Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close NRSVUE

Matthew 27
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

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.(A)

The Suicide of Judas

3 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus[a] was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.(B) 4 He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent[b] blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”(C) 5 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.(D) 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.(E) 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah,[c] “And they took[d] the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set,[e] on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price,(F) 10 and they gave[f] 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.(G) 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?”(H) 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.(I)

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[g] Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus[h] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”[i] 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.”(J) 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.(K) 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?”[j] 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;[k] see to it yourselves.”(L) 25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”(M) 26 So he released Barabbas for them, and after flogging Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.(N)

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters,[l] and they gathered the whole cohort around him.(O) 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!”(P) 30 They spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.(Q) 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.(R)

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.(S) 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.(T) 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots;[m](U) 36 then they sat down there and kept watch over him.(V) 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.(W) 39 Those who passed by derided[n] him, shaking their heads(X) 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.”(Y) 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.[o] He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.(Z) 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to, for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ”(AA) 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[p] until three in the afternoon.(AB) 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?”(AC) 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.(AD) 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”[q] 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.[r] 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.(AE) 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!”[s](AF)

55 Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.(AG) 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[t] and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.(AH)

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.(AI) 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.(AJ) 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.’(AK) 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[u] of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.”[v](AL) 66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. 27.3 Gk he
  2. 27.4 Other ancient authorities read righteous
  3. 27.9 Other ancient authorities read Zechariah or Isaiah
  4. 27.9 Or I took
  5. 27.9 Or the price of the precious One
  6. 27.10 Other ancient authorities read I gave
  7. 27.16 Other ancient authorities lack Jesus
  8. 27.17 Other ancient authorities lack Jesus
  9. 27.17 Or the Christ
  10. 27.22 Or the Christ
  11. 27.24 Other ancient authorities read this righteous blood or this righteous man’s blood
  12. 27.27 Gk the praetorium
  13. 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.”
  14. 27.39 Or blasphemed
  15. 27.42 Or is he unable to save himself?
  16. 27.45 Or earth
  17. 27.49 Other ancient authorities add And another took a spear and pierced his side, and out came water and blood
  18. 27.50 Or gave up his spirit
  19. 27.54 Or a son of God
  20. 27.56 Some ancient authorities read Joses
  21. 27.65 Or Take a guard
  22. 27.65 Gk you know how
Listen to Matthew 27
Close CSB

Matthew 27
Christian Standard Bible

Jesus Handed Over to Pilate

27 When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death.(A) 2 After tying him up, they led him away and handed him over to Pilate,[a] the governor.(B)

Judas Hangs Himself

3 Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.(C) 4 “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said.

“What’s that to us?” they said. “See to it yourself!” 5 So he threw the silver into the temple(D) and departed. Then he went and hanged himself.

6 The chief priests took the silver and said, “It’s not permitted(E) to put it into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 They conferred together and bought the potter’s field with it as a burial place for foreigners. 8 Therefore that field has been called “Field of Blood” to this day. 9 Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took[b] the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him whose price was set by the Israelites, 10 and they gave[c] them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.[d](F)

Jesus Faces the Governor

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor.(G) “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.

Jesus answered, “You say so.”(H) 12 While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer.(I)

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.(J)

Jesus or Barabbas

15 At the festival(K) 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.[e] 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?” (L) 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.”(M)

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!” (N)

23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!” (O)

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.[f] See to it yourselves!” (P)

25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us(Q) and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.(R)

Mocked by the Military

27 Then(S) the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole company[g] around him.(T) 28 They stripped him and dressed him in a scarlet robe.(U) 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.(V)

Crucified Between Two Criminals

32 As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced him to carry his cross.(W) 33 When they came to a place called Golgotha(X) (which means Place of the Skull), 34 they gave him wine[h] 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.[i](Y) 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[j] were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.(Z) 39 Those who passed by were yelling insults at[k] him, shaking their heads(AA) 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!” (AB) 41 In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders,[l] mocked him and said, 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel!(AC) Let him[m] 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![n] For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him taunted him.(AD)

The Death of Jesus

45 From noon until three in the afternoon,[o] darkness came over the whole land.[p](AE) 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá[q] sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”[r](AF)

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.(AG) 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.(AH) 51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary(AI) was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were also opened(AJ) and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

54 When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (AK)

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

The Burial of Jesus

57 When it was evening,(AN) a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple(AO) of Jesus. 58 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Then Pilate ordered that it[s] be released. 59 So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, 60 and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.(AP) 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.

The Closely Guarded Tomb

62 The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate(AQ) 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’(AR) 64 So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples(AS) may come, steal him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take[t] guards,” Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” 66 They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. 27:2 Other mss read Pontius Pilate
  2. 27:9 Or I took
  3. 27:10 Some mss read I gave
  4. 27:9–10 Jr 32:6–9; Zch 11:12–13
  5. 27:16 Other mss read Jesus Barabbas, also in v. 17
  6. 27:24 Other mss read this righteous man’s blood
  7. 27:27 Lit cohort
  8. 27:34 Other mss read sour wine
  9. 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.”
  10. 27:38 Or revolutionaries
  11. 27:39 Lit passed by blasphemed, or were blaspheming
  12. 27:41 Other mss add and Pharisees
  13. 27:42 Other mss read If he ... Israel, let him
  14. 27:43 Or if he wants him
  15. 27:45 Lit From the sixth hour to the ninth hour
  16. 27:45 Or whole earth
  17. 27:46 Some mss read lama; other mss read lima
  18. 27:46 Ps 22:1
  19. 27:58 Other mss read that the body
  20. 27:65 Or “You have
Next
Matthew 26
Matthew 28
Next
dropdown
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

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.

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.