Matteo 27
La Nuova Diodati
27 Venuto il mattino, tutti i capi dei sacerdoti e gli anziani del popolo, tennero consiglio contro Gesú, per farlo morire.
2 E, legatolo, lo condussero via e lo consegnarono nelle mani del governatore Ponzio Pilato.
3 Allora Giuda, che lo aveva tradito, vedendo che Gesú era stato condannato si pentí e riportò i trenta sicli d'argento ai capi dei sacerdoti e agli anziani,
4 dicendo: «Ho peccato, tradendo il sangue innocente». Ma essi dissero: «Che c'importa? Pensaci tu!».
5 Ed egli, gettati i sicli d'argento nel tempio, si allontanò e andò a impiccarsi.
6 Ma i capi dei sacerdoti presero quei denari e dissero: «Non è lecito metterli nel tesoro del tempio, perché è prezzo di sangue».
7 E tenuto consiglio, comprarono con quel denaro il campo del vasaio, come luogo di sepoltura per i forestieri.
8 Perciò quel campo è stato chiamato sino ad oggi: "Campo di sangue"
9 Allora si adempí quanto era stato detto dal profeta Geremia che disse: «E presero i trenta pezzi d'argento, il prezzo di colui che fu valutato, come è stato valutato dai figli d'Israele;
10 e li versarono per il campo del vasaio, come mi ordinò il Signore».
11 Ora Gesú comparve davanti al governatore; e il governatore lo interrogò dicendo: «Sei tu il re dei Giudei?». E Gesú gli disse: «Tu lo dici!».
12 Accusato poi dai capi dei sacerdoti e dagli anziani, non rispose nulla.
13 Allora Pilato gli disse: «Non odi quante cose testimoniano contro di te?».
14 Ma egli non gli rispose neppure una parola, tanto che il governatore ne fu grandemente meravigliato.
15 Ora il governatore, in occasione di ogni festività, aveva l'usanza di rilasciare alla folla un prigioniero, come essi volevano.
16 Avevano in quel tempo un ben noto prigioniero, di nome Barabba.
17 Quando si furono radunati, Pilato chiese loro: «Chi volete che vi liberi, Barabba o Gesú, detto Cristo?».
18 Perché egli sapeva bene che glielo avevano consegnato per invidia.
19 Ora, mentre egli sedeva in tribunale, sua moglie gli mandò a dire: «Non avere nulla a che fare con quel giusto, perché oggi ho molto sofferto in sogno, per causa sua».
20 Ma i capi dei sacerdoti e gli anziani persuasero le folle a chiedere Barabba, e a far morire Gesú.
21 E il governatore, replicando, disse loro: «Quale dei due volete che vi liberi?». Essi dissero: «Barabba!».
22 Pilato disse loro: «Che farò dunque di Gesú, detto Cristo?». Tutti gli dissero: «Sia crocifisso!».
23 Ma il governatore disse: «Eppure, che male ha fatto?». Ma essi gridavano ancora piú forte: «Sia crocifisso!».
24 Allora Pilato, vedendo che non otteneva nulla, ma che anzi il tumulto cresceva sempre piú, prese dell'acqua e si lavò le mani davanti alla folla, dicendo: «Io sono innocente del sangue di questo giusto; pensateci voi».
25 E tutto il popolo rispondendo disse: «Sia il suo sangue sopra di noi e sopra i nostri figli!».
26 Allora egli liberò loro Barabba; e dopo aver fatto flagellare Gesú, lo diede loro, perché fosse crocifisso.
27 Allora i soldati del governatore, avendo condotto Gesú nel pretorio, radunarono attorno a lui tutta la coorte.
28 E, spogliatolo, gli misero addosso un manto scarlatto.
29 E, intrecciata una corona di spine, gliela posero sul capo e gli misero una canna nella mano destra; e, inginocchiandosi davanti a lui, lo schernivano dicendo: «Salve, o re dei Giudei!».
30 Poi, sputandogli a addosso, presero la canna e con quella lo percotevano sul capo.
31 E dopo averlo schernito, lo spogliarono di quel manto e lo rivestirono delle sue vesti; poi lo condussero via per crocifiggerlo.
32 Ora, uscendo, incontrarono un uomo di Cirene, di nome Simone, che costrinsero a portare la croce di Gesú.
33 E, giunti sul luogo detto Golgota, che vuol dire: il luogo del teschio
34 gli diedero da bere dell'aceto mescolato con fiele; ma egli, avendolo assaggiato non volle berne.
35 Dopo averlo crocifisso, si spartirono le sue vesti tirando a sorte, affinché si adempisse ciò che fu detto dal profeta: «Hanno diviso tra loro le mie vesti e sulla mia tunica hanno tirato a sorte».
36 Postisi quindi a sedere, gli facevano la guardia.
37 Al di sopra del suo capo, posero anche la motivazione scritta della sua condanna: «COSTUI E' GESU
38 Allora furono crocifissi con lui due ladroni: uno a destra e l'altro a sinistra.
39 E coloro che passavano di là lo ingiuriavano scuotendo il capo,
40 e dicendo: «Tu che distruggi il tempio e in tre giorni lo ricostruisci, salva te stesso, se sei il Figlio di Dio, scendi giú dalla croce!».
41 Similmente, anche i capi dei sacerdoti, con gli scribi e gli anziani facendosi beffe, dicevano:
42 «Egli ha salvato gli altri e non può salvare se stesso, se è il re d'Israele, scenda ora giú dalla croce e noi crederemo in lui;
43 egli si è confidato in Dio; lo liberi ora, se veramente lo gradisce, poiché ha detto: io sono il Figlio di Dio.
