27:1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people gathered to plot the execution of Jesus.
27:2 After they tied him up, they brought him to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
27:3 When Judas – who had handed Jesus over – saw that Jesus was condemned, he was full of remorse and brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders.
27:4 He said, “I have sinned because I brought bloodshed upon the pure.” They replied, “What does that have to do with us? You can see it as you wish.”
27:5 So he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and left – and went out and hanged himself.
27:6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful for them to be put into the treasury – because it is the price for bloodshed.”
27:7 And they decided mutually to use the money to purchase a potter’s field in which to bury foreigners.
27:8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
27:9 This fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, who said, ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver – the price put upon him by the people of Israel –
27:10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the LORD instructed me.’1
27:11 As Jesus stood before the governor, the governor asked him, “Are you the leader2 of the Jews?” Jesus replied to him, “This is what you say.”
27:12 While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he said nothing.
27:13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear these many things they are charging you with?”
27:14 But he said not a word in reply to even a single charge – which greatly amazed the governor.
27:15 Now at the festival the governor was obligated to release to the people a prisoner they wanted released.
27:16 And they had selected a prisoner – named Barabbas.
27:17 Therefore, when they were gathered, Pilate told them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or the Jesus who is called the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ]?”
27:18 Because he knew that they had him arrested because of their enviousness.
27:19 After he sat down on the bench, his wife sent word to him, saying, “Don’t have anything to do with this devoted man – for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of him.”
27:20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd that they should ask for Barabbas and execute Jesus.
27:21 The governor replied, saying to them, “Which of the two do you wish I should release to you?” They replied, “Barabbas.”
27:22 Pilate said to them, “What then should I do with Jesus who is called the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ]?” All replied, “Crucify him!”
27:23 And the governor said, “Why? What wickedness has he done?” But they cried out again, saying, “Crucify him!”
27:24 When Pilate understood he could not convince them, and faced a riot, he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this devoted man’s bloodshed – you understand this?”
27:25 The people answered him, saying, “His bloodshed will be upon us – and upon our children.”
27:26 Then he released Barabbas to them and after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.
27:27 Then the guards of the governor took Jesus to the palace hall and a whole Roman battalion surrounded him.
27:28 And they removed his clothes and put a scarlet robe on him.
27:29 They wove a wreath of thorns and put it on his head, and put a staff in his right hand, and they knelt down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, leader of the Jews!”
27:30 And they spat on him and took the stick and beat him on the head.
27:31 And after they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him and put his own clothes back on, and led him away to be crucified.
27:32 And after they left, they found a man – named Simon of Cyrene – and they forced him to carry his stake.
27:33 When they came to a place called Golgotha – which means ‘place of the skull’ –
27:34 they gave him vinegar mixed with bitters to drink – but when he tasted it, he refused to drink it.
27:35 And they crucified him – and split up his clothes by casting lots.2
27:36 And they sat down and watched him.
27:37 And they wrote and put up over his head the charge against him, “This is Jesus, the leader of the Jews.”
27:38 Two thieves were crucified with him – one on the right hand and another on the left.
27:39 And those who passed by blasphemed him – shaking their heads –
27:40 and saying, “You who were going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself. If you are the Representative of God, come down from the stake.
27:41 Similarly the chief priests also mocked him, together with the scribes and elders, saying –
27:42 “He saved others but he cannot save himself. If he is the leader of Israel, let him now come down from the stake and we will believe him.
27:43 He trusted in God – let Him rescue him now, if He wants him – for he said, ‘I am the Representative of God.’”
27:44 The thieves who were being crucified with him were also insulting him similarly.
27:45 Then from the sixth hour to the ninth hour4 a darkness covered the land.
27:46 At about the ninth hour Jesus called out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI” – that is, ‘My God, My God, why have you left me alone?”5
27:47 Some of those who were standing there – when they heard this – said, “This man called for Elijah.”
27:48 Straightaway one of them ran over and took a sponge and filled it with vinegar, and stuck it on a rod and gave it to him to drink.
27:49 The others said, “Let it be – let’s see if Elijah will appear and save him.”
27:50 After Jesus called out again with a loud voice, his spirit departed.6
27:51 And immediately the curtain of the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom – and the earth shook and rocks broke.
27:52 And tombs were opened and the forms of sleeping saints rose:
27:53 Appearing from out of the tombs after his rising from the body,7 they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
27:54 Now when the centurion and those with him who were watching Jesus saw the earthquake, and those other things, they were greatly afraid, and said, “Truly this was the Representative of God.”
27:55 And many women were watching from a distance – who had followed Jesus from Galilee and served him –
27:56 Among them was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
27:57 When evening came, a rich man arrived from Arimathea – named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.
27:58 He went to Pilate and begged for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate instructed that that body be delivered to him.
27:59 After Joseph took the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.
27:60 He laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out from the rocks, and he rolled a large stone over the entrance of the tomb and left.
