Matthew, 27

1. When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people met in council to bring about the death of Jesus.

1. When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death;

2. They had him bound and led him away to hand him over to Pilate, the governor.

2. and they bound him and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the governor.

3. When he found that Jesus had been condemned, then Judas, his betrayer, was filled with remorse and took the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and elders

3. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,

4. saying, 'I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood.' They replied, 'What is that to us? That is your concern.'

4. saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."

5. And flinging down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he made off, and went and hanged himself.

5. And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.

6. The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, 'It is against the Law to put this into the treasury; it is blood-money.'

6. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money."

7. So they discussed the matter and with it bought the potter's field as a graveyard for foreigners,

7. So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

8. and this is why the field is still called the Field of Blood.

8. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

9. The word spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was then fulfilled: And they took the thirty silver pieces, the sum at which the precious One was priced by the children of Israel,

9. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel,

10. and they gave them for the potter's field, just as the Lord directed me.

10. and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."

11. Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' Jesus replied, 'It is you who say it.'

11. Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so."

12. But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all.

12. But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer.

13. Pilate then said to him, 'Do you not hear how many charges they have made against you?'

13. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?"

14. But to the governor's amazement, he offered not a word in answer to any of the charges.

14. But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly.

15. At festival time it was the governor's practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose.

15. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.

16. Now there was then a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas.

16. And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barab'bas.

17. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, 'Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?'

17. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Barab'bas or Jesus who is called Christ?"

18. For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.

18. For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.

19. Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message, 'Have nothing to do with that upright man; I have been extremely upset today by a dream that I had about him.'

19. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream."

20. The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.

20. Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barab'bas and destroy Jesus.

21. So when the governor spoke and asked them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release for you?' they said, 'Barabbas.'

21. The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barab'bas."

22. Pilate said to them, 'But in that case, what am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said, 'Let him be crucified!'

22. Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified."

23. He asked, 'But what harm has he done?' But they shouted all the louder, 'Let him be crucified!'

23. And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified."

24. Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, 'I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your concern.'

24. So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."

25. And the people, every one of them, shouted back, 'Let his blood be on us and on our children!'

25. And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"

26. Then he released Barabbas for them. After having Jesus scourged he handed him over to be crucified.

26. Then he released for them Barab'bas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

27. Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him.

27. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him.

28. And they stripped him and put a scarlet cloak round him,

28. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him,

29. and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!'

29. and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

30. And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it.

30. And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.

31. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucifixion.

31. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

32. On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, called Simon, and enlisted him to carry his cross.

32. As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyre'ne, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross.

33. When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull,

33. And when they came to a place called Gol'gotha (which means the place of a skull),

34. they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink.

34. they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.

35. When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots,

35. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots;

36. and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him.

36. then they sat down and kept watch over him there.

37. Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.'

37. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews."

38. Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.

38. Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.

39. The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads

39. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads

40. and said, 'So you would destroy the Temple and in three days rebuild it! Then save yourself if you are God's son and come down from the cross!'

40. and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

41. The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way,

41. So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,

42. with the words, '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.

42. "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

43. He has put his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, "I am God's son." '

43. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, `I am the Son of God.'"

44. Even the bandits who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way.

44. And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

45. From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

46. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'

46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

47. When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, 'The man is calling on Elijah,'

47. And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "This man is calling Eli'jah."

48. and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he filled with vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink.

48. And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink.

49. But the rest of them said, 'Wait! And see if Elijah will come to save him.'

49. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Eli'jah will come to save him."

50. But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.

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

51. And suddenly, the veil of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, the rocks were split,

51. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split;

52. the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy people rose from the dead,

52. the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,

53. and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the holy city and appeared to a number of people.

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

54. The centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said, 'In truth this man was son of God.'

54. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

55. And many women were there, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him.

55. There were also many women there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him;

56. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

56. among whom were Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee.

57. When it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, called Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.

57. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathe'a, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.

58. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be handed over.

58. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.

59. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud

59. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud,

60. and put it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a large stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away.

60. and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.

61. Now Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.

61. Mary Mag'dalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.

62. Next day, that is, when Preparation Day was over, the chief priests and the Pharisees went in a body to Pilate

62. Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate

63. and said to him, 'Your Excellency, we recall that this impostor said, while he was still alive, "After three days I shall rise again."

63. and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, `After three days I will rise again.'

64. Therefore give the order to have the sepulchre kept secure until the third day, for fear his disciples come and steal him away and tell the people, "He has risen from the dead." This last piece of fraud would be worse than what went before.'

64. Therefore order the sepulchre to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the people, `He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first."

65. Pilate said to them, 'You may have your guard; go and make all as secure as you know how.'

65. Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can."

66. So they went and made the sepulchre secure, putting seals on the stone and mounting a guard.

66. So they went and made the sepulchre secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.