Matthew 27

¹When morning arrived, all the high priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus so that they might put him to death. ²After binding him, they led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

³Then Judas, the one who handed him over, seeing that Jesus was condemned, was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the high priests and elders, ⁴saying, “I have sinned by handing over innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? That is your concern.” ⁵And flinging the silver pieces into the sanctuary, he withdrew; and going away, he hanged himself. ⁶The high priests, taking the silver pieces, said, “It is not lawful to put these into the corbanas, since it is the price of blood.” ⁷So after taking counsel, they used the money to buy the Potter’s Field as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸For this reason, that field has been called the Field of Blood until this very day. ⁹Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one who had been valued, whom some of the sons of Israel had valued, ¹⁰and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord directed me.”

¹¹Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned him, saying, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” ¹²But while he was being accused by the high priests and elders, he answered nothing. ¹³Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” ¹⁴But he did not answer him, not even to a single word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

¹⁵Now at the feast, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted. ¹⁶At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner called Jesus Barabbas. ¹⁷So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Jesus 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 word 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 high priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus destroyed. ²¹The governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” They said, “Barabbas!” ²²Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³He said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they kept shouting all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

²⁴When Pilate saw that it was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this blood; that is your concern.” ²⁵And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” ²⁶Then he released Barabbas to them; but after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

²⁷Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. ²⁸They stripped him and put a scarlet cloak around him, ²⁹and after weaving a crown of thorns, they placed it on his head and put a staff in his right hand. Kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰They spat on him, and took the staff and kept striking him on the head. ³¹When they had finished mocking him, they took the cloak off him, put his own clothes back on him, and led him away to be crucified.

³²As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon; they pressed this man into service to carry his cross. ³³And coming to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), ³⁴they gave him wine mixed with gall to drink; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵After they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots, ³⁶and they sat down and kept watch over him there. ³⁷Above his head they placed the charge against him, which read: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁸At that time two bandits were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. ³⁹Those passing by were hurling insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰and saying, “You who would destroy the sanctuary and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” ⁴¹Likewise the high priests, along with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, ⁴²“He saved others; he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him! ⁴³He trusts in God; let God rescue him now if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” ⁴⁴In the same way, even the bandits who were crucified with him were insulting him.

⁴⁵From the sixth hour, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” ⁴⁷When some of those standing there heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” ⁴⁸Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a staff, and gave him a drink. ⁴⁹But the rest said, “Leave him alone; let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” ⁵⁰Then Jesus, crying out again with a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.

⁵¹And behold, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook, and the rocks were split. ⁵²The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the holy ones who had fallen asleep were raised; ⁵³and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴Now the centurion and those with him who were keeping watch over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

⁵⁵Many women were there watching from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him. ⁵⁶Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

⁵⁷When evening arrived, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who had also himself become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given over. ⁵⁹Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰and laid it in his own new tomb which he had cut in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and went away. ⁶¹Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the grave.

⁶²On the next day, which is the day after the Preparation, the high priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³and said, “Sir, we remember that while he was still alive, that imposter said, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ ⁶⁴Therefore, order the grave to be made secure until the third day, so that his disciples do not come and steal him and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶So they went and made the grave secure by sealing the stone and posting the guard.