Matiu 27
1 Mgbe chi bọrọ, ndịisi nchụaja niile na ndị okenye gbara izu megide Jisọs otu ha ga-esi gbuo ya.
Very early the next morning all the chief priests and Jewish elders decided how [to arrange for the Romans] to execute Jesus.
2 Ya mere, ha kere ya agbụ, duru ya pụọ, nyefee ya nʼaka Pailet onye bụ gọvanọ.
They tied his hands and took him to Pilate, the [Roman] governor.
3 Mgbe Judas, onye ahụ rara Jisọs nye, hụrụ na a maala Jisọs ikpe ọnwụ, o chegharịrị weghachikwara ndịisi nchụaja na ndị okenye iri ego ọlaọcha atọ ahụ.
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.
4 Ọ kwuru sị, “Emehiela m, site na ịrara onye aka ya dị ọcha nye ọnwụ.” Ma ha sịrị, “Nke ahụ agbasaghị anyị, ọ bụ mkpa dịrị gị.”
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!”
5 Ọ wụsara ego ọlaọcha ahụ nʼala ụlọnsọ, pụọ gaa kwụọ ụdọ.
So Judas [took] the money [and] threw it inside the Temple. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6 Ndịisi nchụaja tụtụkọtara ego ahụ kwuo sị, “O megidere iwu itinye ego a nʼime ụlọakụ, nʼihi na ọ bụ ego ọbara.”
[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].”
7 Mgbe ha gbasịrị izu, ha kwekọtara ma were ego ahụ zụta ala nʼaka otu ọkpụ ite. Ha mere ala ahụ ka ọ bụrụ ebe a na-eli ndị ọbịa.
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].
8 Nke a mere e ji na-akpọ ala ahụ, “Ala Ọbara,” ruo taa.
That is why that place is still called {why they still call that place} ‘The field of blood’.
9 Nʼụzọ dị otu a, okwu e kwuru site nʼọnụ Jeremaya onye amụma mezuru. “Ha tụtụkọtara mkpụrụ ego ọlaọcha iri atọ, bụ ọnụahịa onye ahụ, nke ụfọdụ nʼime ụmụ Izrel kpebiri na a ga-akwụ nʼisi ya.
[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];
10 Ha ji ego ahụ zụọ ubi onye ọkpụ ite, dị ka Onyenwe anyị nyere m iwu.”
and with that money they bought the field where clay was dug for potters. They did that as the Lord had commanded me.
11 Nʼoge a Jisọs guzo nʼihu gọvanọ. Gọvanọ jụrụ ya sị, “Ị bụ eze ndị Juu?” Jisọs sịrị ya, “Gị onwe gị kwuru ya.”
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.”
12 Mgbe ndịisi nchụaja na ndị okenye boro ya ebubo ụgha, o kwughị ihe ọbụla.
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.
13 Ya mere, Pailet sịrị ya, “Ị naghị anụ ihe ndị a niile ha na-ebo gị?”
So Pilate said to him, “You hear how many things they are saying to accuse you; [are you not going to reply]?”
14 Ma ọ zaghị ọ bụladị otu mkpụrụ okwu nʼebubo ndị ahụ. Ihe a gbagwojuru gọvanọ anya nke ukwuu.
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.
15 Ugbu a, ọ bụ omenaala gọvanọ nʼoge mmemme na ọ ga-ahapụ otu onye mkpọrọ, bụ onye igwe mmadụ họọrọ.
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.
16 Ma nʼoge a e nwere otu onye mkpọrọ nke ọtụtụ mmadụ maara nke ọma. A na-akpọ Jisọs Barabas.
At that time there was [in Jerusalem] a well-known prisoner whose name was Barabbas.
17 Mgbe igwe mmadụ niile zukọrọ, Pailet sịrị ha, “Onye ka unu chọrọ ka m hapụrụ unu, ọ bụ Jisọs Barabas ka ọ bụ Jisọs onye a na-akpọ Kraịst?”
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?”
