Devine Scripture

Matthew 27:2

What does Matthew 27:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 27:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 27:2 means

Here the leaders bind Jesus and deliver him to Pilate, the Roman governor. The physical binding signifies custody and guilt in their eyes; handing him to Pilate transfers the case to Roman authority because only Pilate can authorize execution. This step underscores the interplay of religious accusation and civil procedure. It also fulfills the leaders’ plan to secure a death sentence while distancing themselves from the act, setting up the tragic compromise that follows.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they put cords on him and took him away, and gave him up to Pilate, the ruler.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having bound him, they did lead away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they brought him bound and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And having bound him they led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

Context

This verse follows the leaders’ counsel in verse 1 and moves the story from Jewish deliberation to Roman adjudication. It shows the formal transition from religious arrest to civil trial. The handover to Pilate introduces a new courtroom dynamic—one influenced by politics, public pressure, and Pilate’s uneasy position as governor.

v.1Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

v.2This passage

v.3Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 21:33

    Then the chief captain came near, and laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had done.

  • Matthew 20:19

    and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.

  • Luke 20:20

    And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.

  • Luke 18:32

    For he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon:

  • John 18:24

    Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

  • Acts 3:13

    The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.

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