猶大的下場

27 到了清晨,眾祭司長和民間的長老商定要處死耶穌。 他們把祂綁起來,押送到總督彼拉多那裡。

出賣耶穌的猶大看見耶穌被定了罪,感到很後悔,就把那三十塊銀子還給祭司長和長老,說: 「我出賣了清白無辜的人,我犯罪了!」

他們說:「那是你自己的事,跟我們有什麼關係?」

猶大把錢扔在聖殿裡,出去上吊自盡了。

祭司長們撿起銀子,說:「這是血錢,不可收進聖殿的庫房。」 他們商議,決定用這些錢買下陶匠的地作為埋葬異鄉人的墳場。 那塊地至今被稱為「血田」。 這就應驗了耶利米先知的話:「他們用以色列人給祂估定的三十塊銀子, 10 買了陶匠的一塊田,正如主指示我的。」

耶穌在彼拉多面前受審

11 耶穌站在總督面前受審。總督問:「你是猶太人的王嗎?」

耶穌說:「如你所言。」

12 當祭司長和長老控告祂時,祂一句話也不說。 13 彼拉多就問:「你沒聽見他們對你的諸多控告嗎?」 14 耶穌仍然一言不發,彼拉多感到十分驚奇。

15 每逢逾越節,總督會照慣例按民眾的選擇釋放一個犯人。 16 那時,有一個惡名昭彰的囚犯名叫巴拉巴。 17 百姓聚在一起的時候,彼拉多就問他們:「你們要我給你們釋放誰?巴拉巴還是被稱為基督的耶穌?」 18 因為彼拉多知道他們把耶穌抓來是因為嫉妒。

19 彼拉多正坐堂斷案時,他夫人派人來對他說:「你不要插手這個義人的事!我今天在夢中因為這個人受了許多苦。」

20 祭司長和長老卻慫恿百姓要求釋放巴拉巴,處死耶穌。 21 總督再次問百姓:「這兩個人,你們要我釋放哪一個?」他們說:「巴拉巴!」

22 彼拉多問:「那麼,我怎樣處置那個被稱為基督的耶穌呢?」

他們齊聲說:「把祂釘在十字架上!」

23 彼拉多問:「為什麼?祂犯了什麼罪?」

他們卻更大聲地喊叫:「把祂釘在十字架上!」

24 彼拉多見再說也無濟於事,反而會引起騷亂,於是拿了一盆水來,在眾人面前洗手,說:「流這義人的血,罪不在我,你們自己負責。」

25 眾人都說:「流祂血的責任由我們和我們的子孫承擔!」

26 於是,彼拉多為他們釋放了巴拉巴,下令將耶穌鞭打後,帶出去釘十字架。

耶穌受辱

27 士兵把耶穌押進總督府,叫全營的士兵都聚集在祂周圍。 28 他們剝下耶穌的衣服,替祂披上一件朱紅色的長袍, 29 用荊棘編成冠冕,戴在祂頭上,又拿一根葦稈放在祂右手裡,跪在祂跟前戲弄祂,說:「猶太人的王萬歲!」 30 然後向祂吐唾沫,拿過葦稈打祂的頭。 31 他們戲弄完了,就脫去祂的袍子,給祂穿上原來的衣服,把祂押出去釘十字架。

釘十字架

32 路上,他們遇見一個叫西門的古利奈人,就強迫他背耶穌的十字架。

33 來到一個地方,名叫各各他——意思是「髑髏地」, 34 士兵給耶穌喝摻了苦膽汁的酒,祂嚐了一口,不肯喝。

35 他們把耶穌釘在十字架上,還抽籤分了祂的衣服, 36 然後坐在那裡看守。 37 他們在祂頭頂上掛了一個牌子,上面寫著祂的罪狀:「這是猶太人的王耶穌」。 38 有兩個強盜也被釘在十字架上,一個在祂右邊,一個在祂左邊。 39 過路的人都嘲笑祂,搖著頭說: 40 「你這聲稱把聖殿拆毀又在三天內重建的人啊,救救自己吧!你要是上帝的兒子,就從十字架上下來吧!」

41 祭司長、律法教師和長老也嘲諷說: 42 「祂救了別人,卻救不了自己!祂要是以色列的王,就從十字架上跳下來吧!我們就信祂。 43 祂說信靠上帝,如果上帝喜悅祂,就讓上帝來救祂吧!因為祂自稱是上帝的兒子。」 44 甚至跟祂一同被釘十字架的強盜也這樣嘲笑祂。