18 Nʼihi na ọ maara nke ọma na ọ bụ site nʼekworo ka ha ji rara Jisọs nye nʼaka ya.
[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].
19 Mgbe ọ nọkwasịrị nʼelu oche ikpe ya, nwunye ya zitere ozi sị ya, “Wepụkwa aka gị nʼihe gbasara nwoke onye ezi omume ahụ. Nʼihi na ahụjuru m anya na nrọ nʼabalị gara aga nʼihi ya.”
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!”
20 Ma ndịisi nchụaja na ndị okenye kwagidere igwe mmadụ ahụ ka ha rịọ ya, ka ọ hapụrụ ha Barabas, ma nye ha Jisọs ka ha gbuo ya.
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}.
21 Ọzọkwa, gọvanọ sịrị ha, “Nʼime mmadụ abụọ ndị a onye ka unu chọrọ ka m hapụrụ unu?” Ha sịrị, “Barabas!”
So when the governor asked them, “Which of the two men do you want me to release for you?” They replied, “Barabbas!”
22 Pailet sịrị ha, “Gịnị ka m ga-eme Jisọs onye a na-akpọ Kraịst?” Ha niile sịrị, “Kpọgide ya nʼobe!”
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)}!”
23 Ọ jụrụ ha sị, “Ọ bụ nʼihi gịnị? Olee ihe ọjọọ o mere?” Ma ha tiri mkpu karịa ka ha si eti na mbụ, na-asị, “Kpọgide ya nʼobe! Kpọgide ya nʼobe!”
Pilate replied, “Why? What crime has he committed?” But they shouted even louder, “[Have] him crucified {[Command that your soldiers] crucify him}!”
24 Mgbe Pailet hụrụ na o nweghị ihe ọ pụrụ ime, kama na ụzụ na ọgbaaghara na-amalite. O weere mmiri kwọọ aka ya nʼihu igwe mmadụ ahụ sị ha, “Aka m dị ọcha nʼebe ọbara nwoke a dị. Jirinụ aka unu hụ maka ya.”
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]!”
25 Igwe mmadụ ahụ zaghachiri ya nʼotu olu sị, “Ka ọbara ya dị nʼisi anyị na nʼisi ụmụ anyị!”
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!”
26 Mgbe ahụ ọ hapụụrụ ha Barabas. Mgbe ọ pịachara Jisọs ihe, ọ raara ya nye ka ha kpọgide ya nʼobe.
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).
27 Mgbe ahụ ndị agha gọvanọ duuru Jisọs baa nʼogige ụlọ ndị agha, mee ka otu ndị agha niile gbaa ya gburugburu.
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the government headquarters. The whole (cohort/group of soldiers) gathered around him.
28 Ha yipụrụ ya uwe ya, yinye ya uwe mwụda na-acha uhie uhie.
They pulled off [his clothes], and [pretending he was a king, they] put a purple robe on him.
29 Ha kpara okpueze nke e ji ogwu mee, kpukwasị ya nʼisi. Ha tinyekwara ya mkpara achara nʼaka nri, gbuo ikpere nʼala nʼihu ya, na-akwa ya emo na-asị, “Ekele, Eze ndị Juu!”
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]!”
30 Ha gbụrụ ya ọnụ mmiri asọ, werekwa osisi ahụ kụọ ya nʼisi ọtụtụ mgbe.
They kept spitting on him. They took the staff and kept striking him on the head with it.
31 Mgbe ha ji ya mechaa ihe ọchị, ha yipụrụ ya uwe ahụ, yinyekwa ya uwe nke ya, duuru ya pụọ, ịga kpọgide ya nʼobe.
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.
32 Mgbe ha na-apụ, ha zutere otu nwoke onye obodo Sirini a na-akpọ Saimọn. Ha manyere ya ka o buru obe ya.
[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.
33 Mgbe ha bịarutere nʼebe a na-akpọ Gọlgọta (nke pụtara, “ebe okpokoro isi”).
They came to a place called Golgotha. That name means ‘the place [like] a skull’.
