Matthew 27

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

1Early the next morning, all the leading priests and the elders of the people met to make a plan to have Jesus executed.

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

2They tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

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,

3When Judas, the one who betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned to die, he felt deep regret. He took the thirty silver coins back to the leading priests and the elders.

4saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.

4Judas said, 'I have sinned by betraying an innocent man.' They replied, 'What do we care? That is your problem.'

5And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

5So Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

6And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.

6The leading priests picked up the money and said, 'It is against our law to put this into the Temple treasury, because it is the price of blood.'

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

7After talking it over, they decided to use the money to buy a field belonging to a potter to be used as a cemetery for foreigners.

8Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

8That is why that field is still called the Field of Blood today.

9Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price;

9This fulfilled what the prophet Jeremiah had said: 'They took the thirty silver coins—the price the people of Israel set on his life—'

10and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.

10'and they used the money to buy the potter’s field, just as the Lord commanded me.'

11Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

11Jesus stood before the governor, and Pilate asked him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus replied, 'You have said it.'

12And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

12But while the leading priests and elders were accusing him, Jesus did not say a word.

13Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

13Then Pilate asked him, 'Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?'

14And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

14But Jesus still did not answer him, not even a single word, and the governor was very surprised.

15Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would.

15Now, it was the governor’s custom at the Passover festival to release any one prisoner that the crowd chose.

16And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

16At that time, they had a very famous prisoner named Barabbas.

17When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?

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

18For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up.

18Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him only because they were jealous.

19And while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

19While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him a message: 'Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man. I have suffered greatly today in a dream because of him.'

20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

20But the leading priests and the elders talked the crowd into asking for Barabbas and having Jesus executed.

21But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.

21The governor asked them again, 'Which of the two do you want me to release to you?' They shouted, 'Barabbas!'

22Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.

22Pilate asked them, 'Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Christ?' They all answered, 'Crucify him!'

23And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, Let him be crucified.

23'Why?' Pilate asked. 'What crime has he committed?' But they shouted even louder, 'Crucify him!'

24So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it.

24Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was starting. He took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, 'I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility.'

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

25All the people answered, 'Let the responsibility for his death be on us and on our children!'

26Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.

26Then Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus whipped and then handed him over to be crucified.

27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Prætorium, and gathered unto him the whole band.

27The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor's headquarters and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.

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

28They stripped off his clothes and put a scarlet robe on him.

29And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

29They twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him and mocked him, saying, 'Long live the King of the Jews!'

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

30They spit on him, took the stick, and hit him on the head with it over and over.

31And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him.

31After they were finished mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to be crucified.

32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go with them, that he might bear his cross.

32As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross.

33And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull,

33They came to a place called Golgotha (which means 'The Place of the Skull').

34they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink.

34There they offered Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall to drink, but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.

35And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots;

35After they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by throwing dice.

36and they sat and watched him there.

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

37And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

37Above his head, they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38Then are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand and one on the left.

38Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

39And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,

39People walking by insulted him, shaking their heads.

40and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.

40They said, 'You said you could destroy the Temple and build it again in three days. Save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!'

41In like manner also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

41In the same way, the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders mocked him.

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

42'He saved others,' they said, 'but he can’t save himself! He is the King of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.'

43He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

43'He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, since he said, "I am the Son of God."'

44And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach.

44In the same way, the rebels who were crucified with him also insulted him.

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

45From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness covered the whole land.

46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

46About three o'clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' (which means, 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?').

47And some of them that stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth Elijah.

47When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, 'He is calling for Elijah.'

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

48One of them ran quickly, took a sponge, and soaked it in sour wine. He put it on a stick and offered it to Jesus to drink.

49And the rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to save him.

49But the others said, 'Leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.'

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

50Then Jesus cried out loudly again and gave up his spirit.

51And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent;

51At that moment, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks split apart.

52and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised;

52Tombs opened up, and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

53and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.

53They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

54Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

54When the Roman officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and everything that happened, they were terrified. They said, 'This man really was the Son of God!'

55And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to take care of his needs.

56among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

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

57And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:

57As evening approached, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph arrived. He had also become a disciple of Jesus.

58this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up.

58He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

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

59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

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

60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had carved into the rock. He rolled a large stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away.

61And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, facing the tomb.

62Now on the morrow, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate,

62The next day, which was the day after Preparation Day, the leading priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate.

63saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again.

63They said, 'Sir, we remember that while he was still alive, that liar said, "After three days I will rise again."'

64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.

64'So give the order to guard the tomb until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples might come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last lie would be worse than the first one.'

65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go, make it as sure as ye can.

65Pilate told them, 'Take a guard. Go and make the tomb as secure as you can.'

66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.

66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and placing the guard on watch.