Matthew 27
1 Very early the next morning all the chief priests and Jewish elders decided how [to arrange for the Romans] to execute Jesus.
And when it was morning all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus so that they might put him to death.
2 They tied his hands and took him to Pilate, the [Roman] governor.
And having bound him they led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
3 When Judas, the one who had (betrayed/enabled Jesus’ enemies to seize) him, realized that they had decided to have Jesus executed, he was very sorry [about what he had done]. He took the 30 coins back to the chief priests and elders.
Then Judas, who delivered him up, seeing that he had been condemned, filled with remorse, returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,
4 He said, “I have sinned. I have (betrayed/enabled you to seize) a man who (is innocent/has not done anything wrong).” They replied, “(That means nothing to us!/What does that mean to us?) [RHQ] That is your problem!”
saying, I have sinned [in] having delivered up guiltless blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou [to that].
5 So Judas [took] the money [and] threw it inside the Temple. Then he went away and hanged himself.
And having cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, he left the place, and went away and hanged himself.
6 [Later] the high priests [found] the coins. They picked them up and said, “This is money that we paid [to have a man killed] [MTY], and our law does not allow [such money] to be put {us to put [such money]} into the [Temple treasury].”
And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, It is not lawful to cast them into the Corban, since it is [the] price of blood.
7 So they decided to use that money to buy the field where clay was dug for making pots {men dug ground for making pots}. [They made that field] a place where they buried strangers [who died in Jerusalem].
And having taken counsel, they bought with them the field of the potter for a burying-ground for strangers.
8 That is why that place is still called {why they still call that place} ‘The field of blood’.
Wherefore that field has been called Blood-field unto this day.
9 [By buying that field], they fulfilled these words that the prophet Jeremiah wrote [long ago]: They took the 30 silver coins; That was what the leaders of Israel decided [that he was worth];
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremias the prophet, saying, And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was set a price on, whom [they who were] of the sons of Israel had set a price on,
10 and with that money they bought the field where clay was dug for potters. They did that as the Lord had commanded me.
and they gave them for the field of the potter, according as [the] Lord commanded me.
11 Jesus stood in front of [Pilate], the governor. The governor asked Jesus, “Do you [claim to be] the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “[It is] as you have [just] said.”
But Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor questioned him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said to him, Thou sayest.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and elders {When the chief priests and elders accused him} about various things, he did not answer.
And when he was accused of the chief priests and the elders, he answered nothing.
13 So Pilate said to him, “You hear how many things they are saying to accuse you; [are you not going to reply]?”
Then says Pilate to him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14 But [even though he was not guilty], Jesus did not say anything. He did not reply to any of the things about which they were accusing him. As a result, the governor was very surprised.
And he answered him not so much as one word, so that the governor wondered exceedingly.
15 It was the governor’s custom [each year] during the [Passover] celebration to release [one person who was in prison]. [He released] whichever prisoner the people wanted.
Now at [the] feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whom they would.
16 At that time there was [in Jerusalem] a well-known prisoner whose name was Barabbas.
And they had then a notable prisoner, named Barabbas.
17 So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which [prisoner] would you like me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus, whom [some of you] claim to be the Messiah?”
They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said to them, Whom will ye that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?
18 [He asked that question] because he realized that the chief priests [wanted to have Jesus executed]. They had brought Jesus to him [only] because they were jealous of Jesus. [And Pilate thought that the crowd would prefer that he release Jesus].
For he knew that they had delivered him up through envy.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the platform [where he made] judicial [decisions], his wife sent him [this message]: “Early this morning I had a bad dream because of that man. So do not condemn that righteous man!”
But, as he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous [man]; for I have suffered to-day many things in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask [Pilate to] release Barabbas, and to [order] that Jesus be executed {that [his soldiers] execute Jesus}.
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should beg for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 So when the governor asked them, “Which of the two men do you want me to release for you?” They replied, “Barabbas!”
And the governor answering said to them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate, [very astonished], asked, “So what shall I do with Jesus who [some of you] say is the Messiah?” They all answered, “[Command that] he be crucified! {[Command your soldiers] (to crucify him/to nail him to a cross)}!”
Pilate says to them, What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.
23 Pilate replied, “Why? What crime has he committed?” But they shouted even louder, “[Have] him crucified {[Command that your soldiers] crucify him}!”