27:61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting opposite the tomb.
27:62 The next day – the day following the day of the preparation – the chief priests and pharisees gathered and met with Pilate.
27:63 They said, “Sir, we remember that the deceiver said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise from the body.’”
27:64 Therefore, give the orders for the grave to be secured until the third day. Otherwise, his followers may come and take his body away and say to the people that ‘he has risen from the dead body’ – and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”
27:65 Pilate replied to them, “You can take a guard – now go and secure it as best you can.”
27:66 So they left and secured the tomb – they sealed the stone and posted the guard.
Footnotes:
1. Verse 27:9-10. Such a verse written by Jeremiah does not appear in the Old Testament. The closest thing comes from Zechariah:
2. Verse 27:11. The Greek word βασιλεύς (basileus) can mean “leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king” according to the lexicon. Pilate was the governor of the region of Jerusalem – and he was subservient to a king – Caesar – who was the governing king of the Jewish nation. As such, it would be inappropriate (blasphemous to the Roman government) for Pilate to suggest that Jesus was a king – therefore usurping Caesar’s authority. Pilate was certainly asking if Jesus was the spiritual leader of the Jewish people.
3. Verse 27:35. Later manuscripts added another phrase to this verse:
– so it might accomplish what was spoken by the Prophet, ‘They parted my clothes among them and upon my clothing they cast lots.'
4. Verse 27:45. From noon to 3pm.
5. Verse 27:46. This statement – or prayer – by Jesus portrays a devotional mood of love in separation for the Supreme Being. This aspect of love for God is also portrayed by David in Psalm 22:
6. Verse 27:50. According to the lexicon, the word ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) means, “to bid going away or depart– to give up, keep no longer…” This term indicates Jesus is referring to his spirit-person departing from his physical body at the time of death. This scenario was also taught by Jesus:
27:2 After they tied him up, they brought him to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
27:3 When Judas – who had handed Jesus over – saw that Jesus was condemned, he was full of remorse and brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders.
27:4 He said, “I have sinned because I brought bloodshed upon the pure.” They replied, “What does that have to do with us? You can see it as you wish.”
27:5 So he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and left – and went out and hanged himself.
27:6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful for them to be put into the treasury – because it is the price for bloodshed.”
27:7 And they decided mutually to use the money to purchase a potter’s field in which to bury foreigners.
27:8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
27:9 This fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, who said, ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver – the price put upon him by the people of Israel –
27:10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the LORD instructed me.’1
27:11 As Jesus stood before the governor, the governor asked him, “Are you the leader2 of the Jews?” Jesus replied to him, “This is what you say.”
27:12 While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he said nothing.
27:13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear these many things they are charging you with?”
27:14 But he said not a word in reply to even a single charge – which greatly amazed the governor.
27:15 Now at the festival the governor was obligated to release to the people a prisoner they wanted released.
27:16 And they had selected a prisoner – named Barabbas.
27:17 Therefore, when they were gathered, Pilate told them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or the Jesus who is called the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ]?”
27:18 Because he knew that they had him arrested because of their enviousness.
27:19 After he sat down on the bench, his wife sent word to him, saying, “Don’t have anything to do with this devoted man – for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of him.”
27:20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd that they should ask for Barabbas and execute Jesus.
27:21 The governor replied, saying to them, “Which of the two do you wish I should release to you?” They replied, “Barabbas.”
27:22 Pilate said to them, “What then should I do with Jesus who is called the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ]?” All replied, “Crucify him!”
27:23 And the governor said, “Why? What wickedness has he done?” But they cried out again, saying, “Crucify him!”
27:24 When Pilate understood he could not convince them, and faced a riot, he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this devoted man’s bloodshed – you understand this?”
27:25 The people answered him, saying, “His bloodshed will be upon us – and upon our children.”
27:26 Then he released Barabbas to them and after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.
27:27 Then the guards of the governor took Jesus to the palace hall and a whole Roman battalion surrounded him.
27:28 And they removed his clothes and put a scarlet robe on him.
27:29 They wove a wreath of thorns and put it on his head, and put a staff in his right hand, and they knelt down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, leader of the Jews!”
27:30 And they spat on him and took the stick and beat him on the head.
27:31 And after they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him and put his own clothes back on, and led him away to be crucified.
27:32 And after they left, they found a man – named Simon of Cyrene – and they forced him to carry his stake.
27:33 When they came to a place called Golgotha – which means ‘place of the skull’ –
27:34 they gave him vinegar mixed with bitters to drink – but when he tasted it, he refused to drink it.
27:35 And they crucified him – and split up his clothes by casting lots.2
27:36 And they sat down and watched him.
27:37 And they wrote and put up over his head the charge against him, “This is Jesus, the leader of the Jews.”
27:38 Two thieves were crucified with him – one on the right hand and another on the left.
