Matthew 27

Jesus Handed Over to Pilate

1Early in the morning, all the chief priests and elders of the people made a plan against Jesus to put him to death. 2They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

Judas Dies

3When Judas, the one who handed Jesus over, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders, 4saying, “I sinned by handing over innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? You see to it.” 5He threw the silver coins into the temple, left, and went away and hanged himself. 6The chief priests took the silver coins and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, because they are blood money.” 7After consulting together, they used the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. 8Therefore that field has been called Field of Blood to this day. 9Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one whose price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.”

Jesus Before Pilate

11Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” 14But Jesus did not answer him—not even one charge—so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Barabbas or Jesus

15At the festival the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd one prisoner whom they wanted. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. 17So when they had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew they had handed Jesus over because of envy. 19While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message: “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, because today I suffered greatly in a dream because of him.” 20But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and have Jesus killed. 21The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” They said, “Barabbas.” 22Pilate asked them, “What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23He asked, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted even louder, “Let him be crucified!”

24When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but instead a riot was beginning, he took water, washed his hands before the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man's blood. You see to it.” 25All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26Then Pilate released Barabbas for them. After having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Jesus Mocked

27Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the governor's headquarters and gathered the whole cohort around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet cloak on him. 29They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a reed in his right hand. Kneeling before him, they mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” 30They spit on him, took the reed, and kept striking him on the head. 31After mocking him, they took off the cloak, put his own clothes back on him, and led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

32As they went out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon. They compelled him to carry Jesus' cross. 33When they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34they gave Jesus wine mixed with gall to drink. After tasting it, he refused to drink. 35After crucifying him, they divided his clothes by casting lots. 36Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37Above his head they placed the written charge against him: “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 38Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

39Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are God's Son, come down from the cross!” 41In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him: 42“He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is Israel's king. Let him come down now from the cross, and we will trust in him. 43He trusted in God; let God rescue him now, if God wants him. For he said, ‘I am God's Son.’” 44In the same way, the robbers crucified with him also insulted him.

Jesus Dies

45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness came over all the land. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. 49But the others said, “Leave him alone. Let us see whether Elijah comes to save him.” 50Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.

51And look—the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks split. 52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the holy ones who had fallen asleep were raised. 53After Jesus' resurrection, they came out of the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many. 54When the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God's Son.”

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

Jesus Is Buried

57When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came; he too had become a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of rock. He rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62The next day, which was after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered before Pilate. 63They said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ 64Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, or his disciples may come, steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He was raised from the dead.’ Then the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate told them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you know how.” 66So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and posting the guard.