The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 27 -

(Mark 15:1–5)

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.

They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.

Judas Hangs Himself

(Zechariah 11:10–17)

When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.

“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”

After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.

That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel,

and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.”(a)

Jesus before Pilate

(Luke 23:1–5; John 18:28–40)

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.

Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?”

But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

(Mark 15:6–11; Luke 23:13–25)

Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.

At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.(b)

So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.

“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.

“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”

“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”

Pilate Washes His Hands

(Mark 15:12–15)

When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,(c)” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

(Isaiah 50:4–11; Mark 15:16–20; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him.

They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.

And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.

After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

The Crucifixion

(Psalm 22:1–31; Mark 15:21–32; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–27)

Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull,

they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it.

When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.(d)

And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.

Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Two robbers

(e)

were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and the other on His left.

And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads

and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”

In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying,

“He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.

He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him.(f) For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him.

The Death of Jesus

(Psalm 22:1–31; Mark 15:33–41; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30)

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour

(g)

darkness came over all the land.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,(h) lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”(i)

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.”

One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine,(j) put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink.(k)

But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.”(l)

When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.

At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.

The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.

After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

The Burial of Jesus

(Isaiah 53:9–12; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus.

He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guards at the Tomb

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate.

“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’

So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.”

“You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”

So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

Footnotes

(a)27:10 See Jeremiah 19:1–15, Jeremiah 32:6–9, and Zechariah 11:12–13.

(b)27:16 SBL and NA Jesus Barabbas; also in verse 17, but universally called Barabbas in verses 20, 21, and 26

(d)27:35 See Psalms 22:18; TR includes to fulfill what was said through the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing.”

(e)27:38 Or insurrectionists; also in verse 44

(f)27:43 Psalms 22:8

(g)27:45 That is, from noon until three in the afternoon

(h)27:46 NE and WH Eloi, Eloi

(i)27:46 Psalms 22:1

(j)27:48 Or filled it with wine vinegar

(k)27:48 See Psalms 69:21.

(l)27:49 WH includes And another took a spear and pierced His side, and water and blood flowed out; see John 19:34.

(Mark 15:1–5)

Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

They bound him, led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

Judas Hangs Himself

(Zechariah 11:10–17)

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,

saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”

He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary and departed. Then he went away and hanged himself.

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.”

They took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them to bury strangers in.

Therefore that field has been called “The Field of Blood” to this day.

Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah

(a)

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,

and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”(b)

Jesus before Pilate

(Luke 23:1–5; John 18:28–40)

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.”

When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?”

He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

(Mark 15:6–11; Luke 23:13–25)

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they desired.

They had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas.

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?”

For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.

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.”

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”

Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”

But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

Pilate Washes His Hands

(Mark 15:12–15)

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.”

All the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!”

Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

(Isaiah 50:4–11; Mark 15:16–20; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.

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!”

They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.

When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

(Psalm 22:1–31; Mark 15:21–32; Luke 23:26–43; John 19:16–27)

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.

When they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull,”

they gave him sour wine

(c)

to drink mixed with gall.(d) When he had tasted it, he would not drink.

When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,(e)

and they sat and watched him there.

They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.

Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads

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!”

Likewise the chief priests also mocking with the scribes, the Pharisees,(f) and the elders, said,

“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.

He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.

The Death of Jesus

(Psalm 22:1–31; Mark 15:33–41; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30)

Now from the sixth hour

(g)

there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.(h)

About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima (i) sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (j)

Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”

Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.

The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”

Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.

Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.

The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.

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!”

Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

The Burial of Jesus

(Isaiah 53:9–12; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42)

When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came.

This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.

Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth

and laid it in 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.

Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

The Guards at the Tomb

Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,

saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’

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.”

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”

So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.

Footnotes

(a)27:9 some manuscripts omit “Jeremiah”

(b)27:10 ℘ Zechariah 11:12-13; Jeremiah 19:1-13; 32:6-9

(d)27:34 Gall is a bitter-tasting, dark green oil from a wormwood plant that is alcoholic in its effect.

(e)27:35 TR adds “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: ‘They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots;’” [see Psalm 22:18 and John 19:24 ]

(f)27:41 TR omits “the Pharisees”

(g)27:45 noon

(h)27:45 p.m.

(i)27:46 TR reads “lama” instead of “lima”

(j)27:46 ℘ Psalms 22:1