NIV LIVE: 30 Day Audio Bible ChallengeSample

Chapter 27

In the morning, the chief priests and elders took Jesus to Pilate the governor. Judas returned the money and then hanged himself. Jesus did not answer the Jews before Pilate, though He did answer Pilate briefly, He did not answer all of Pilate’s questions. Barabbas was released. Pilate washed his hands and declared himself innocent and turned Jesus over to be crucified because of the religious leaders’ insistence. Jesus was mocked and crucified. There was darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour. Jesus yielded up His spirit and there was an earthquake the moment He died. Jesus was buried. The priests sealed the tomb and set up Roman guards to secure the tomb, because they knew Jesus said He would rise in three days (another indication they lied about Jesus at His trial).

Chapter 28

On the first day of the week (a Sunday), Jesus rose from the dead. There was an earthquake and an angel rolled away the stone door from the opening to the tomb to let the women in so they could see that the tomb was empty. On the way to tell His disciples, Jesus met the women and spoke to them the same message as the angel gave them for His disciples. The guards reported what happened to the chief priests, and the priests told them to lie about what happened and they would lie too. Jesus met the eleven disciples on the mountain in Galilee as He said, and He gave them the Great Commission to spread the good news.