44 Anche i ladroni crocifissi con lui lo ingiuriavano allo stesso modo.
45 Dall'ora sesta fino all'ora nona si fecero tenebre su tutto il paese.
46 Verso l'ora nona, Gesú gridò con gran voce dicendo: «Elì, Elì, lammà sabactanì?». Cioè: «Dio mio, Dio mio perché mi hai abbandonato?».
47 E alcuni fra i presenti, udito questo, dicevano: «Costui chiama Elia».
48 E in quell'istante uno di loro corse, prese una spugna, l'inzuppò d'aceto e, infilatala in cima ad una canna, gli diede da bere.
49 Ma gli altri dicevano: «Lascia, vediamo se viene Elia a salvarlo».
50 E Gesú, avendo di nuovo gridato con gran voce, rese lo spirito.
51 Ed ecco, il velo del tempio si squarciò in due, da cima a fondo; la terra tremò e le rocce si spaccarono;
52 i sepolcri si aprirono e molti corpi dei santi, che dormivano, risuscitarono;
53 e, usciti dai sepolcri dopo la risurrezione di Gesú, entrarono nella santa città e apparvero a molti.
54 Ora il centurione e quelli che con lui facevano la guardia a Gesú, veduto il terremoto e le cose accadute, temettero grandemente e dissero: «Veramente costui era il Figlio di Dio!».
55 Erano là presenti anche molte donne che osservavano da lontano, esse avevano seguito Gesú dalla Galilea per servirlo;
56 fra di loro c'era Maria Maddalena. Maria madre di Giacomo e di Iose; e la madre dei figli di Zebedeo.
57 Poi verso sera giunse un uomo ricco di Arimatea, di nome Giuseppe, il quale era pure discepolo di Gesú.
58 Costui si presentò a Pilato e chiese il corpo di Gesú. Allora Pilato comandò che il corpo gli fosse consegnato.
59 E Giuseppe, preso il corpo, lo avvolse in un lenzuolo pulito;
60 e lo mise nel suo sepolcro nuovo, che egli si era fatto scavare nella roccia; poi, dopo aver rotolato una grande pietra all'ingresso del sepolcro, se ne andò.
61 Or Maria Maddalena e l'altra Maria stavano là, sedute di fronte al sepolcro.
62 E il giorno seguente, che era quello successivo alla Preparazione, i capi dei sacerdoti e i farisei si riunirono presso Pilato,
63 dicendo: «Signore, ci siamo ricordati che quel seduttore, quando era ancora in vita, disse: "Dopo tre giorni io risusciterò".
64 Ordina dunque che il sepolcro sia ben custodito fino al terzo giorno, che talora non vengano i suoi discepoli di notte a rubare il corpo e poi dicano al popolo: "egli è risuscitato dai morti" cosí l'ultimo inganno sarebbe peggiore del primo».
65 Ma Pilato disse loro: «Voi avete un corpo di guardia; andate, e assicurate il sepolcro, come vi sembra meglio».
66 Essi dunque andarono e assicurarono il sepolcro e, oltre a mettere la guardia, sigillarono la pietra.
Matthew 27
Modern English Version
Jesus Brought Before Pilate(A)
27 When the morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 When they had bound Him, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pontius Pilate the governor.
The Death of Judas(B)
3 When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood.”
They said, “What is that to us? You must see to that.”
5 So he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed. And he went and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because this is the price of blood.” 7 So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of that the sons of Israel set on Him, 10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.”[a]
Jesus Questioned by Pilate(C)
11 Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, “You have said so.”
12 When He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 But He never answered him a word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Jesus Sentenced to Die(D)
15 Now at the feast, the governor was accustomed to releasing to the people a prisoner whom they chose. 16 They had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So 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 out of envy.
19 When he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man, for I have suffered much today in a dream on account of Him.”
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and kill Jesus.
21 The governor answered, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas.”
22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
23 The governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, “Let Him be crucified!”
24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail, but rather that unrest was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous Man. See to it yourselves.”
25 Then all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But when he had scourged Jesus, he handed Him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus(E)
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole detachment of soldiers before Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, 29 and when they wove a crown of thorns, they put it on His head and put a staff in His right hand. They knelt before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spit on Him, and took the staff and hit Him on the head. 31 After they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.
The Crucifixion(F)
32 As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. This man they compelled to bear His cross. 33 When they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull, 34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He tasted it, He would not drink it. 35 When they crucified Him, they divided His garments by casting lots to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, “They divided My garments among themselves and for My clothing they cast lots.”[b] 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 They put His accusation over His head, which read:
THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then two thieves were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. 39 Those who passed by insulted Him, wagging their heads, 40 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.” 41 Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him, saying, 42 “He saved others. He cannot save Himself. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. 43 He trusted in God. Let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 Even the thieves who were crucified with Him insulted Him in the same way.
The Death of Jesus(G)
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”[c]
47 Some of those who stood there heard it and said, “This Man is calling for Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, filled it with wine, and put it on a stick, and gave it to Him to drink. 49 The rest said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”
50 And Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, released His spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from the top to the bottom. And the ground shook, and the rocks split apart. 52 The graves also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had died were raised, 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the Holy City and appeared to many.
54 When the centurion and those with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they feared greatly and said, “Truly He was the Son of God!”
55 Many women who were there watching from afar followed Jesus from Galilee, serving Him, 56 among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
The Burial of Jesus(H)
57 When the evening came, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He 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 laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of the rock. And he rolled a large stone to the door of the tomb and departed. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, following the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered before Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember that deceiver saying while He was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ 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 can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and posting the guard.
Footnotes
Matthew 27
King James Version
27 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon 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 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36 And sitting down they watched him there;
37 And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews.
38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.
57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
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.
Copyright © 1991 by La Buona Novella s.c.r.l.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
© 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998 by SOON Educational Publications