27:39 And those who passed by blasphemed him – shaking their heads –
27:40 and saying, “You who were going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself. If you are the Representative of God, come down from the stake.
27:41 Similarly the chief priests also mocked him, together with the scribes and elders, saying –
27:42 “He saved others but he cannot save himself. If he is the leader of Israel, let him now come down from the stake and we will believe him.
27:43 He trusted in God – let Him rescue him now, if He wants him – for he said, ‘I am the Representative of God.’”
27:44 The thieves who were being crucified with him were also insulting him similarly.
27:45 Then from the sixth hour to the ninth hour4 a darkness covered the land.
27:46 At about the ninth hour Jesus called out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI” – that is, ‘My God, My God, why have you left me alone?”5
27:47 Some of those who were standing there – when they heard this – said, “This man called for Elijah.”
27:48 Straightaway one of them ran over and took a sponge and filled it with vinegar, and stuck it on a rod and gave it to him to drink.
27:49 The others said, “Let it be – let’s see if Elijah will appear and save him.”
27:50 After Jesus called out again with a loud voice, his spirit departed.6
27:51 And immediately the curtain of the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom – and the earth shook and rocks broke.
27:52 And tombs were opened and the forms of sleeping saints rose:
27:53 Appearing from out of the tombs after his rising from the body,7 they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
27:54 Now when the centurion and those with him who were watching Jesus saw the earthquake, and those other things, they were greatly afraid, and said, “Truly this was the Representative of God.”
27:55 And many women were watching from a distance – who had followed Jesus from Galilee and served him –
27:56 Among them was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
27:57 When evening came, a rich man arrived from Arimathea – named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.
27:58 He went to Pilate and begged for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate instructed that that body be delivered to him.
27:59 After Joseph took the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.
27:60 He laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out from the rocks, and he rolled a large stone over the entrance of the tomb and left.
27:61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting opposite the tomb.
27:62 The next day – the day following the day of the preparation – the chief priests and pharisees gathered and met with Pilate.
27:63 They said, “Sir, we remember that the deceiver said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise from the body.’”
27:64 Therefore, give the orders for the grave to be secured until the third day. Otherwise, his followers may come and take his body away and say to the people that ‘he has risen from the dead body’ – and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”
27:65 Pilate replied to them, “You can take a guard – now go and secure it as best you can.”
27:66 So they left and secured the tomb – they sealed the stone and posted the guard.
Footnotes:
1. Verse 27:9-10. Such a verse written by Jeremiah does not appear in the Old Testament. The closest thing comes from Zechariah:
Then I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the LORD. I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter"—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the LORD. (Zechariah 11:10-13)
2. Verse 27:11. The Greek word βασιλεύς (basileus) can mean “leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king” according to the lexicon. Pilate was the governor of the region of Jerusalem – and he was subservient to a king – Caesar – who was the governing king of the Jewish nation. As such, it would be inappropriate (blasphemous to the Roman government) for Pilate to suggest that Jesus was a king – therefore usurping Caesar’s authority. Pilate was certainly asking if Jesus was the spiritual leader of the Jewish people.
3. Verse 27:35. Later manuscripts added another phrase to this verse:
– so it might accomplish what was spoken by the Prophet, ‘They parted my clothes among them and upon my clothing they cast lots.'
4. Verse 27:45. From noon to 3pm.
5. Verse 27:46. This statement – or prayer – by Jesus portrays a devotional mood of love in separation for the Supreme Being. This aspect of love for God is also portrayed by David in Psalm 22:
My God, my God, why have You left me alone?
Why are You so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.
Yet You are enthroned as the Holy One;
You are the praise of Israel.
In You our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and You delivered them.
They cried to You and were saved;
in You they trusted and were not disappointed.
But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:
“He trusts in the LORD;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let Him deliver him,
since he delights in Him.”
Yet You brought me out of the womb;
You made me trust in You
even at my mother’s breast.
From birth I was cast upon You;
from my mother’s womb You have been my God.
Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
Roaring lions tearing their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
You lay me in the dust of death.
Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.
But You, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
Deliver my life from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
I will declare Your Name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise You.
You who revere the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him!
Revere Him, all you descendants of Israel!
For He has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
He has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
From You comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who revere You will I fulfill my vows.
The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise Him—
may your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before Him,
for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
Posterity will serve Him;
future generations will be told about the LORD.
They will proclaim His righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for He has done it. (Psalm 22 NIV)
6. Verse 27:50. According to the lexicon, the word ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) means, “to bid going away or depart– to give up, keep no longer…” This term indicates Jesus is referring to his spirit-person departing from his physical body at the time of death. This scenario was also taught by Jesus:
“And don’t fear those who can kill the body but are unable to kill the self.” (Matthew 10:28)7. Verse 27:53 - The Greek word ἔγερσις (egersis) refers to the “resurrection of the dead” according to Thayer’s lexicon – referring to rising out of the body at the time of death – also confirmed in 27:50.
