MATTHEW 27

Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate

1When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of
the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.
2And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and
delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Judas Hangs Himself
3Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been
condemned, was remorseful and brought back the
thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” 5Then
he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and
departed, and went and hanged himself. 6But the chief
priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to
put them into the treasury, because they are the price
of blood.” 7And they consulted together and bought
with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
8Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood
to this day. 9Then was fulfilled what was spoken by
Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty
pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom
they of the children of Israel priced, 10and gave them
for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”
Jesus Faces Pilate
11Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the
governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the
Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” 12And while
He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He
answered nothing. 13Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You
not hear how many things they testify against You?”
14But He answered him not one word, so that the
governor marvelled greatly.
Taking the Place of Barabbas
15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to
releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they
wished. 16And at that time they had a notorious
prisoner called Barabbas. 17Therefore, when they had
gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you
want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is
called Christ?” 18For he knew that they had handed Him
over because of envy. 19While he was sitting on the
judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have
nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered
many things today in a dream because of Him.” 20But
the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes
that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
21The governor answered and said to them, “Which of
the two do you want me to release to you?” They said,
“Barabbas!” 22Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do
with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him,
“Let Him be crucified!” 23Then the governor said, “Why,
what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more,
saying, “Let Him be crucified!” 24When Pilate saw that
he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was
rising, he took water and washed his hands before the
multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this
just Person. You see to it.” 25And all the people
answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our
children.” 26Then he released Barabbas to them; and
when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be
crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the
Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around
Him. 28And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on
Him. 29When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they
put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they
bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying,
“Hail, King of the Jews!” 30Then they spat on Him, and
took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31And when
they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put
His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be
crucified.
The King on a Cross
32Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene,
Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.
33And when they had come to a place called Golgotha,
that is to say, Place of a Skull, 34they gave Him sour
wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted
it, He would not drink. 35Then they crucified Him, and
divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They
divided My garments among them, And for My clothing
they cast lots.” 36Sitting down, they kept watch over
Him there. 37And they put up over His head the
accusation written against Him:
THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on
the right and another on the left. 39And those who
passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40and
saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in
three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God,
come down from the cross.” 41Likewise the chief priests
also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 42“He
saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King
of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and
we will believe Him. 43He trusted in God; let Him deliver
Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son
of God.’ ” 44Even the robbers who were crucified with
Him reviled Him with the same thing.
Jesus Dies on the Cross
45Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there
was darkness over all the land. 46And about the ninth
hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli,
lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have
You forsaken Me?” 47Some of those who stood there,
when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for
Elijah!” 48Immediately one of them ran and took a
sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and
offered it to Him to drink. 49The rest said, “Let Him
alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” 50And
Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up
His spirit. 51Then, behold, the veil of the temple was
torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked,
and the rocks were split, 52and the graves were
opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen
asleep were raised; 53and coming out of the graves
after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and
appeared to many. 54So when the centurion and those
with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake
and the things that had happened, they feared greatly,
saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” 55And many
women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to
Him, were there looking on from afar, 56among whom
were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and
Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb
57Now when evening had come, there came a rich man
from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also
become a disciple of Jesus. 58This man went to Pilate
and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate
commanded the body to be given to him. 59When
Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean
linen cloth, 60and laid it in his new tomb which he had
hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against
the door of the tomb, and departed. 61And Mary
Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting
opposite the tomb.
Pilate Sets a Guard
62On the next day, which followed the Day of
Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered
together to Pilate, 63saying, “Sir, we remember, while
He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three
days I will rise.’ 64Therefore command that the tomb be
made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come
by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He
has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be
worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have
a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know
how.” 66So they went and made the tomb secure,
sealing the stone and setting the guard