34 Ha nyere ya mmanya a gwara ọgwụ ilu ka ọ ṅụọ. Mgbe o detụrụ ya ire, o kweghị ya ọṅụṅụ.
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].
35 Mgbe ha kpọgidechara ya nʼelu obe. Ha fere nza nke ha jiri kee uwe ya nʼetiti onwe ha.
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].
36 Ha nọdụkwara ala nʼebe ahụ na-eche ya nche.
Then the soldiers sat down there to guard him, [to prevent anyone from trying to rescue him].
37 Nʼelu ebe isi ya dị, ka ha debere ihe ha dekwasịrị ebubo ha boro ya. Nke a bụ ihe ha dere: Onye a bụ Jisọs, Eze ndị Juu.
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’.
38 Ha kpọgidekwara ya na ndị ohi abụọ nʼobe. Otu onye nʼaka nri, onye nke ọzọ nʼaka ekpe ya.
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.
39 Ndị na-agafe nʼụzọ na-ekwutọ ya, na-efufekwa isi ha,
The people who were passing by insulted him by shaking their heads [as if he were an evil man].
40 na-asịkwa, “Leenụ onye nwere ike ịkwatu ụlọnsọ Chineke wughachi ya na mkpụrụ ụbọchị atọ! Zọpụtanụ onwe gị! Ọ bụrụ na ị bụ Ọkpara Chineke si nʼelu obe ahụ rịdata!”
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!”
41 Ndịisi nchụaja, ndị ozizi iwu na ndị okenye sokwa na-eme ya ihe ọchị, na-asị,
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,
42 “Ọ zọpụtara ndị ọzọ, ma o nweghị ike ịzọpụta onwe ya. Ọ bụ eze ndị Izrel; ya si nʼelu obe rịdata ugbu a, anyị ga-ekwerekwa na ya.
“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!”
43 Ọ tụkwasịrị Chineke obi, ọ bụrụ na ọ masịrị Chineke, ya napụta ya ugbua, nʼihi na o kwuru sị, ‘Abụ m Ọkpara Chineke.’”
“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!”
44 Ọ bụladị ndị ohi ahụ a kpọgidekọrọ ha na ya nʼobe nọkwa na-akparị ya.
And the [two] bandits who had been crucified with him also insulted him, saying similar things.
45 Ma site nʼelekere iri na abụọ nke ehihie ruo nʼelekere atọ nke ehihie, ọchịchịrị gbachikọtara nʼala ahụ niile.
At noon it became dark over the whole land. [It stayed dark] until three o’clock [in the afternoon].
46 Nʼoge dị ka elekere atọ nke ehihie, Jisọs tiri mkpu nʼoke olu sị, “Elọi, Elọi, lama sabaktani?” (nke pụtara, “Chineke m, Chineke m, gịnị mere i jiri hapụ m?”).
At about three o’clock Jesus shouted loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That means, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’
47 Mgbe ụfọdụ ndị guzo nʼebe ahụ nụrụ nke a, ha sịrị, “Ọ na-akpọ Ịlaịja.”
When some of the people standing there heard [the word ‘Eli’, misunderstanding it], they said, “He is calling for [the prophet] Elijah!”
48 Nʼotu oge ahụ kwa otu onye nʼime ha gbaara ọsọ were ogbo denye ya na mmanya gbara ụka, fanye ya nʼosisi, welie ya elu, chee ya ka ọ ṅụọ.
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].
49 Ma ndị ọzọ sịrị, “Hapụnụ, ka anyị lee ma Ịlaịja ọ ga-abịa ịzọpụta ya.”
But the other [people there] said, “Wait! Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him!”
50 Ọzọkwa, Jisọs jiri oke olu tie mkpu, kubie ume.
Then after Jesus shouted out loudly again, he died, giving his spirit over [to God].