耶穌之死

45 從正午一直到下午三點,黑暗籠罩著整個大地。 46 大約下午三點,耶穌大聲呼喊:「以利,以利,拉馬撒巴各大尼?」意思是:「我的上帝,我的上帝,你為什麼離棄我?」

47 有些站在旁邊的人聽見了,就說:「這人在呼叫以利亞呢。」 48 其中一人連忙跑去拿了一塊海綿,蘸滿酸酒,綁在葦稈上送給祂喝。 49 其他人卻說:「等一下!我們看看以利亞會不會來救祂。」

50 耶穌又大喊了一聲,就斷了氣。

51 就在那時,聖殿裡的幔子從上到下裂成兩半,大地震動,岩石崩裂, 52 墳墓打開,很多死去的聖徒復活過來。 53 他們在耶穌復活後離開墳墓,進聖城向許多人顯現。

54 看守耶穌的百夫長和士兵看見地震及所發生的一切,都很害怕,說:「這人真是上帝的兒子啊!」 55 有好些婦女在遠處觀看,她們從加利利就跟隨了耶穌,服事祂。 56 其中有抹大拉的瑪麗亞、雅各和約西的母親瑪麗亞以及西庇太兩個兒子的母親。

封石守墓

57 傍晚,從亞利馬太來了一位名叫約瑟的富人,他是耶穌的門徒。 58 他去求見彼拉多,要求領取耶穌的遺體,彼拉多就下令把耶穌的遺體交給他。 59 約瑟領了遺體,用乾淨的細麻布裹好, 60 安放在他為自己在岩壁上鑿出的新墓穴裡,並滾來一塊大石頭封閉墓穴的入口,然後離去。 61 那時,抹大拉的瑪麗亞和另一個瑪麗亞坐在墳墓的對面。

62 第二天,就是預備日之後的那天,祭司長和法利賽人一起來見彼拉多,說: 63 「總督大人,我們記得那個騙子生前曾說,『三天之後,我必復活』, 64 所以請你命人看守墳墓三天,以防祂的門徒偷走祂的屍體,然後對百姓說祂已經從死裡復活。這樣的迷惑會比以前的更厲害!」

65 彼拉多說:「你們帶上衛兵,去那裡嚴加看守。」

66 他們就帶著衛兵去了,在墓口的石頭上貼上封條,派人看守墓穴。

Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate(A)

27 When morning came, (B)all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and (C)delivered Him to [a]Pontius Pilate the governor.

Judas Hangs Himself(D)

(E)Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty (F)pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”

And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and (G)departed, and went and hanged himself.

But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called (H)the Field of Blood to this day.

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, (I)“And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and (J)gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

Jesus Faces Pilate(K)

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. (L)And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

Jesus said to him, (M)It is as you say.” 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, (N)He answered nothing.

13 Then Pilate said to Him, (O)“Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Taking the Place of Barabbas(P)

15 (Q)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called [b]Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of (R)envy.

19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

20 (S)But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”

They said, (T)“Barabbas!”

22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

23 Then the governor said, (U)“Why, what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”

24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a [c]tumult was rising, he (V)took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this [d]just Person. You see to it.

25 And all the people answered and said, (W)“His blood be on us and on our children.”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when (X)he had [e]scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(Y)

27 (Z)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the [f]Praetorium and gathered the whole [g]garrison around Him. 28 And they (AA)stripped Him and (AB)put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 (AC)When they had [h]twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then (AD)they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, (AE)and led Him away to be crucified.

The King on a Cross(AF)

32 (AG)Now as they came out, (AH)they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. 33 (AI)And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, 34 (AJ)they gave Him [i]sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.

35 (AK)Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, [j]that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

(AL)“They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”

36 (AM)Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 And they (AN)put up over His head the accusation written against Him:

THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 (AO)Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.

39 And (AP)those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, (AQ)“You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! (AR)If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the [k]scribes and elders, said, 42 “He (AS)saved others; Himself He cannot save. [l]If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe [m]Him. 43 (AT)He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

44 (AU)Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.

Jesus Dies on the Cross(AV)

45 (AW)Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour (AX)Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, (AY)“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, (AZ)filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.

49 The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”

50 And Jesus (BA)cried out again with a loud voice, and (BB)yielded up His spirit.

51 Then, behold, (BC)the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

54 (BD)So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, (BE)“Truly this was the Son of God!”

55 And many women (BF)who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, 56 (BG)among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and [n]Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb(BH)

57 Now (BI)when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and (BJ)laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting [o]opposite the tomb.

