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Matthew 27

1When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

3Then Judas, who had handed him over, saw that Jesus had been condemned and, feeling remorse, returned the thirty silver pieces to the chief priests and elders, 4saying, “I have sinned by handing over innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5Throwing the silver pieces into the sanctuary, he withdrew, and went away and hanged himself. 6The chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are the price of blood.” 7After taking counsel, they bought the potter's field with them as a burial place for foreigners. 8That is why that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “And they took the thirty silver pieces, the price of the one who was priced, whom some of the sons of Israel priced, 10and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.”

11Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned him, saying, “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 testify against you?” 14But he did not answer him, not even about a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

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

24When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that a riot was starting instead, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this blood. See to it yourselves.” 25All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26Then he released Barabbas to them, but after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

27Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the governor's residence and gathered the whole cohort around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet cloak on him. 29They wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. Kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Greetings, king of the Jews!” 30They spat on him, took the reed, and struck him on the head. 31After mocking him, they took the cloak off him, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

32As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon and forced him to carry Jesus's cross. 33When they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34they gave him wine mixed with gall to drink. After tasting it, he would not drink. 35When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes by casting lots. 36Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37Above his head they placed the charge against him in writing: “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 38Then two bandits 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 tear down the sanctuary and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41In the same way, the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him and said, 42“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God; let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am God's Son.’” 44The bandits crucified with him also insulted him in the same way.

45From the sixth hour, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 47Some of those standing there heard this and said, “He is calling Elijah.” 48Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink. 49But the rest 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 sanctuary 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. 53Coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54When the centurion and those with him keeping watch over Jesus saw the earthquake and what had happened, they were greatly afraid and said, “Truly this was God's Son!” 55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph arrived, who had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus's body. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the 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.

62The next day, which was after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ 64So order the tomb to be secured until the third day, so that his disciples do not come and steal him and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ The last deception will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go and secure it as best you know how.” 66So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone, with the guard present.

Translation notes 10

27:3 — Feeling remorse. “Feeling remorse” represents a different Greek verb from the usual “repent.” The same verb means “changed his mind” in 21:29, 32; remorse fits Judas's response here. This lexical difference does not by itself settle its quality or theological status.

27:9–10 — Jeremiah. Matthew names Jeremiah, although much of the wording resembles Zechariah 11:12–13, alongside themes associated with Jeremiah. The repeated language of pricing and the attribution are retained. “They took” could instead be “I took.”

27:16–17 — Jesus Barabbas. The Greek base includes “Jesus” in Barabbas's name; other witnesses omit it. Both men are named Jesus in Pilate's question.

27:24–26 — All the people. “All the people” identifies those answering within this scene. Their words do not extend guilt to every Jewish person or authorize hatred of later generations. Pilate's claim to innocence is his own; the narrative says he orders the flogging and hands Jesus over for crucifixion.

27:27, 34 — Cohort; gall. A “cohort” is a Roman military unit. “Gall” preserves the bitter substance named here; Matthew has wine at this point, distinct from the sour wine in verse 48.

27:45–46 — Sixth to ninth hours; the cry. The sixth to ninth hours are roughly noon to three in the afternoon. “Land” can also be “earth.” Jesus's cry quotes Psalm 22:1; the draft preserves the question without supplying a resolution of its theological force.

27:49 — Spear thrust omitted. The base omits a spear-thrust account found here in some witnesses. Matthew's narrative proceeds directly to Jesus's death in verse 50.

27:52–53 — Fallen asleep; after his resurrection. “Fallen asleep” means having died. Matthew expressly says “bodies.” “After his resurrection” is read here with their emergence from the tombs; it can instead be attached to their entry into the city. Either way, that entry follows Jesus's resurrection. The interval is not explained.

27:54 — Son of God. Alternatively, “a son of God.” The lack of the Greek article does not by itself determine the English article or the soldiers' full understanding.

27:62, 65 — Preparation; you have a guard. “Preparation” names the day of preparation for the Sabbath. “You have a guard” can also be read as the instruction “Take a guard.”