Font Size
Matthew 27:11-51
Christian Standard Bible
Matthew 27:11-51
Christian Standard Bible
Jesus Faces the Governor
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor.(A) “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.
Jesus answered, “You say so.”(B) 12 While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer.(C)
13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you?” 14 But he didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was quite amazed.(D)
Jesus or Barabbas
15 At the festival(E) the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.[a] 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” (F) 18 For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over.
19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.”(G)
20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.
22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all answered, “Crucify him!” (H)
23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!” (I)
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.[b] See to it yourselves!” (J)
25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us(K) and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.(L)
Mocked by the Military
27 Then(M) the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole company[c] around him.(N) 28 They stripped him and dressed him in a scarlet robe.(O) 29 They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” 30 Then they spat on him, took the staff, and kept hitting him on the head. 31 After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.(P)
Crucified Between Two Criminals
32 As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced him to carry his cross.(Q) 33 When they came to a place called Golgotha(R) (which means Place of the Skull), 34 they gave him wine[d] mixed with gall to drink. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. 35 After crucifying him, they divided his clothes by casting lots.[e](S) 36 Then they sat down and were guarding him there. 37 Above his head they put up the charge against him in writing: This Is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
38 Then two criminals[f] were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.(T) 39 Those who passed by were yelling insults at[g] him, shaking their heads(U) 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” (V) 41 In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders,[h] mocked him and said, 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel!(W) Let him[i] come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God rescue him now—if he takes pleasure in him![j] For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him taunted him.(X)
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon,[k] darkness came over the whole land.[l](Y) 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá[m] sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”[n](Z)
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered him a drink.(AA) 49 But the rest said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.(AB) 51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary(AC) was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 27:16 Other mss read Jesus Barabbas, also in v. 17
- 27:24 Other mss read this righteous man’s blood
- 27:27 Lit cohort
- 27:34 Other mss read sour wine
- 27:35 Other mss add that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled: “They divided my clothes among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
- 27:38 Or revolutionaries
- 27:39 Lit passed by blasphemed, or were blaspheming
- 27:41 Other mss add and Pharisees
- 27:42 Other mss read If he ... Israel, let him
- 27:43 Or if he wants him
- 27:45 Lit From the sixth hour to the ninth hour
- 27:45 Or whole earth
- 27:46 Some mss read lama; other mss read lima
- 27:46 Ps 22:1
Matthew 27:11-51
New International Version
Matthew 27:11-51
New International Version
Jesus Before Pilate(A)
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”(B)
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.(C) 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”(D) 14 But Jesus made no reply,(E) not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner(F) chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[a] Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”(G) 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat,(H) his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent(I) man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream(J) because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.(K)
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”(L) Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar(M) was starting, he took water and washed his hands(N) in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”(O) he said. “It is your responsibility!”(P)
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”(Q)
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged,(R) and handed him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus(S)
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium(T) and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,(U) 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.(V) 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.(W) 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.(X)
The Crucifixion of Jesus(Y)
32 As they were going out,(Z) they met a man from Cyrene,(AA) named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.(AB) 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).(AC) 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;(AD) but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(AE) 36 And sitting down, they kept watch(AF) over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him,(AG) one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads(AH) 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,(AI) save yourself!(AJ) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”(AK) 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel!(AL) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe(AM) in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him(AN) now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of Jesus(AO)
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness(AP) came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[b] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[c](AQ)
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar,(AR) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.(AS)
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple(AT) was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split(AU)
Footnotes
- Matthew 27:16 Many manuscripts do not have Jesus; also in verse 17.
- Matthew 27:46 Some manuscripts Eloi, Eloi
- Matthew 27:46 Psalm 22:1
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.