51 Nʼotu ntabi anya ahụ kwa, akwa mgbochi nke ụlọnsọ ahụ gbawara site nʼelu ruo nʼala. Ala makwara jijiji. Nkume tiwasịkwara.
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.
52 Ala ili meghere. A hụrụ ọtụtụ ndị nsọ, ndị nwụrụ anwụ, ka e mere ka ha si nʼọnwụ bilie.
[Some] tombs opened up, and the bodies of many godly people who had died became alive again.
53 Mgbe ha sitere nʼọnwụ bilie, ha hapụrụ ili ha banye nʼime obodo nsọ, gosikwa ọtụtụ mmadụ onwe ha.
They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus became alive again, they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people [there].
54 Mgbe ọchịagha, na ndị ya ha nọ nʼebe ahụ na-eche Jisọs nche hụrụ ala ọma jijiji a, na ihe niile mere, ha tụrụ oke egwu. Ha kwuru sị, “Nʼezie, nwoke a bụ Ọkpara Chineke!”
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).”
55 Ọtụtụ ụmụ nwanyị nọ nʼebe ahụ, ndị guzo nʼebe dị anya na-ele ihe na-eme. Ha si Galili soro Jisọs, na-ejere ya ozi.
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.
56 Nʼime ha bụ Meri Magdalin, na Meri nne Jemis na Josef, na nne ụmụ Zebedi.
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.
57 Mgbe o ruru anyasị, otu onye ọgaranya si Arimatia aha ya bụ Josef. Onye ya onwe ya bụkwa onye na-eso ụzọ Jisọs,
When it was [almost] evening, a rich man named Joseph came [there]. He was from Arimathea [town]. He also was a disciple of Jesus.
58 jekwuuru Pailet rịọọ ya ka e bunye ya ozu Jisọs. Pailet nyere iwu ka e bunye ya ozu ahụ.
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].
59 Josef buuru ozu ya, were ezi akwa ọcha linin na-enwu enwu fụchie ya,
So Joseph [and others] took the body and wrapped it in a clean white cloth.
60 ma gaa lie ya nʼili ọhụrụ nke o gwuuru onwe ya, nʼetiti nkume. O jikwa otu nkume buru ibu kpuchie ọnụ ụzọ ili ahụ, hapụ ya laa.
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.
61 Meri Magdalin na Meri nke ọzọ nọ na-ebe ahụ, ha nọdụrụ ala na ncherita ihu ili ahụ.
Mary from Magdala and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb, [watching].
62 Nʼechi ya, nke bụ ụbọchị na-eso ụbọchị Nkwadebe, ndịisi nchụaja na ndị Farisii zukọrọ jekwuru Pailet.
The next day was Saturday, the Jewish day of rest. The chief priests and [some of] the Pharisees went to Pilate.
63 Ha kwuru sị, “Nna anyị ukwu, anyị na-echeta na mgbe onye ụgha ahụ dị ndụ, ọ sịrị na ya ga-esi nʼọnwụ bilie mgbe ụbọchị atọ gasịrị.
They said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive, he said, ‘Three days after I [die I] will become alive again.’
64 Ya mere, nye iwu ka ndị agha gị na-eche ili ya nche, ruo mgbe ụbọchị atọ gasịrị. Nke a ga-egbochi ndị na-eso ụzọ ya ịga zuru ozu ya. Ka ha ghara ị sịkwa ndị mmadụ na o sitela nʼọnwụ bilie. Ọ bụrụ na ha agha ụgha dị otu a, ọ ga-ajọrọ anyị njọ mgbe ahụ karịa na mbụ.”
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].”
65 Pailet gwara ha sị, “Unu nwere otu ndị agha na-eche nche, kpọrọnụ ha gaa mechisie ili ahụ ike dị ka unu si maara eme.”
Pilate replied, “You [can] take some soldiers. Go to the tomb and make it as secure as you know how.”
66 Ya mere, ha kpọrọ ndị agha gaa mechizie ọnụ ili ahụ. Ha kakwara akara nʼelu nkume ahụ.
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].
