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Jesus Is Taken to Pilate

27 Early the next morning, all the leading priests and elders of the people decided to kill Jesus. They tied him, led him away, and turned him over to Pilate, the governor.

Judas Kills Himself

Judas saw that they had decided to kill Jesus. Judas was the one who gave Jesus to his enemies. When Judas saw what happened, he was very sorry for what he had done. So he took the 30 silver coins back to the priests and the leaders. Judas said, “I sinned. I gave you an innocent man to be killed.”

The leaders answered, “What is that to us? That’s your problem, not ours.”

So Judas threw the money into the Temple. Then he went off and hanged himself.

The leading priests picked up the silver coins in the Temple. They said, “Our law does not allow us to keep this money with the Temple money. This money has paid for a man’s death.” So they decided to use the coins to buy a field called Potter’s Field. This field would be a place to bury strangers who died while visiting Jerusalem. That is why that field is still called the Field of Blood. So the thing came true that Jeremiah the prophet had said: “They took 30 silver coins. That is how little the Israelites thought he was worth. 10 They used those 30 silver coins to buy Potter’s Field, as the Lord commanded me.”[a]

Pilate Questions Jesus

11 Jesus stood before Pilate the governor. Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Yes, I am.”

12 When the leading priests and the elders accused Jesus, he said nothing.

13 So Pilate said to Jesus, “Don’t you hear these people accusing you of all these things?”

14 But Jesus said nothing in answer to Pilate. Pilate was very surprised at this.

Pilate Tries to Free Jesus

15 Every year at the time of Passover the governor would free one person from prison. This was always a person the people wanted to be set free. 16 At that time there was a man in prison who was known to be very bad. His name was Barabbas.[b] 17 All the people gathered at Pilate’s house. Pilate said, “Which man do you want me to free: Barabbas,[c] or Jesus who is called the Christ?” 18 Pilate knew that they gave Jesus to him because they were jealous.

19 Pilate said these things while he was sitting on the judge’s seat. While he was sitting there, his wife sent a message to him. The message said, “Don’t do anything to that man. He is not guilty. Today I had a dream about him, and it troubled me very much.”

20 But the leading priests and elders told the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be freed and for Jesus to be killed.

21 Pilate said, “I have Barabbas and Jesus. Which do you want me to set free for you?”

The people answered, “Barabbas!”

22 Pilate asked, “What should I do with Jesus, the one called the Christ?”

They all answered, “Kill him on a cross!”

23 Pilate asked, “Why do you want me to kill him? What wrong has he done?”

But they shouted louder, “Kill him on a cross!”

24 Pilate saw that he could do nothing about this, and a riot was starting. So he took some water and washed his hands[d] in front of the crowd. Then he said, “I am not guilty of this man’s death. You are the ones who are causing it!”

25 All the people answered, “We will be responsible. We accept for ourselves and for our children any punishment for his death.”

26 Then Pilate freed Barabbas. Pilate told some of the soldiers to beat Jesus with whips. Then he gave Jesus to the soldiers to be killed on a cross.

27 Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace. All the soldiers gathered around Jesus. 28 They took off his clothes and put a red robe on him. 29 Then the soldiers used thorny branches to make a crown. They put this crown of thorns on Jesus’ head. They put a stick in his right hand. Then the soldiers bowed before Jesus and made fun of him. They said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spit on Jesus. Then they took his stick and hit him on the head many times. 31 After they finished making fun of Jesus, the soldiers took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led Jesus away to be killed on a cross.

Jesus Is Killed on a Cross

32 The soldiers were going out of the city with Jesus. They forced another man to carry the cross to be used for Jesus. This man was Simon, from Cyrene. 33 They all came to the place called Golgotha. (Golgotha means the Place of the Skull.) 34 At Golgotha, the soldiers gave Jesus wine to drink. This wine was mixed with gall.[e] He tasted the wine but refused to drink it. 35 The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross. They threw lots to decide who would get his clothes.[f] 36 The soldiers sat there and continued watching him. 37 They put a sign above Jesus’ head with the charge against him written on it. The sign read: “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 38 Two robbers were nailed to crosses beside Jesus, one on the right and the other on the left. 39 People walked by and insulted Jesus. They shook their heads, 40 saying, “You said you could destroy the Temple and build it again in three days. So save yourself! Come down from that cross, if you are really the Son of God!”

41 The leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the Jewish elders were also there. These men made fun of Jesus 42 and said, “He saved other people, but he can’t save himself! People say he is the King of Israel! If he is the King, then let him come down now from the cross. Then we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. So let God save him now, if God really wants him. He himself said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 And in the same way, the robbers who were being killed on crosses beside Jesus also insulted him.

