Jesus Taken to Pilate

27 Now when it[a] was early morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus in order to put him to death. And after[b] tying him up, they led him[c] away and handed him[d] over to Pilate the governor.

The Suicide of Judas Iscariot

Then when[e] Judas, the one who had betrayed him, saw that he had been condemned, he regretted what he had done[f] and[g] returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by[h] betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”[i] And throwing the silver coins into the temple he departed. And he went away and[j] hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver coins and[k] said, “It is not permitted to put them into the temple treasury, because it is blood money.”[l] And after[m] taking counsel, they purchased with[n] them the Potter’s Field, for a burial place for strangers. (For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood until today.) Then what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled, who said, “And they took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one who had been priced, on whom a price had been set by the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord directed me.”[o]

Jesus Before Pilate

11 So Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And Jesus said, “You say so.” 12 And when he was being accused[p] by the chief priests and elders he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” 14 And he did not reply to him, not even with reference to one statement, so that the governor was very astonished.

Pilate Releases Barabbas

15 Now at each feast, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd—the one whom they wanted. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner named Jesus[q] Barabbas.[r] 17 So after[s] they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you—Jesus[t] Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy. 19 And while[u] he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message[v] to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,[w] for I have suffered much as a result of a dream today because of him.”) 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas and put Jesus to death. 21 So the governor answered and[x] said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “What then should I do with Jesus, the one who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they began to shout[y] even louder, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

24 So Pilate, when he[z] saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but instead an uproar was developing, took water and[aa] washed his[ab] hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this man. You see to it!”[ac] 25 And all the people answered and[ad] said, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them, but after[ae] he had Jesus flogged, he handed him[af] over so that he could be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s residence and[ag] gathered the whole cohort to him. 28 And they stripped him and[ah] put a scarlet military cloak around him, 29 and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it[ai] on his head, and put[aj] a reed in his right hand. And kneeling down before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 30 And they spat on him and[ak] took the reed and repeatedly struck[al] him[am] on his head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the military cloak and put his own clothes on him, and led him away in order to crucify him.[an]

Jesus Is Crucified

32 And as they[ao] were going out, they found a man of Cyrene named[ap] Simon. They forced this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they[aq] came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull),[ar] 34 they gave him wine mixed with gall to drink, and when he[as] tasted it[at] he did not want to drink it.[au] 35 And when they[av] had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves[aw] by[ax] casting lots. 36 And they sat down and[ay] were watching over him there. 37 And they put above his head the charge against him in writing:[az] “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it[ba] in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 41 In the same way also the chief priests, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him,[bb] saying, 42 “He saved others; he is not able to save himself! He is the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusts in God; let him deliver him now if he wants to,[bc] because he said, ‘I am the Son of God’!” 44 And in the same way even the robbers who were crucified with him were reviling him.

Jesus Dies on the Cross

45 Now from the sixth hour, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)[bd] 47 And some of those who were standing there, when they[be] heard it,[bf] said, “This man is summoning Elijah!” 48 And immediately one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it[bg] with sour wine and put it[bh] on a reed and[bi] gave it[bj] to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Leave him[bk] alone! let us see if Elijah is coming to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and[bl] gave up his[bm] spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

54 Now the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus, when they[bn] saw the earthquake and the things that took place, were extremely frightened, saying, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 55 And there were many women there, observing from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Jesus Is Buried

57 Now when it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who also was a disciple of Jesus himself. 58 This man approached Pilate and[bo] asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it[bp] to be given to him.[bq] 59 And Joseph took the body and[br] wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a large stone to the entrance of the tomb and[bs] went away. 61 Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The Tomb Is Sealed and Guarded

