Matthew 27
Worldwide English (New Testament)
27 When it was morning, all the chief priests and the leaders of the people made a plan against Jesus. They wanted to kill him.
2 They tied him and took him away. They took him to Pilate, the ruler.
3 Judas was the man who helped them take Jesus. He saw that they had judged Jesus and were going to kill him. He was sorry for what he had done, so he brought the thirty pieces of silver money back to the chief priests and leaders.
4 He said, `I have done wrong. I have helped you take a good man who should not be killed.' They said, `What do we care? You look after that!'
5 Judas threw the silver money into the temple. He went away and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests took the money. They said, `It is not right to put this money in the money box of the temple. It has been used to buy a man's death.'
7 They talked the matter over and bought a field that belonged to a man who made pots. They bought it for a place in which to bury strangers.
8 That is why that field has been called `The field of blood' until now.
9 What Jeremiah the prophet said long ago, then came true at that time. He said, `They took thirty pieces of silver money. That is what the people of Israel said he was worth.
10 They paid for the potter's field. That is what the Lord told me to do.'
11 Jesus stood before the ruler. The ruler asked him, `Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus said, `Yes, I am.'
12 When the chief priests and leaders brought their complaints, Jesus said nothing.
13 Then Pilate said to him, `Do you not hear what these people say against you?'
14 But Jesus did not answer him, not even one word. Pilate was very much surprised about this.
15 At the feast Pilate used to let one prisoner free. He let the people choose the man they wanted to go free.
16 In the prison at that time was a very bad man named Barabbas.
17 So while the people were there Pilate asked them, `Which one do you want me to let free for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?'
18 Pilate knew that the chief priests did not like Jesus. He knew that was why they had brought Jesus to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting in the court to judge the case, his wife sent a message to him. She said, `Do nothing to that good man. I have been troubled very much in a dream about him today.'
20 The chief priests and leaders talked to the people. They told them to ask Pilate to let Barabbas go free, but to kill Jesus.
21 The ruler said to the people, `Which of these two do you want me to let go free for you?' They said, `Barabbas.'
22 Pilate said to them, `Then what shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?' They all said, `Nail him to a cross!'
23 The ruler said, `What wrong thing has he done?' But they shouted even more, `Nail him to a cross!'
24 Pilate saw that he was not doing any good. And the people were making a lot of loud noise. So he washed his hands in water in front of the people. Then he said, `I will not say this man must be killed. You must do that.'
25 Then all the people answered, `We and our children will do that.'
26 Then Pilate let Barabbas go free. He told the soldiers to beat Jesus and nail him to a cross.
27 Then Pilate's soldiers took Jesus to a room. They called all the soldiers together.
28 They took off his clothes, and they put a red gown on him.
29 They made a big ring of thorns like a crown and put it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand. Then they kneeled down in front of him and made fun of him. They shouted, `Greetings, King of the Jews!'
30 They spat on him. And they took the stick and hit him on the head with it.
31 After they had made fun of him, they took off the red gown. They put his own clothes on him. Then they took him away to nail him to a cross.
32 As they were going, they met a man named Simon. He was born in the country of Cyrene. They made him carry Jesus' cross.
33 They came to a place called Golgotha. That means, `The place of a head bone.'
34 They wanted Jesus to drink wine mixed with something bitter. Jesus tasted it but he would not drink it.
35 Then they nailed him to a cross. They gambled to see how they should divide Jesus' clothes.
36 Then the soldiers sat down on the ground and watched him there.
37 They put the complaint against Jesus above his head. These words were written there: `This is Jesus the King of the Jews.'
38 Two bad men were also nailed to crosses. They had stolen money. One man was put on the right side of Jesus and one was put on the left side of him.
39 The people who passed by said bad things about him. They shook their heads.
40 They said, `You are the man who said you could break down the temple and build it again in three days. Save yourself! If you are really God's Son, come down from the cross.'
41 The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders also made fun of him.
42 They said, `He saved other people but he cannot save himself! If he is the King of the people of Israel, he should come down from the cross now. Then we will believe in him.
43 He trusted in God. If God wants him, he can save him now. He said, "I am God's Son." '
44 The bad men who were also nailed to crosses with him said the same things to him.
45 About midday, the whole land became dark and stayed dark for three hours.
46 About three o'clock, Jesus called out loud, `Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' That means, `My God, my God, why have you left me alone?'
47 Some of the people standing there heard what Jesus said. They said `This man is calling for Elijah.'
48 Right away, one of them ran to get something called a sponge. He made it wet with sour wine and put it on the end of a stick. With it he gave Jesus a drink.
49 The other people said, `Wait. We will see if Elijah will come and save him.'
50 Jesus called out loud again. Then he died.
51 At that time the thick cloth that hung in the temple was torn into two pieces. It was torn from the top down to the bottom. The earth shook and big rocks broke.
52 The graves opened. Many of God's people who had died rose from death.
53 They came out of their graves after Jesus rose from death. They went into Jerusalem. Many people saw them there.
54 The Roman captain and some of his soldiers were guarding Jesus on the cross. When they saw the earth shake and the other things happen, they were very much afraid. They said, `Surely this man was God's Son.'
55 Many women were there watching from far away. They had come with Jesus from Galilee and had helped him.
56 Among these women were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
57 In the evening, a rich man came. He was Joseph from the town of Arimathea. He also believed in Jesus.
58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate said that it should be given to him.
59 Joseph took the body and wrapped a clean linen cloth around it.
60 He put the body in his own new grave which had been cut in a rock. He rolled a very big stone to close the grave. Then he went away.
61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there. They sat where they could see the grave.
62 The next day was the Sabbath day. The chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate together.
63 They said, `Sir, that man fooled people. We remember what he said when he was still living. He said that he would rise after three days.
64 So give orders that the grave must be guarded for three days. Then his disciples cannot come in the night to carry away his body, and tell people he rose from death. This last trick would be worse than the first.'
65 Pilate said to them, `Take soldiers. Go and guard the grave as well as you can.'
66 So they went and shut the grave tight. They put a government mark on the big stone. And the soldiers stayed to guard it. This was to make sure the grave would stay shut.
Matthew 27
New King James Version
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. 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and (C)delivered Him to [a]Pontius Pilate the governor.
Judas Hangs Himself(D)
3 (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, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”
5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and (G)departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 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.” 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called (H)the Field of Blood to this day.
9 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
- Matthew 27:2 NU omits Pontius
- Matthew 27:16 NU Jesus Barabbas
- Matthew 27:24 an uproar
- Matthew 27:24 NU omits just
- Matthew 27:26 flogged with a Roman scourge
- Matthew 27:27 The governor’s headquarters
- Matthew 27:27 cohort
- Matthew 27:29 Lit. woven
- Matthew 27:34 NU omits sour
- Matthew 27:35 NU, M omit the rest of v. 35.
- Matthew 27:41 M scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders
- Matthew 27:42 NU omits If
- Matthew 27:42 NU, M in Him
- Matthew 27:56 NU Joseph
- Matthew 27:61 in front of
- Matthew 27:64 NU omits by night
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