And the governor said, What evil then has he done? But they cried more than ever, saying, Let him be crucified.
24 Pilate realized that he was accomplishing nothing. He saw that instead, the people were starting to riot. So he took [a basin of] water and washed his hands as the crowd was watching. He said, “[By washing my hands I am showing you that] if this man dies [MTY], it is [your] fault, [not mine]!”
And Pilate, seeing that it availed nothing, but that rather a tumult was arising, having taken water, washed his hands before the crowd, saying, I am guiltless of the blood of this righteous one: see ye [to it].
25 And all the people answered, “The guilt for causing him to die [MTY] will be on us, and it will be on our children, too!”
And all the people answering said, His blood [be] on us and on our children.
26 Then he [ordered the soldiers to] release Barabbas for them. But he [ordered that his soldiers] flog Jesus. And then he turned Jesus over to the soldiers for them (to nail Jesus to a cross/to crucify him).
Then he released to them Barabbas; but Jesus, having scourged [him], he delivered up that he might be crucified.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the government headquarters. The whole (cohort/group of soldiers) gathered around him.
Then the soldiers of the governor, having taken Jesus with [them] to the praetorium, gathered against him the whole band,
28 They pulled off [his clothes], and [pretending he was a king, they] put a purple robe on him.
and having taken off his garment, put on him a scarlet cloak;
29 They [took some branches with] thorns and wove them to make a crown and put it on his head. They put in his right hand a reed [like a staff that a king would hold]. Then they knelt in front of him and made fun of him, saying, “Hooray for the king of the Jews [IRO]!”
and having woven a crown out of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and, bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 They kept spitting on him. They took the staff and kept striking him on the head with it.
And having spit upon him, they took the reed and beat [him] on his head.
31 When they had finished ridiculing him, they pulled off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to [the place where they] would nail him to a cross.
And when they had mocked him, they took the cloak off him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify.
32 [After Jesus carried his cross] a short distance, [the soldiers] saw a man named Simon, [who was] from Cyrene [city]. They forced him to carry the cross for Jesus.
And as they went forth they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to go [with them] that he might bear his cross.
33 They came to a place called Golgotha. That name means ‘the place [like] a skull’.
And having come to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a skull,
34 When [they got there], they mixed with wine something that tasted very bitter. They gave it to [Jesus] to drink [so that he would not feel so much pain when they nailed him on the cross]. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. [Some soldiers took his clothes].
they gave to him to drink vinegar mingled with gall; and having tasted [it], he would not drink.
35 Then they nailed him to the cross. Afterwards, they divided his clothes among themselves by gambling with something like dice [to decide which piece of clothing each one would get].
And having crucified him, they parted his clothes amongst [themselves], casting lots.
36 Then the soldiers sat down there to guard him, [to prevent anyone from trying to rescue him].
And sitting down, they kept guard over him there.
37 They fastened [to the cross] above Jesus’ head a [sign on which had been] {[they had]} written why [they] were nailing him to the cross. [But all] it said was, ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews’.
And they set up over his head his accusation written: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
38 Two bandits were also nailed {They also nailed two bandits} on crosses. One was nailed to a cross on the right side [of Jesus] and one to a cross on the left side.
Then are crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand and one on the left.
39 The people who were passing by insulted him by shaking their heads [as if he were an evil man].
But the passers-by reviled him, shaking their heads
40 They said, “You [said you] would destroy the Temple, and then you would build it again within three days! [So if you could do that], you [should be able to] save yourself! If you are the man who is also God (OR, If you are the Son of God), come down from the cross!”
and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou art Son of God, descend from the cross.
41 Similarly, the chief priests, the men who taught the [Jewish] laws and the elders made fun of him. [Various ones of them] said things like,
[And] in like manner the chief priests also, mocking, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 “He [claims that he] saved others [IRO] [from their sicknesses], but he cannot help himself!” “He [says that he] is [IRO] the King of Israel. So he should come down from the cross. Then we would believe him!”
He saved others, himself he cannot save. He is King of Israel: let him descend now from the cross, and we will believe on him.
43 “He [says that he] trusts in God, and that he is the man who is also God. So if God is pleased with him, God should rescue him now!”
He trusted upon God; let him save him now if he will [have] him. For he said, I am Son of God.