62 Now on the next day, which is after the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember that while[bt] that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come and[bu] steal him and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it[bv] as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went with the guard of soldiers and[bw] made the tomb secure by[bx] sealing the stone.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:1 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
  2. Matthew 27:2 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“tying”) which is understood as temporal
  3. Matthew 27:2 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  4. Matthew 27:2 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  5. Matthew 27:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  6. Matthew 27:3 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Matthew 27:3 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“regretted”) has been translated as a finite verb
  8. Matthew 27:4 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“betraying”) which is understood as means
  9. Matthew 27:4 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  10. Matthew 27:5 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went away”) has been translated as a finite verb
  11. Matthew 27:6 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
  12. Matthew 27:6 Literally “the price of blood”
  13. Matthew 27:7 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“taking”) which is understood as temporal
  14. Matthew 27:7 Literally “for”
  15. Matthew 27:10 A quotation from various passages in Jeremiah including 18:2–6; 19:1–13; 32:6–15; see also Zech 11:12–13
  16. Matthew 27:12 Literally “in the him being accused”
  17. Matthew 27:16 Although many manuscripts omit “Jesus” here, it is so hard to explain why a scribe would have added it that the reading is probably original
  18. Matthew 27:16 “Barabbas” means “son of the father” in Aramaic
  19. Matthew 27:17 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had assembled”)
  20. Matthew 27:17 Although many manuscripts omit “Jesus” here, it is so hard to explain why a scribe would have added it that the reading is probably original
  21. Matthew 27:19 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was sitting”)
  22. Matthew 27:19 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  23. Matthew 27:19 Literally “nothing to you and to that righteous man”
  24. Matthew 27:21 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  25. Matthew 27:23 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to shout”)
  26. Matthew 27:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  27. Matthew 27:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
  28. Matthew 27:24 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  29. Matthew 27:24 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  30. Matthew 27:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  31. Matthew 27:26 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“flogged”) which is understood as temporal
  32. Matthew 27:26 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  33. Matthew 27:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
  34. Matthew 27:28 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stripped”) has been translated as a finite verb
  35. Matthew 27:29 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  36. Matthew 27:29 This is an understood repetition of the verb from earlier in the verse
  37. Matthew 27:30 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“spat”) has been translated as a finite verb
  38. Matthew 27:30 The imperfect tense has been translated as iterative here (“repeatedly struck”)
  39. Matthew 27:30 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  40. Matthew 27:31 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  41. Matthew 27:32 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were going out”) which is understood as temporal
  42. Matthew 27:32 Literally “by name”
  43. Matthew 27:33 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
  44. Matthew 27:33 Literally “is called Place of a Skull”
  45. Matthew 27:34 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“tasted”) which is understood as temporal
  46. Matthew 27:34 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  47. Matthew 27:34 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  48. Matthew 27:35 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had crucified”) which is understood as temporal
  49. Matthew 27:35 Here “among themselves” reflects the middle voice of the verb “divided”
  50. Matthew 27:35 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“casting”) which is understood as means
  51. Matthew 27:36 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sat down”) has been translated as a finite verb
  52. Matthew 27:37 Literally “written”
  53. Matthew 27:40 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  54. Matthew 27:41 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  55. Matthew 27:43 Or “let him deliver him now if he wants him”
  56. Matthew 27:46 A quotation from Ps 22:1
  57. Matthew 27:47 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  58. Matthew 27:47 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  59. Matthew 27:48 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  60. Matthew 27:48 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  61. Matthew 27:48 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participles (“ran … took … filled … put”) have been translated as finite verbs
  62. Matthew 27:48 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  63. Matthew 27:49 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  64. Matthew 27:50 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“cried out”) has been translated as a finite verb
  65. Matthew 27:50 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  66. Matthew 27:54 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  67. Matthew 27:58 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb
  68. Matthew 27:58 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  69. Matthew 27:58 *The words “to him” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  70. Matthew 27:59 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
  71. Matthew 27:60 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“rolled”) has been translated as a finite verb
  72. Matthew 27:63 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“alive”) which is understood as temporal
  73. Matthew 27:64 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“come”) has been translated as a finite verb
  74. Matthew 27:65 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  75. Matthew 27:66 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went”) has been translated as a finite verb
  76. Matthew 27:66 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“sealing”) which is understood as means

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