Pilate Sets a Guard

62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, (BK)‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come [p]by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, (BL)sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:2 NU omits Pontius
  2. Matthew 27:16 NU Jesus Barabbas
  3. Matthew 27:24 an uproar
  4. Matthew 27:24 NU omits just
  5. Matthew 27:26 flogged with a Roman scourge
  6. Matthew 27:27 The governor’s headquarters
  7. Matthew 27:27 cohort
  8. Matthew 27:29 Lit. woven
  9. Matthew 27:34 NU omits sour
  10. Matthew 27:35 NU, M omit the rest of v. 35.
  11. Matthew 27:41 M scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders
  12. Matthew 27:42 NU omits If
  13. Matthew 27:42 NU, M in Him
  14. Matthew 27:56 NU Joseph
  15. Matthew 27:61 in front of
  16. Matthew 27:64 NU omits by night

27 Early in the morning, all the head cohanim and elders met to plan how to bring about Yeshua’s death. Then they put him in chains, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

When Y’hudah, who had betrayed him, saw that Yeshua had been condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the head cohanim and elders, saying, “I sinned in betraying an innocent man to death.” “What is that to us?” they answered. “That’s your problem.” Hurling the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, he left; then he went off and hanged himself.

The head cohanim took the silver coins and said, “It is prohibited to put this into the Temple treasury, because it is blood money.” So they decided to use it to buy the potter’s field as a cemetery for foreigners. This is how it came to be called the Field of Blood, a name it still bears. Then what Yirmeyahu the prophet spoke was fulfilled, “And they took the thirty silver coins, which was the price the people of Isra’el had agreed to pay for him, 10 and used them to buy the potter’s field, just as the Lord directed me.[a]

11 Meanwhile, Yeshua was brought before the governor, and the governor put this question to him: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Yeshua answered, “The words are yours.” 12 But when he was accused by the head cohanim and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear all these charges they are making against you?” 14 But to the governor’s great amazement, he did not say a single word in reply to the accusations.

15 It was the governor’s custom during a festival to set free one prisoner, whomever the crowd asked for. 16 There was at that time a notorious prisoner being held, named Yeshua Bar-Abba. 17 So when a crowd had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to set free for you? Bar-Abba? or Yeshua, called ‘the Messiah’?” 18 For he understood that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting in court, his wife sent him a message, “Leave that innocent man alone. Today in a dream I suffered terribly because of him.” 20 But the head cohanim persuaded the crowd to ask for Bar-Abba’s release and to have Yeshua executed on the stake. 21 “Which of the two do you want me to set free for you?” asked the governor. “Bar-Abba!” they answered. 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Yeshua, called ‘the Messiah’?” They all said, “Put him to death on the stake! Put him to death on the stake!” 23 When he asked, “Why? What crime has he committed?” they shouted all the louder, “Put him to death on the stake!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “My hands are clean of this man’s blood; it’s your responsibility.” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released to them Bar-Abba; but Yeshua, after having him whipped, he handed over to be executed on a stake.

27 The governor’s soldiers took Yeshua into the headquarters building, and the whole battalion gathered around him. 28 They stripped off his clothes and put on him a scarlet robe, 29 wove thorn-branches into a crown and put it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand. Then they kneeled down in front of him and made fun of him: “Hail to the King of the Jews!” 30 They spit on him and used the stick to beat him about the head. 31 When they had finished ridiculing him, they took off the robe, put his own clothes back on him and led him away to be nailed to the execution-stake.

32 As they were leaving, they met a man from Cyrene named Shim‘on; and they forced him to carry Yeshua’s execution-stake. 33 When they arrived at a place called Gulgolta (which means “place of a skull”), 34 they gave him wine mixed with bitter gall to drink; but after tasting it, he would not drink it. 35 After they had nailed him to the stake, they divided his clothes among them by throwing dice. 36 Then they sat down to keep watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written notice stating the charge against him,

THIS IS YESHUA

THE KING OF THE JEWS

38 Then two robbers were placed on execution-stakes with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 People passing by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads[b] 40 and saying, “So you can destroy the Temple, can you, and rebuild it in three days? Save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the stake!” 41 Likewise, the head cohanim jeered at him, along with the Torah-teachers and elders, 42 “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” “So he’s King of Isra’el, is he? Let him come down now from the stake! Then we’ll believe him!” 43 He trusted God? So, let him rescue him if he wants him![c] After all, he did say, ‘I’m the Son of God’!” 44 Even the robbers nailed up with him insulted him in the same way.