Jesus Dies

45 At noon the whole country became dark. This darkness lasted for three hours. 46 About three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” This means, “My God, my God, why have you left me alone?”

47 Some of the people standing there heard this. They said, “He is calling Elijah.”

48 Quickly one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled the sponge with vinegar and tied it to a stick. Then he used the stick to give the sponge to Jesus to drink from it. 49 But the others said, “Don’t bother him. We want to see if Elijah will come to save him.”

50 Again Jesus cried out in a loud voice. Then he died.

51 Then the curtain in the Temple[g] split into two pieces. The tear started at the top and tore all the way down to the bottom. Also, the earth shook and rocks broke apart. 52 The graves opened, and many of God’s people who had died were raised from death. 53 They came out of the graves after Jesus was raised from death. They went into the holy city, and many people saw them.

54 The army officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus saw this earthquake and everything else that happened. They were very frightened and said, “He really was the Son of God!”

55 Many women were standing at a distance from the cross, watching. These were women who had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for him. 56 Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John were there.

Jesus Is Buried

57 That evening a rich man named Joseph came to Jerusalem. He was a follower of Jesus from the town of Arimathea. 58 Joseph went to Pilate and asked to have Jesus’ body. Pilate gave orders for the soldiers to give it to Joseph. 59 Then Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. 60 He put Jesus’ body in a new tomb that he had cut in a wall of rock. He rolled a very large stone to block the entrance of the tomb. Then Joseph went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other woman named Mary were sitting near the tomb.

The Tomb of Jesus Is Guarded

62 That day was the day called Preparation Day. The next day, the leading priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 They said, “Sir, we remember that while that liar was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise from death.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be guarded closely till the third day. His followers might come and steal the body. Then they could tell the people that he has risen from death. That lie would be even worse than the first one.”

65 Pilate said, “Take some soldiers and go guard the tomb the best way you know.” 66 So they all went to the tomb and made it safe from thieves. They did this by sealing the stone in the entrance and then putting soldiers there to guard it.

Footnotes

  1. 27:10 “They . . . commanded me.” See Zechariah 11:12–13 and Jeremiah 32:6–9.
  2. 27:16, 17 Barabbas Some Greek copies read “Jesus Barabbas.”
  3. 27:16, 17 Barabbas Some Greek copies read “Jesus Barabbas.”
  4. 27:24 washed his hands He did this as a sign to show that he wanted no part in what the people did.
  5. 27:34 gall Probably a drink of wine mixed with drugs to help a person feel less pain.
  6. 27:35 clothes Some Greek copies continue, “So what God said through the prophet came true, ‘They divided my clothes among them, and they threw lots for my clothing.’”
  7. 27:51 curtain in the Temple A curtain divided the Most Holy Place from the other part of the Temple. That was the special building in Jerusalem where God commanded the Jews to worship him.

27 2 He is delivered bound to Pilate. 5 Judas hangeth himself. 19 Pilate’s wife. 20 Barabbas is asked. 24 Pilate washeth his hands. 29 Christ is crowned with thorns. 34 He is crucified. 40 Reviled. 50 He giveth up the Ghost. 57 He is buried. 62 The soldiers watch him.

When the (A)morning was come, all the chief Priests, and the Elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, to put him to death.

And led him away bound, and delivered him unto Pontius Pilate the governor.

[a]Then when Judas which betrayed him, saw that he was condemned, he repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief Priests, and Elders,

Saying, I have sinned, betraying the innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.

And when he had cast down the silver pieces in the Temple, he [b]departed, and went, (B)and hanged himself.

And the chief Priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for us to put them into the [c]treasure, because it is the price [d]of blood.

And they took counsel, and bought with them a potter’s field, for the burial of [e]strangers.

Wherefore that field is called, (C)The field of blood, until this day.

(Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by [f]Jeremiah the Prophet, saying, (D)[g]And they took thirty silver pieces, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel valued.

10 And they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.)

11 (E)[h]And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou that King of the Jews? Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest it.

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 lay against thee?

14 But he answered him not to one word, insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.

15 [i]Now at the feast the governor was wont to deliver unto the people a prisoner whom they would.

16 And they had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas.

17 When they were then gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whether will ye that I let loose unto you Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

18 (For he knew well, that for envy they had delivered him.

19 Also when he was set down upon the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream by reason of him.)

20 (F)But the chief Priests and the elders had persuaded the people that they should ask Barabbas, and should destroy Jesus.

21 Then the governor answered, and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I let loose unto you? And they said, Barabbas.

