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.
When early morning came, all the chief priests and elders plotted against Jesus to kill Him.
2 They tied his hands and took him to Pilate, the [Roman] governor.
And having bound Him they went and handed Him over 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, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, felt regret and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and 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 sinned, by betraying innocent blood.” But they said: “What do we care? It's your problem!”
5 So Judas [took] the money [and] threw it inside the Temple. Then he went away and hanged himself.
So throwing the silver down in the sanctuary he left, and went 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].”
Then the chief priests took the coins and said, “It isn't lawful to put them into the treasury, being blood money.”
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].
So after consultation they bought the potter's field with them, as a burial ground for strangers.
8 That is why that place is still called {why they still call that place} ‘The field of blood’.
Therefore that field has been called ‘field of blood’ to 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 what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, namely: “And they took the thirty silver coins, the value of the one who was priced, whom some of the children of Israel priced,
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 potter's field, just as the Lord directed 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.”
So Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “As you say.”
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.
But although the chief priests and elders kept accusing Him, 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 Pilate says to Him, “Don't you hear all that they are saying against you?”
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.
But He did not answer him, not even one word, so that the governor was really amazed.
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, whomever they wanted.
16 At that time there was [in Jerusalem] a well-known prisoner whose name was Barabbas.
Just then they had a notorious prisoner called 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?”
So while they were assembled Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Messiah?”
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 handed Him over 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!”
Now as he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, because I suffered a great deal in a dream today 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 elders had persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas, but 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!”
So the governor spoke up and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to 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 Messiah?” They all say to him, “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}!”
So the governor said, “But, what evil did He do?” But they kept yelling all the more 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]!”
When Pilate saw that nothing was being gained but rather a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd saying: “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man. It's your problem!”
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!”
So in answer all the people said, “His blood be upon us and upon 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 Barabbas to them, but Jesus, after flogging Him, he delivered to 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 governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him.
28 They pulled off [his clothes], and [pretending he was a king, they] put a purple robe on him.
They stripped Him and put a scarlet cloak on Him.
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]!”
They plaited a crown out of thorns and put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and kneeling before Him they would mock 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.
Spitting on Him they took the reed and hit Him repeatedly on the 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.
After they had mocked Him they took the cloak off Him and put His own clothes back on; and they led Him away to be crucified.
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.
Now as they went out they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon; they compelled him to carry His cross.
33 They came to a place called Golgotha. That name means ‘the place [like] a skull’.
Upon arriving at 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 Him sour wine mixed with gall to drink; but 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].
Having crucified Him they divided up His clothes by casting lots.
36 Then the soldiers sat down there to guard him, [to prevent anyone from trying to rescue him].
And sitting down there they guarded Him.
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 put the charge against Him over His head in writing: 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 they crucified two bandits with Him, one on His right and one on His left.
39 The people who were passing by insulted him by shaking their heads [as if he were an evil man].
And the passers-by kept blaspheming Him, wagging 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: “You who destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!” “If you are ‘Son of God’, come down 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,
Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders and Pharisees, 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!” “If he is ‘King of Israel’ let him come down from the cross now and we will believe 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 in God; let Him rescue him now, if He wants him; for he said, ‘I am God's Son.’”
44 And the [two] bandits who had been crucified with him also insulted him, saying similar things.
Even the bandits who were crucified with Him were reviling Him in the same way.
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 until the ninth hour a darkness came over all the land.
46 At about three o’clock Jesus shouted loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That means, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachtani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?”
47 When some of the people standing there heard [the word ‘Eli’, misunderstanding it], they said, “He is calling for [the prophet] Elijah!”
So upon hearing it some of the bystanders said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
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].
Right then one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed and started to give Him a drink;
49 But the other [people there] said, “Wait! Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him!”
but the rest said: “Don't! Let's see if Elijah comes to save Him.”
50 Then after Jesus shouted out loudly again, he died, giving his spirit over [to God].
Then Jesus called out again with a great shout and dismissed His spirit.
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 then, the veil of the temple was ripped in two from top to bottom! And the earth was shaken, and the rocks were split,
52 [Some] tombs opened up, and the bodies of many godly people who had died became alive again.
and the graves were opened. (And many bodies, of the saints who had fallen asleep, were raised;
53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus became alive again, they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people [there].
and coming forth out of the graves after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and were made visible to 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).”
Now when the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that happened they were scared stiff and said, “This Man really was the 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.
Many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were also there looking on from a distance;
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 were Mary Magdalene, 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 at evening there appeared a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of 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].
This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered that the body be given.
59 So Joseph [and others] took the body and wrapped it in a clean white cloth.
So taking the body Joseph wrapped it in 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 placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and left.
61 Mary from Magdala and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb, [watching].
And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.
62 The next day was Saturday, the Jewish day of rest. The chief priests and [some of] the Pharisees went to Pilate.
The next day, which is after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees went 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 remember that that deceiver, while still alive, said, ‘After three days I am going to rise.’
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].”
Therefore command that the grave be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him and say to the people, ‘He was raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will 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.”
So Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go make it as secure as you can!”
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].
So they went and secured the grave with the guard, having sealed the stone.