45 From noon until three o’clock in the afternoon, all the Land was covered with darkness. 46 At about three, Yeshua uttered a loud cry, Eli! Eli! L’mah sh’vaktani? (My God! My God! Why have you deserted me?)[d] 47 On hearing this, some of the bystanders said, “He’s calling for Eliyahu.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, soaked it in vinegar, put it on a stick and gave it to him to drink.[e] 49 The rest said, “Wait! Let’s see if Eliyahu comes and rescues him.” 50 But Yeshua, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.

51 At that moment the parokhet in the Temple was ripped in two from top to bottom; and there was an earthquake, with rocks splitting apart. 52 Also the graves were opened, and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life; 53 and after Yeshua rose, they came out of the graves and went into the holy city, where many people saw them. 54 When the Roman officer and those with him who were keeping watch over Yeshua saw the earthquake and what was happening, they were awestruck and said, “He really was a son of God.”

55 There were many women there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Yeshua from the Galil, helping him. 56 Among them were Miryam from Magdala, Miryam the mother of Ya‘akov and Yosef, and the mother of Zavdai’s sons.

57 Towards evening, there came a wealthy man from Ramatayim named Yosef, who was himself a talmid of Yeshua. 58 He approached Pilate and asked for Yeshua’s body, and Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 Yosef took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen sheet, 60 and laid it in his own tomb, which he had recently had cut out of the rock. After rolling a large stone in front of the entrance to the tomb, he went away. 61 Miryam of Magdala and the other Miryam stayed there, sitting opposite the grave.

62 Next day, after the preparation, the head cohanim and the P’rushim went together to Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ 64 Therefore, order that the grave be made secure till the third day; otherwise the talmidim may come, steal him away and say to the people, ‘He was raised from the dead’; and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You may have your guard. Go and make the grave as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the grave secure by sealing the stone and putting the guard on watch.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:10 Zechariah 11:12–13, where Hebrew yotzer means “treasury”; here it means “potter” (see v. 7).
  2. Matthew 27:39 Psalm 22:8(7)
  3. Matthew 27:43 Psalm 22:9(8)
  4. Matthew 27:46 Psalm 22:2(1)
  5. Matthew 27:48 Psalm 69:22(21)

27 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people reached the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

The End of Judas

Then when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse. He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.”

He threw the pieces of silver into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put these into the treasury, since it is blood money.” They reached a decision to buy the potter’s field with the money, as a burial place for foreigners. So that field has been called The Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price the sons of Israel had set for him, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord commanded me.[a]

Jesus’ Trial in Pilate’s Court

11 When Jesus stood in the presence of the governor, the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they are testifying against you?”

14 But he did not answer him—not even one word, so that the governor was very surprised.

Barabbas or Jesus?

15 At the time of the Festival the governor had a custom to release to the crowd any one prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17 So when they were assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you? Barabbas—or Jesus, who is called Christ?” 18 For Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because of envy.

19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, Pilate’s wife sent him a message. “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,” she said, “since I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”

“Barabbas!” they said.

22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?”

They all said to him, “Crucify him!”

23 But the governor said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they kept shouting even louder: “Crucify him!”

24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing and that instead it was turning into a riot, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood. It is your responsibility.”

25 And all the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.

Soldiers Mock Jesus

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole cohort[b] of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand, knelt in front of him, and mocked him by saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spit on him, took the staff, and hit him repeatedly on his head.

The Crucifixion

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.

32 As they were going out of the city, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon. They forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha, which means “The place of the skull.” 34 They offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 After they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among themselves by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and were keeping watch over him there. 37 Above his head they posted the written charge against him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

38 At the same time two criminals were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 People who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads, 40 and saying, “You who were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”

41 In the same way the chief priests, experts in the law, and elders kept mocking him. They said, 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself. If he’s the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now, if he wants him, because he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him kept insulting him.

Jesus’ Death

45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour,[c] there was darkness over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[d]

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “This fellow is calling for Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, and soaked it with sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and gave him a drink. 49 The rest said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 After Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 Suddenly, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and rocks were split. 52 Tombs were opened, and many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised to life. 53 Those who came out of the tombs went into the holy city after Jesus’ resurrection and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those who were guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

55 Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and who had served him were there, watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Jesus’ Burial

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. He rolled a large stone over the tomb’s entrance and left. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there sitting opposite the tomb.

The Guard

62 On the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered in the presence of Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remembered what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give a command that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise his disciples might steal his body and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead.’ And this last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and posting a guard.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:10 See Zechariah 11:12-13; Jeremiah 19:1-13; 32:6-9.
  2. Matthew 27:27 A Roman cohort was about six hundred soldiers.
  3. Matthew 27:45 From noon to 3 pm
  4. Matthew 27:46 Psalm 22:1