Matthew 27

1verseNow when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

2verseThey bound him, led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

3verseThen Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4versesaying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”

5verseHe threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary and departed. Then he went away and hanged himself.

6verseThe chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It’s not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.”

7verseThey took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them to bury strangers in.

8verseTherefore that field has been called “The Field of Blood” to this day.

9verseThen that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom some of the children of Israel priced,

10verseand they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

11verseNow Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, saying, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “So you say.”

12verseWhen he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

13verseThen Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?”

14verseHe gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

15verseNow at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they desired.

16verseThey had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas.

17verseWhen therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

18verseFor he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.

19verseWhile he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.”

20verseNow the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

21verseBut the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”

22versePilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”

23verseBut the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

24verseSo when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.”

25verseAll the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!”

26verseThen he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.

27verseThen the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.

28verseThey stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.

29verseThey braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

30verseThey spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.

31verseWhen they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

32verseAs they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.

33verseWhen they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull,”

34versethey gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.

35verseWhen they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,

36verseand they sat and watched him there.

37verseThey set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

38verseThen there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.

39verseThose who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads

40verseand 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!”

41verseLikewise the chief priests also mocking with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said,

42verse“He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.

43verseHe trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

44verseThe robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.

45verseNow from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

46verseAbout the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

47verseSome of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”

48verseImmediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.

49verseThe rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”

50verseJesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.

51verseBehold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.

52verseThe tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

53verseand coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.

54verseNow the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done, were terrified, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55verseMany women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.

56verseAmong them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57verseWhen evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came.

58verseThis man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.

59verseJoseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth

60verseand laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.

61verseMary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

62verseNow on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,

63versesaying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’

64verseCommand therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

65versePilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”

66verseSo they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.