22 Pilate said unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? They all said to him, Let him be crucified.

23 Then said the governor, But what evil hath he done? Then they cried the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

24 [j]When Pilate saw that he availed nothing, but that more tumult was made, he took water and [k]washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the [l]blood of this just man: look you to it.

25 Then answered all the people, and said, [m]His blood be on us, and on our children.

26 Thus let he Barabbas loose unto them, and scourged Jesus, and delivered him to be crucified.

27 (G)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered about him the whole band,

28 [n]And they stripped him, and [o]put about him a [p]scarlet robe,

29 And platted a crown of thorns, and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, and bowed their knees before him, and mocked him, saying, God save thee, King of the Jews,

30 And spitted upon him, and took a reed, and smote him on the head.

31 Thus when they had mocked him, they took the robe from him, and put his own raiment on him, and let him away to crucify him.

32 (H)And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: him they [q]compelled to bear his cross.

33 (I)[r]And when they came unto the place called Golgotha (that is to say, the place of dead men’s skulls)

34 [s]They gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

35 [t]And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, and did cast lots, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Prophet, (J)They divided my garments among them, and upon my vesture did cast lots.

36 And they sat and watched him there.

37 [u]They set up also over his head his cause written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 [v]And there were two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

39 [w]And they that passed by, reviled him, wagging their heads,

40 And saying, (K)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 high Priests mocking him, with the Scribes, and Elders, and Pharisees, said,

42 He saved others, but he cannot save himself: if he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.

43 (L)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 self same thing also the [x]thieves which were crucified with him, cast in his teeth.

45 [y]Now from the sixth hour was there darkness over all the land, unto the ninth hour.

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with loud voice, saying, (M)Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou [z]forsaken me?

47 And some of them that stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth [aa]Elijah.

48 And straightway one of them ran, and took (N)a sponge and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

49 Others said, Let be: let us see if Elijah will come and save him.

50 [ab]Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up the ghost.

51 [ac]And behold, (O)the [ad]veil of the Temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the stones were cloven.

52 And the [ae]graves did open themselves, 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 When the Centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earth quake, and the things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

55 ¶ And many women were there, beholding him afar off, which had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him.

56 Among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

57 [af](P)And when the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who had also himself been Jesus’ disciple.

58 He went to Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59 So Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60 And put it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out in a rock, and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed.

61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher.

62 [ag]Now the next day that followed the Preparation of the Sabbath, the high Priests and Pharisees assembled to Pilate,

63 And said, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, Within three days I will rise.

64 Command therefore, that the sepulcher 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 shall the last error be worse than the first.

65 Then Pilate said unto them, Ye have a [ah]watch: go, and make it sure, as ye know.

66 And they went, and made the sepulcher sure, with the watch, and sealed the stone.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:3 An example of the horrible judgment of God, as well against them which sell Christ, as against them which buy Christ.
  2. Matthew 27:5 Out of men’s sights.
  3. Matthew 27:6 The treasury of the Temple.
  4. Matthew 27:6 Of life and death.
  5. Matthew 27:7 Strangers and guests, whom the Jews could not abide to be joined unto, no not after they were dead.
  6. Matthew 27:9 Seeing this prophecy is read in Zech. 11:12, it cannot be denied, but Jeremiah’s name crept into the text, either through the Printer’s fault, or some other’s ignorance: it may be also that it came out of the margin, by reason of the abbreviation of the letters, the one being iou, and the other zou, which are not much unlike: but in the Syrian text the Prophet’s name is not set down at all.
  7. Matthew 27:9 The Evangelist doth not follow the Prophet’s words, but his meaning, which he showeth to be fulfilled.
  8. Matthew 27:11 Christ holdeth his peace when he is accused, that we may not be accused: acknowledging our guiltiness, and therewithall his own innocence.
  9. Matthew 27:15 Christ is first quitted of the same Judge, before he be condemned, that we might see how the just died for the unjust.
  10. Matthew 27:24 Christ being quit by the testimony of the Judge himself, is notwithstanding condemned by the same to quit us before God.
  11. Matthew 27:24 It was a manner in old time, when any man was murdered, and in other slaughters, to wash their hands in water, to declare themselves guiltless.
  12. Matthew 27:24 Of the murder; an Hebrew kind of speech.
  13. Matthew 27:25 If there be any offence committed in slaying him, let us and our posterity smart for it.
  14. Matthew 27:28 Christ suffereth that reproach which was due to our sins; notwithstanding in the meantime by the secret providence of God, he is entitled King by them which did him that reproach.
  15. Matthew 27:28 They cast a cloak about him, and wrapped it about him, for it lacked sleeves.
  16. Matthew 27:28 John and Mark make mention of a purple robe, which is also a very pleasant red. But these profane and malapert saucy soldiers clad Jesus in this array, to mock him withall, who was indeed a true King.
  17. Matthew 27:32 They compelled Simon to bear his burdensome cross, whereby it appeareth that Jesus was so sore handled before, that he fainted by the way, and was not able to bear his cross throughout: for John writeth that he did bear the cross, to wit, at the beginning.
  18. Matthew 27:33 He is led out of the city, that we may be brought into the heavenly kingdom.
  19. Matthew 27:34 Christ found no comfort anywhere, that in him we might be filled with all comfort.
  20. Matthew 27:35 He is made a curse, that in him we may be blessed: he is spoiled of his garments, that we might be enriched by his nakedness.
  21. Matthew 27:37 He is pronounced the true Messiah, even of them of whom he is rejected.
  22. Matthew 27:38 Christ began then to judge the world, when after his judgment he hung betwixt two thieves.
  23. Matthew 27:39 To make full satisfaction for us, Christ suffereth and overcometh, not only the torments of the body, but also the most horrible torments of the mind.
  24. Matthew 27:44 This is spoken by the figure Synecdoche, for there was but one of them that did revile him.
  25. Matthew 27:45 Heaven itself is darkened for very horror, and Jesus crieth out from the depth of hell, and in the meanwhile he is mocked.
  26. Matthew 27:46 To wit, in this misery: and this crying out is proper to his humanity, which notwithstanding was void of sin, but yet felt the wrath of God which is due to our sins.
  27. Matthew 27:47 They allude to Elijah’s name, not for want of understanding the tongue, but of a profane impudence and sauciness, and he repeated these words, to the end that this better harping upon the name might be understood.
  28. Matthew 27:50 Christ after he had overcome other enemies, at length provoked and setteth upon death itself.
  29. Matthew 27:51 Christ, when he is dead, showeth himself to be God almighty, even his enemies confessing the same.
  30. Matthew 27:51 Which divided the holiest of all.
  31. Matthew 27:52 That is to say, the stones clave asunder, and the graves did open themselves, to show by this token, that death was overcome: and the resurrection of the dead followed the resurrection of Christ, as appeareth by the next verse following.
  32. Matthew 27:57 Christ is buried, not privately or by stealth, but by the governor’s consent by a famous man, in a place not far distant, in a new sepulcher, so that it cannot be doubted of his death.
  33. Matthew 27:62 The keeping of the sepulcher is committed to Christ’s own murderers, that there might be no doubt of his resurrection.
  34. Matthew 27:65 The soldiers of the garrison, which were appointed to keep the Temple.

Judas Hangs Himself

27 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed.(A) So they bound him, led him away and handed him over(B) to Pilate the governor.(C)

When Judas, who had betrayed him,(D) saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver(E) to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”(F)

So Judas threw the money into the temple(G) and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.(H)

The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood(I) to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:(J) “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”[a](K)

Jesus Before Pilate(L)

11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”(M)

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.(N) 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”(O) 14 But Jesus made no reply,(P) 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(Q) chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[b] 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?”(R) 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,(S) his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent(T) man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream(U) because of him.”

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.(V)

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?”(W) 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(X) was starting, he took water and washed his hands(Y) in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”(Z) he said. “It is your responsibility!”(AA)

25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”(AB)

26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged,(AC) and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(AD)

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium(AE) and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,(AF) 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.(AG) 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.(AH) 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.(AI)

The Crucifixion of Jesus(AJ)

32 As they were going out,(AK) they met a man from Cyrene,(AL) named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.(AM) 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).(AN) 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;(AO) but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(AP) 36 And sitting down, they kept watch(AQ) 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,(AR) one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads(AS) 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,(AT) save yourself!(AU) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”(AV) 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!(AW) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe(AX) in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him(AY) 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(AZ)

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness(BA) came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[d](BB)

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,(BC) 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.(BD)

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple(BE) was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split(BF) 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city(BG) and appeared to many people.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding(BH) Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”(BI)

55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.(BJ) 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[f] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.(BK)

The Burial of Jesus(BL)

57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb(BM) that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’(BN) 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body(BO) and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take a guard,”(BP) Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal(BQ) on the stone(BR) and posting the guard.(BS)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:10 See Zech. 11:12,13; Jer. 19:1-13; 32:6-9.
  2. Matthew 27:16 Many manuscripts do not have Jesus; also in verse 17.
  3. Matthew 27:46 Some manuscripts Eloi, Eloi
  4. Matthew 27:46 Psalm 22:1
  5. Matthew 27:53 Or tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they
  6. Matthew 27:56 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph