The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Matthew 27
1 Now when morning had come, all the
chief priests and the elders of the people
took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
2 They bound him, led him away, and
delivered him up to Pontius Pilate,
the governor.
3 Then 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,
4 saying, “I have sinned in thatI betrayed
innocent blood.” Butthey said, “Whatis
thattous? Yousee to it.”
5 He threw down the pieces of silver in
the sanctuary and departed. Then he went
away and hanged himself.
6 The 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.
7 They took counsel, and bought the potter’s
field with them to bury strangers in.
8 Therefore that field has been called
“The Field of Blood” to this day.
9 Then 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,
10 and they gave them for the potter’s field,
as the Lord commanded me.”*
11 Now 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.”
12 When he was accused by the chief
priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you
hear how many things they testify against you?”
14 He gave him no answer, not even
one word, so that the governor marveled
greatly.
15 Now at the feast the governor was
accustomed to release to the multitude one
prisoner whom they desired.
16 They had then a notable prisoner
called Barabbas.
17 When 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?”
18 For he knew that because of envy they
had delivered him up.
19 While 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.”
20 Now the chief priests and the elders
persuaded the multitudes to ask
for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
21 But the governor answered them,
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I
do to Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
23 But the governor said, “Why? What
evil has he done?” But they cried out
exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So 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.”
25 All the people answered, “May his
blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them,
but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be
crucified.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took
Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the
whole garrison together against him.
28 They stripped him and put a scarlet
robe on him.
29 They 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!”
30 They spat on him, and took the reed
and struck him on the head.
31 When they had mocked him, they took
the robe off him, and put his clothes on
him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 As 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.
33 When they came to a place called “Golgotha”,
that is to say, “The place of a skull,”
34 they gave him sour wine‡ to drink
mixed with gall.§ When he had tasted it,
he would not drink.
35 When they had crucified him, they
divided his clothing among them, casting
lots,†
36 and they sat and watched him there.
37 They set up over his head the accusation
against him written, “THIS IS JESUS,
THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
38 Then there were two robbers crucified
with him, one on his right hand and one on
the left.
39 Those who passed by blasphemed
him, wagging their heads
40 and 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!”
41 Likewise the chief priests also mocking
with the scribes, the Pharisees,‡ and
the elders, said,
42 “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.
43 He trusts in God. Let God deliver him
now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the
Son of God.’ ”
44 The robbers also who were crucified
with him cast on him the same reproach.
45 Now from the sixth hour§ there was
darkness over all the land until the ninth
hour.†
46 About 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?”*
47 Some of them who stood there, when
they heard it, said, “This man is calling
Elijah.”
48 Immediately one ofthem ran and took
a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a
reed, and gave him a drink.
49 The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see
whether Elijah comes to save him.”
50 Jesus cried again with a loud voice,
and yielded up his spirit.
51 Behold, the veil of the temple was torn
in two from the top to the bottom. The
earth quaked and the rocks were split.
52 The tombs were opened, and many
bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep
were raised;
53 and coming out of the tombs after his
resurrection, they entered into the holy
city and appeared to many.
54 Now 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!”
55 Many women were there watching
from afar, who had followed Jesus from
Galilee, serving him.
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of James and Joses, and
the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57 When evening had come, a rich man
from Arimathaea named Joseph, who
himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came.
58 This man went to Pilate and asked for
Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the
body to be given up.
59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it
in a clean linen cloth
60 and laid itin 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.
61 Mary Magdalene was there, and the
other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
62 Now on the next day, which was the
day after the Preparation Day, the chief
priests and the Pharisees were gathered
together to Pilate,
63 saying, “Sir, we remember what that
deceiver said while he was still alive:
‘After three days I will rise again.’
64 Command 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.”
65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard.
Go, make it as secure as you can.”
66 So they went with the guard and made
the tomb secure, sealing the stone.