The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 27 -

(Mark 15:1–5)

Now when morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death.

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

Judas Hangs Himself

(Zechariah 11:10–17)

Then when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he repented and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

and said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself.”

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went out and hanged himself.

The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put this into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.”

They discussed the matter together and with the money bought the potter’s field in which to bury strangers.

For this reason that field has been called, “The field of Blood” to this day.

Then that which had been spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel,

and they gave it for the potter’s field, as the Lord had directed me.”

Jesus before Pilate

(Luke 23:1–5; John 18:28–40)

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered him, “You say so.”

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

Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear all the charges against you?”

But he did not answer even one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

(Mark 15:6–11; Luke 23:13–25)

Now at the feast it was the custom of the governor to release one prisoner chosen by the crowd.

At that time they had a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.

So when they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

He knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because of envy.

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him and said, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man. For I have suffered much today because of a dream I had about him.”

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas, and have Jesus killed.

The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas.”

Pilate said to them, “What should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all answered, “Crucify him.”

Then he said, “Why, what crime has he done?” But they cried out even louder, “Crucify him.”

Pilate Washes His Hands

(Mark 15:12–15)

So when Pilate saw that he could not do anything, but instead a riot was starting, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this innocent man. See to it yourselves.”

All the people said, “May his blood be on us and our children.”

Then he released Barabbas to them, but he scourged Jesus 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 soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the government headquarters and gathered the whole company of soldiers.

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.

They made a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. They knelt down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

They spat on him, and they took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him and put his own garments 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 from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to go with them so that he might carry his cross.

They came to a place called Golgotha, which means “The Place of a Skull.”

They gave him wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he tasted it, he would not drink.

When they had crucified him, they divided up his garments by casting lots,

and they sat and kept guard over him.

Above his head they put the charge against him, which read “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.”

Two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right of him and one on the left.

Those who passed by insulted him, shaking their heads

and saying, “You who were 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 were mocking him, along with the scribes and elders, and said,

“He saved others, but he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel. Let him come down off the cross, and then we will believe in him.

He trusts in God, let God rescue him now, if God consents to release him. For he even said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also spoke insults to him.

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 darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

About the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice and said, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

When some of those who were standing there heard it, they said, “He is calling for Elijah.”

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

The rest of them said, “Leave him alone. Let us see whether Elijah comes to save him.”

Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.

Behold, the curtain of the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom, and the earth shook, and the rocks split apart.

The tombs were opened, and the bodies of many godly people who had fallen asleep were raised.

They came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

Now when the centurion and those who were watching Jesus saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they became very afraid and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for him were there looking on from a distance.

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, 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 it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.

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

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

and laid it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and went away.

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

The Guards at the Tomb

The next day, which was the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together with Pilate.

They said, “Sir, we remember that when that deceiver was alive, he said, ‘After three days will I rise again.’

Therefore, command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, otherwise his disciples may come and steal him and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

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

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

(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