Matthew 27
27
Judas Hangs Himself
1Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. 2Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
3When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4“I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”
“What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”
5Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.
6The leading priests picked up the coins. “It wouldn’t be right to put this money in the Temple treasury,” they said, “since it was payment for murder.”#27:6 Greek since it is the price for blood. 7After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. 8That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. 9This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says,
“They took#27:9 Or I took. the thirty pieces of silver—
the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel,
10and purchased the potter’s field,
as the Lord directed.#27:9-10 Greek as the Lord directed me. Zech 11:12-13; Jer 32:6-9.”
Jesus’ Trial before Pilate
11Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.
Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
12But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. 13“Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. 14But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.
15Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas.#27:16 Some manuscripts read Jesus Barabbas; also in 27:17. 17As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18(He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
19Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.”
20Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?”
The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”
22Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
They shouted back, “Crucify him!”
23“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”
But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”
24Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”
25And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”#27:25 Greek “His blood be on us and on our children.”
26So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters#27:27 Or into the Praetorium. and called out the entire regiment. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 30And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. 31When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
32Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene,#27:32 Cyrene was a city in northern Africa. and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 34The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.
35After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.#27:35 Greek by casting lots. A few late manuscripts add This fulfilled the word of the prophet: “They divided my garments among themselves and cast lots for my robe.” See Ps 22:18. 36Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. 37A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38Two revolutionaries#27:38 Or criminals; also in 27:44. were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
39The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40“Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
41The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42“He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! 43He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.
The Death of Jesus
45At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,#27:46a Some manuscripts read Eloi, Eloi. lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”#27:46b Ps 22:1.
47Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. 49But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”#27:49 Some manuscripts add And another took a spear and pierced his side, and out flowed water and blood. Compare John 19:34.
50Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
54The Roman officer#27:54 Greek The centurion. and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
55And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
The Burial of Jesus
57As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, 58went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. 59Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. 60He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. 61Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.
The Guard at the Tomb
62The next day, on the Sabbath,#27:62 Or On the next day, which is after the Preparation. the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
65Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.
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Matthew 27: NLT
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Matthew 27
27
Jesus Handed Over to Pontius Pilate
1When morning came, #Ps. 2:2; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66; 23:1; John 18:28all 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 #Matt. 20:19; Luke 18:32; Acts 3:13delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Judas Hangs Himself
3#Matt. 26:14Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty #Matt. 26:15pieces 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 #2 Sam. 17:23; Matt. 18:7; 26:24; John 17:12; Acts 1:18departed, 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 #Acts 1:19the Field of Blood to this day.
9Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, #Zech. 11:12“And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10and #Jer. 32:6–9; Zech. 11:12, 13gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”
Jesus Faces Pilate
11Now Jesus stood before the governor. #Mark 15:2–5; Luke 23:2, 3; John 18:29–38And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, #John 18:37; 1 Tim. 6:13“It is as you say.” 12And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, #Ps. 38:13, 14; Matt. 26:63; John 19:9He answered nothing.
13Then Pilate said to Him, #Matt. 26:62; John 19:10“Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
Taking the Place of Barabbas
15#Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:17–25; John 18:39—19:16Now 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 #Matt. 21:38; (John 15:22–25)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.”
20#Mark 15:11; Luke 23:18; John 18:40; Acts 3:14But 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, #Acts 3:14“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, #Acts 3:13“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 #Deut. 21:6–8took 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, #Deut. 19:10; Josh. 2:19; 2 Sam. 1:16; 1 Kin. 2:32; Acts 5:28“His blood be on us and on our children.”
26Then he released Barabbas to them; and when #(Is. 50:6; 53:5); Matt. 20:19; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:16, 24, 25; John 19:1, 16he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27#Mark 15:16–20; John 19:2Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28And they #Mark 15:17; John 19:2stripped Him and #Luke 23:11put a scarlet robe on Him. 29#Ps. 69:19; Is. 53:3; Matt. 20:19; Mark 10:34; Luke 18:32When 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 #Is. 50:6; 52:14; Mic. 5:1; Matt. 26:67; Mark 10:34; 14:65; 15:19they 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, #Is. 53:7; Matt. 20:19and led Him away to be crucified.
The King on a Cross
32#1 Kin. 21:13; Acts 7:58; Heb. 13:12Now as they came out, #Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26; John 19:17they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. 33#Mark 15:22–32; Luke 23:33–43; John 19:17And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, 34#Ps. 69:21; Matt. 27:48they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.
35#Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:
#Ps. 22:18“They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”
36#Ps. 22:17; Matt. 27:54Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37And they #Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38; John 19:19put up over His head the accusation written against Him:
THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38#Is. 53:9, 12; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:32, 33; John 19:18Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.
39And #Job 16:4; Ps. 22:7; 109:25; Lam. 2:15; Mark 15:29; Luke 23:35those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40and saying, #Matt. 26:61; John 2:19“You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! #Matt. 26:63If 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 #(Matt. 18:11; John 3:14, 15)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. 43#Ps. 22:8He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
44#Mark 15:32; Luke 23:39–43Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
Jesus Dies on the Cross
45#Amos 8:9; Mark 15:33–41; Luke 23:44–49Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46And about the ninth hour #(Heb. 5:7)Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, #Ps. 22:1“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, #Ps. 69:21; Mark 15:36; Luke 23:36; John 19:29filled 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 #Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46; John 19:30cried out again with a loud voice, and #Dan. 9:26; Zech. 11:10, 11; Matt. 17:23; (John 10:18; 1 Cor. 15:3)yielded up His spirit.
51Then, behold, #Ex. 26:31; 2 Chr. 3:14; Zech. 11:10; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45; Heb. 9:3the 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.
54#Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, #Matt. 14:33“Truly this was the Son of God!”
55And many women #Mark 15:41; Luke 8:2, 3who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, 56#Matt. 28:1; Mark 15:40, 47; 16:9; Luke 8:2; John 19:25; 20:1, 18among 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 #Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42when 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 #Is. 53:9; Matt. 26:12laid 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, #Matt. 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; 26:61; Mark 8:31; 10:34; Luke 9:22; 13:33; 24:6, 7; John 2:19‘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, #Dan. 6:17sealing the stone and setting the guard.
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