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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
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Matthew 27
Living Bible

27 When it was morning, the chief priests and Jewish leaders met again to discuss how to induce the Roman government to sentence Jesus to death.[a] 2 Then they sent him in chains to Pilate, the Roman governor.

3 About that time Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus had been condemned to die, changed his mind and deeply regretted what he had done,[b] and brought back the money to the chief priests and other Jewish leaders.

4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”

“That’s your problem,” they retorted.

5 Then he threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked the money up. “We can’t put it in the collection,” they said, “since it’s against our laws to accept money paid for murder.”

7 They talked it over and finally decided to buy a certain field where the clay was used by potters, and to make it into a cemetery for foreigners who died in Jerusalem. 8 That is why the cemetery is still called “The Field of Blood.”

9 This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah which says,

“They took the thirty pieces of silver—the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel— 10 and purchased a field from the potters as the Lord directed me.”

11 Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the Jews’ Messiah?”[c] the governor asked him.

“Yes,” Jesus replied.

12 But when the chief priests and other Jewish leaders made their many accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.

13 “Don’t you hear what they are saying?” Pilate demanded.

14 But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor’s surprise.

15 Now the governor’s custom was to release one Jewish prisoner each year during the Passover celebration—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a particularly notorious criminal in jail named Barabbas, 17 and as the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning he asked them, “Which shall I release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus your Messiah?”[d] 18 For he knew very well that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy because of his popularity with the people.

19 Just then, as he was presiding over the court, Pilate’s wife sent him this message: “Leave that good man alone; for I had a terrible nightmare concerning him last night.”

20 Meanwhile the chief priests and Jewish officials persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas’s release, and for Jesus’ death. 21 So when the governor asked again,[e] “Which of these two shall I release to you?” the crowd shouted back their reply: “Barabbas!”

22 “Then what shall I do with Jesus, your Messiah?” Pilate asked.

And they shouted, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What has he done wrong?” But they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify!”

24 When Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing, he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this good man. The responsibility is yours!”

25 And the mob yelled back, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

26 Then Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after he had whipped Jesus, he gave him to the Roman soldiers to be taken away and crucified. 27 But first they took him into the armory and called out the entire contingent. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and made a crown from long thorns and put it on his head, and placed a stick in his right hand as a scepter and knelt before him in mockery. “Hail, King of the Jews,” they yelled. 30 And they spat on him and grabbed the stick and beat him on the head with it.

31 After the mockery, they took off the robe and put his own garment on him again, and took him out to crucify him.

32 As they were on the way to the execution grounds they came across a man from Cyrene, in Africa—Simon was his name—and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33 Then they went out to an area known as Golgotha, that is, “Skull Hill,” 34 where the soldiers gave him drugged wine to drink; but when he had tasted it, he refused.

35 After the crucifixion, the soldiers threw dice to divide up his clothes among themselves. 36 Then they sat around and watched him as he hung there. 37 And they put a sign above his head, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

38 Two robbers were also crucified there that morning, one on either side of him. 39 And the people passing by hurled abuse, shaking their heads at him and saying, 40 “So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three days, can you? Well, then, come on down from the cross if you are the Son of God!”

41-43 And the chief priests and Jewish leaders also mocked him. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So you are the King of Israel, are you? Come down from the cross and we’ll believe you! He trusted God—let God show his approval by delivering him! Didn’t he say, ‘I am God’s Son’?”

44 And the robbers also threw the same in his teeth.

45 That afternoon, the whole earth[f] was covered with darkness for three hours, from noon until three o’clock.

46 About three o’clock, Jesus shouted, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine and put it on a stick and held it up to him to drink. 49 But the rest said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see whether Elijah will come and save him.”

50 Then Jesus shouted out again, dismissed his spirit, and died.

51 And look! The curtain secluding the Holiest Place[g] in the Temple was split apart from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and rocks broke, 52 and tombs opened, and many godly men and women who had died came back to life again. 53 After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the cemetery and went into Jerusalem, and appeared to many people there.

54 The soldiers at the crucifixion and their sergeant were terribly frightened by the earthquake and all that happened. They exclaimed, “Surely this was God’s Son.”[h]

55 And many women who had come down from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John (the sons of Zebedee).

57 When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, one of Jesus’ followers, 58 went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. 59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new rock-hewn tomb, and rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left. 61 Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting nearby watching.

62 The next day—at the close of the first day of the Passover ceremonies[i]—the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate, 63 and told him, “Sir, that liar once said, ‘After three days I will come back to life again.’ 64 So we request an order from you sealing the tomb until the third day, to prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”

65 “Use your own Temple police,” Pilate told them. “They can guard it safely enough.”

66 So they sealed the stone[j] and posted guards to protect it from intrusion.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:1 to sentence Jesus to death, literally, “took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.” They did not have the authority themselves.
  2. Matthew 27:3 deeply regretted what he had done, literally, “repented himself.”
  3. Matthew 27:11 the Jews’ Messiah, literally, “the ‘King’ of the Jews.”
  4. Matthew 27:17 Jesus your Messiah, literally, “Jesus who is called Christ.”
  5. Matthew 27:21 when the governor asked again, implied.
  6. Matthew 27:45 earth, or “land.”
  7. Matthew 27:51 secluding the Holiest Place, implied.
  8. Matthew 27:54 God’s Son, or “a godly man.”
  9. Matthew 27:62 at the close of the first day of the Passover ceremonies, implied; literally, “on the morrow, which is after the Preparation.”
  10. Matthew 27:66 So they sealed the stone. This was done by stringing a cord across the rock, the cord being sealed at each end with clay.
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