Matthew 27
27
Thirty Silver Coins
1-2In the first light of dawn, all the high priests and religious leaders met and put the finishing touches on their plot to kill Jesus. Then they tied him up and paraded him to Pilate, the governor.
3-4Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.”
They said, “What do we care? That’s your problem!”
5Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself.
6-10The high priests picked up the silver pieces, but then didn’t know what to do with them. “It wouldn’t be right to give this—a payment for murder!—as an offering in the Temple.” They decided to get rid of it by buying the “Potter’s Field” and use it as a burial place for the homeless. That’s how the field got called “Murder Meadow,” a name that has stuck to this day. Then Jeremiah’s words became history:
They took the thirty silver pieces,
The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel,
And they purchased the potter’s field.
And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter.
Pilate
11Jesus was placed before the governor, who questioned him: “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”
Jesus said, “If you say so.”
12-14But when the accusations rained down hot and heavy from the high priests and religious leaders, he said nothing. Pilate asked him, “Do you hear that long list of accusations? Aren’t you going to say something?” Jesus kept silence—not a word from his mouth. The governor was impressed, really impressed.
15-18It was an old custom during the Feast for the governor to pardon a single prisoner named by the crowd. At the time, they had the infamous Jesus Barabbas in prison. With the crowd before him, Pilate said, “Which prisoner do you want me to pardon: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?” He knew it was through sheer spite that they had turned Jesus over to him.
19While court was still in session, Pilate’s wife sent him a message: “Don’t get mixed up in judging this noble man. I’ve just been through a long and troubled night because of a dream about him.”
20Meanwhile, the high priests and religious leaders had talked the crowd into asking for the pardon of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.
21The governor asked, “Which of the two do you want me to pardon?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22“Then what do I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?”
They all shouted, “Nail him to a cross!”
23He objected, “But for what crime?”
But they yelled all the louder, “Nail him to a cross!”
24When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was imminent, he took a basin of water and washed his hands in full sight of the crowd, saying, “I’m washing my hands of responsibility for this man’s death. From now on, it’s in your hands. You’re judge and jury.”
25The crowd answered, “We’ll take the blame, we and our children after us.”
26Then he pardoned Barabbas. But he had Jesus whipped, and then handed over for crucifixion.
The Crucifixion
27-31The soldiers assigned to the governor took Jesus into the governor’s palace and got the entire brigade together for some fun. They stripped him and dressed him in a red robe. They plaited a crown from branches of a thornbush and set it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand for a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mocking reverence: “Bravo, King of the Jews!” they said. “Bravo!” Then they spit on him and hit him on the head with the stick. When they had had their fun, they took off the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they proceeded out to the crucifixion.
32-34Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus’ cross. Arriving at Golgotha, the place they call “Skull Hill,” they offered him a mild painkiller (a mixture of wine and myrrh), but when he tasted it he wouldn’t drink it.
35-40After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they killed time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come down from that cross!”
41-44The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: “He saved others—he can’t save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then! He was so sure of God—well, let him rescue his ‘Son’ now—if he wants him! He did claim to be God’s Son, didn’t he?” Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery.
45-46From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
47-49Some bystanders who heard him said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so he could drink. The others joked, “Don’t be in such a hurry. Let’s see if Elijah comes and saves him.”
50But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last.
51-53At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What’s more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.)
54The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, “This has to be the Son of God!”
55-56There were also quite a few women watching from a distance, women who had followed Jesus from Galilee in order to serve him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the Zebedee brothers.
The Tomb
57-61Late in the afternoon a wealthy man from Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, arrived. His name was Joseph. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate granted his request. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linens, put it in his own tomb, a new tomb only recently cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the entrance. Then he went off. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed, sitting in plain view of the tomb.
62-64After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate. They said, “Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ We’ve got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There’s a good chance his disciples will come and steal the corpse and then go around saying, ‘He’s risen from the dead.’ Then we’ll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first.”
65-66Pilate told them, “You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can.” So they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.
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Matthew 27: MSG
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
St Matthew 27
27
1AND when morning was come, all the chief priests and ancients of the people took counsel against Jesus, that they might put him to death.
2And they brought him bound, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients,
4Saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. But they said: What is that to us? look thou to it.
5And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed: and went and hanged himself with an halter.
6But the chief priests having taken the pieces of silver, said: It is not lawful to put them into the corbona, because it is the price of blood.
7And after they had consulted together, they bought with them the potter's field, to be a burying place for strangers.
8For this cause the field was called Haceldama, that is, The field of blood, even to this day.
9Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was prized, whom they prized of the children of Israel.
10And they gave them unto the potter's field, as the Lord appointed to me.
11And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to him: Thou sayest it.
12And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he answered nothing.
13Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou hear how great testimonies they allege against thee?
14And he answered him to never a word; so that the governor wondered exceedingly.
15Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would.
16And he had then a notorious prisoner, that was called Barabbas.
17They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ?
18For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19And as he was sitting in the place of judgment, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people, that they should ask Barabbas, and make Jesus away.
21And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas.
22Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified.
23The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified.
24And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look you to it.
25And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and our children.
26Then he released to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified.
27Then the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band;
28And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him.
29And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews.
30And spitting upon him, they took the reed, and struck his head.
31And after they had mocked him, they took off the cloak from him, and put on him his own garments, and led him away to crucify him.
32And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: him they forced to take up his cross.
33And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary.
34And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink.
35And after they had crucified him, they divided his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided my garments among them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.
36And they sat and watched him.
37And they put over his head his cause written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38Then were crucified with him two thieves: one on the right hand, and one on the left.
39And they that passed by, blasphemed him, wagging their heads,
40And saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God, and in three days dost rebuild it: save thy own self: if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41In like manner also the chief priests, with the scribes and ancients, mocking, said:
42He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43He trusted in God; let him now deliver him if he will have him; for he said: I am the Son of God.
44And the selfsame thing the thieves also, that were crucified with him, reproached him with.
45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole earth, until the ninth hour.
46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47And some that stood there and heard, said: This man calleth Elias.
48And immediately one of them running took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar; and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49And the others said: Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to deliver him.
50And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent.
52And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose,
53And coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came into the holy city, and appeared to many.
54Now the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake, and the things that were done, were sore afraid, saying: Indeed this was the Son of God.
55And there were there many women afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56Among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus.
58He went to Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered.
59And Joseph taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth.
60And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument, and went his way.
61And there was there Mary Magdalen, and the other Mary sitting over against the sepulchre.
62And the next day, which followed the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate,
63Saying: Sir, we have remembered, that that seducer said, while he was yet alive: After three days I will rise again.
64Command therefore the sepulchre to be guarded until the third day: lest perhaps his disciples come and steal him away, and say to the people: He is risen from the dead; and the last error shall be worse than the first.
65Pilate saith to them: You have a guard; go, guard it as you know.
66And they departing, made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting guards.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.