44 And the [two] bandits who had been crucified with him also insulted him, saying similar things.
And the robbers also who had been crucified with him cast the same reproaches on him.
45 At noon it became dark over the whole land. [It stayed dark] until three o’clock [in the afternoon].
Now from [the] sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until [the] ninth hour;
46 At about three o’clock Jesus shouted loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That means, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’
but about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47 When some of the people standing there heard [the word ‘Eli’, misunderstanding it], they said, “He is calling for [the prophet] Elijah!”
And some of those who stood there, when they heard [it], said, This [man] calls for Elias.
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with sour wine. Then he put the sponge on [the tip of] a reed and [held it up in order that Jesus] could suck out [the wine that was in it].
And immediately one of them running and getting a sponge, having filled [it] with vinegar and fixed [it] on a reed, gave him to drink.
49 But the other [people there] said, “Wait! Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him!”
But the rest said, Let be; let us see if Elias comes to save him.
50 Then after Jesus shouted out loudly again, he died, giving his spirit over [to God].
And Jesus, having again cried with a loud voice, gave up the ghost.
51 At that moment the [heavy thick] curtain [that closed off the most holy place] in the Temple split into two pieces from top to bottom. [That signified that ordinary people could now go into the presence of God]. The earth shook, and [some large] rocks split open.
And lo, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom, and the earth was shaken, and the rocks were rent,
52 [Some] tombs opened up, and the bodies of many godly people who had died became alive again.
and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints fallen asleep arose,
53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus became alive again, they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people [there].
and going out of the tombs after his arising, entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.
54 The officer who supervised the soldiers [who nailed Jesus to the cross was standing nearby]. His soldiers who had been on guard [so that no one would rescue] Jesus [were also there]. When they [felt] the earthquake and saw all the [other] things that happened, they were terrified. They exclaimed, “Truly he was both man and God! (OR, a Son of God).”
But the centurion, and they who were with him on guard over Jesus, seeing the earthquake and the things that took place, feared greatly, saying, Truly this [man] was Son of God.
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They were women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee [district] in order to provide the things he needed.
And there were there many women beholding from afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee ministering to him,
56 Among these women were Mary from Magdala [town], [another] Mary who was the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John.
among whom was Mary of Magdala, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57 When it was [almost] evening, a rich man named Joseph came [there]. He was from Arimathea [town]. He also was a disciple of Jesus.
Now when even was come there came a rich man of Arimathaea, his name Joseph, who also himself was a disciple to Jesus.
58 He then went to Pilate and asked Pilate to [allow him to take] the body of Jesus [and bury it]. Pilate ordered that [he] be allowed to {[his soldiers] let [Joseph]} take [the body].
He, going to Pilate, begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.
59 So Joseph [and others] took the body and wrapped it in a clean white cloth.
And Joseph having got the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 Then they placed it in Joseph’s own new tomb that had been dug out of the rock [cliff]. They rolled a huge [circular flat] stone in front of the entrance to the tomb. Then they left.
and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn in the rock; and having rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, went away.
61 Mary from Magdala and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb, [watching].
But Mary of Magdala was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the sepulchre.
62 The next day was Saturday, the Jewish day of rest. The chief priests and [some of] the Pharisees went to Pilate.
Now on the morrow, which is after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate,
63 They said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive, he said, ‘Three days after I [die I] will become alive again.’
saying, Sir, we have called to mind that that deceiver said when he was still alive, After three days I arise.
64 So we ask you to order that the tomb be guarded {that [soldiers] guard the tomb} for three days. If you do not do that, his disciples may come and steal the body. Then they will tell people that he has risen from the dead. If they deceive [people by saying that], it will be worse than the way he deceived people before [by saying that he was the Messiah].”
Command therefore that the sepulchre be secured until the third day, lest his disciples should 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.
65 Pilate replied, “You [can] take some soldiers. Go to the tomb and make it as secure as you know how.”
And Pilate said to them, Ye have a watch: go, secure it as well as ye know how.
66 So they went and made the tomb secure by [fastening a cord from] the stone [that was in front of the entrance to the rock cliff on each side] and sealing it. They also [left some soldiers there to] guard [the tomb].
And they went and secured the sepulchre, having sealed the stone, with the watch [besides].
