent gives you away.”
74-75 Then he got really nervous and swore. “I don’t know the man!”
Just then a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and cried and cried and cried.
Thirty Silver Coins
27 1-2 In the first light of dawn, all the high priests and religious leaders met and put the finishing touches on their plot to kill Jesus. Then they tied him up and paraded him to Pilate, the governor.
3-4 Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.”
They said, “What do we care? That’s your problem!”
5 Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself.
6-10 The high priests picked up the silver pieces, but then didn’t know what to do with them. “It wouldn’t be right to give this—a payment for murder!—as an offering in the Temple.” They decided to get rid of it by buying the “Potter’s Field” and use it as a burial place for the homeless. That’s how the field got called “Murder Meadow,” a name that has stuck to this day. Then Jeremiah’s words became history:
They took the thirty silver pieces,
The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel,
And they purchased the potter’s field.
And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter.
Pilate
11 Jesus was placed before the governor, who questioned him: “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”
Jesus said, “If you say so.”
12-14 But when the accusations rained down hot and heavy from the high priests and religious leaders, he said nothing. Pilate asked him, “Do you hear that long list of accusations? Aren’t you going to say something?” Jesus kept silence—not a word from his mouth. The governor was impressed, really impressed.
15-18 It was an old custom during the Feast for the governor to pardon a single prisoner named by the crowd. At the time, they had the infamous Jesus Barabbas in prison. With the crowd before him, Pilate said, “Which prisoner do you want me to pardon: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?” He knew it was through sheer spite that they had turned Jesus over to him.
19 While court was still in session, Pilate’s wife sent him a message: “Don’t get mixed up in judging this noble man. I’ve just been through a long and troubled night because of a dream about him.”
20 Meanwhile, the high priests and religious leaders had talked the crowd into asking for the pardon of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.
21 The governor asked, “Which of the two do you want me to pardon?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 “Then what do I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?”
They all shouted, “Nail him to a cross!”
23 He objected, “But for what crime?”
But they yelled all the louder, “Nail him to a cross!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was imminent, he took a basin of water and washed his hands in full sight of the crowd, saying, “I’m washing my hands of responsibility for this man’s death. From now on, it’s in your hands. You’re judge and jury.”
25 The crowd answered, “We’ll take the blame, we and our children after us.”
26 Then he pardoned Barabbas. But he had Jesus whipped, and then handed over for crucifixion.
The Crucifixion
27-31 The soldiers assigned to the governor took Jesus into the governor’s palace and got the entire brigade together for some fun. They stripped him and dressed him in a red robe. They plaited a crown from branches of a thornbush and set it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand for a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mocking reverence: “Bravo, King of the Jews!” they said. “Bravo!” Then they spit on him and hit him on the head with the stick. When they had had their fun, they took off the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they proceeded out to the crucifixion.
32-34 Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus’ cross. Arriving at Golgotha, the place they call “Skull Hill,” they offered him a mild painkiller (a mixture of wine and myrrh), but when he tasted it he wouldn’t drink it.
35-40 After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they killed time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come down from that cross!”
41-44 The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: “He saved others—he can’t save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then! He was so sure of God—well, let him rescue his ‘Son’ now—if he wants him! He did claim to be God’s Son, didn’t he?” Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery.
45-46 From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
47-49 Some bystanders who heard him said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so he could drink. The others joked, “Don’t be in such a hurry. Let’s see if Elijah comes and saves him.”
50 But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last.
51-53 At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What’s more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.)
54 The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, “This has to be the Son of God!”
55-56 There were also quite a few women watching from a distance, women who had followed Jesus from Galilee in order to serve him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the Zebedee brothers.
The Tomb
57-61 Late in the afternoon a wealthy man from Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, arrived. His name was Joseph. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate granted his request. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linens, put it in his own tomb, a new tomb only recently cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the entrance. Then he went off. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed, sitting in plain view of the tomb.
62-64 After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate. They said, “Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ We’ve got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There’s a good chance his disciples will come and steal the corpse and then go around saying, ‘He’s risen from the dead.’ Then we’ll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first.”
65-66 Pilate told them, “You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can.” So they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson