Matthew 27:45-56

International Standard Version

Jesus Dies on the Cross^(A)

⁴⁵ From noon^[a] on, darkness came over the whole land^[b] until three in the afternoon.^{[c] 46} About three o’clock,^[d] Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, eli,^[e] lema sabachthani?”,^[f] which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^[g]

⁴⁷ When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah.”^{[h] 48} So one of the men ran off at once, took a sponge, and soaked it in some sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus^[i] a drink.

⁴⁹ But the others kept saying, “Wait! Let’s see if Elijah will come and save him.”^[j]

⁵⁰ Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice again and died.^{[k] 51} Suddenly, the curtain^[l] in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks were split open, ⁵² tombs were opened, and many^[m] saints who had died^[n] were brought back to life. ⁵³ After his resurrection, they came out of their tombs, went into the Holy City,^[o] and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴ When the centurion^[p] and those guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things that were taking place, they were terrified and said, “This man certainly was the Son of God!”

⁵⁵ Now many women were also there, watching from a distance. They had accompanied Jesus from Galilee and had ministered to^[q] him. ⁵⁶ Among them were Mary Magdalene,^[r] Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.