‏ Matthew 27

1When the morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people held a consultation against Jesus, that they might put him to death. 2And they bound him and led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

3Then Judas, who had delivered him up, when he saw that he was condemned, stung by remorse, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4saying: I have sinned in having delivered up innocent blood. They replied: What is that to us? You will see to that. 5And he threw down the money in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6And the chief priests took the money, and said: It is not lawful to put it into the sacred treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7And they took counsel, and bought with it the potter’s field, as a burial-place for foreigners. 8For this reason, that field is called the field of blood, to this day. 9Then the word was fulfilled which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that had a price set upon him, on whom some of the children of Israel did set a price, 10and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.

11And Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, saying: Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus replied to him: You say it. 12And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. 13Then Pilate said to him: Do you not hear how many things they testify against you? 14And he gave him answer to not one word, so that the governor was greatly astonished.

15Now at the feast, the governor was in the habit of releasing to the multitude one prisoner, whom they chose. 16They then had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17Therefore, while they were together, Pilate said to them: Which do you wish me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ? 18For he knew that through envy they had delivered him up.

19While he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying: Have nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered much to-day in a dream, because of him.

20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitude to ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21The governor answered and said to them: Which of the two do you wish me to release to you? They replied: Barabbas. 22Pilate said to them: What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all said to him: Let him be crucified. 23But the governor said: Why, what evil has he done? But they cried vehemently, saying: Let him be crucified. 24When Pilate saw that he gained nothing, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, and said: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; you will see to it. 25And all the people answered and said: His blood be upon us and upon our children. 26Then he released to them Barabbas; but after he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him up to be crucified.

27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the palace, and brought together to him the whole band. 28And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet cloak; 29and when they had plaited a crown of thorn branches, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and kneeling before him, they derided him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! 30And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and struck him on the head. 31And when they had derided him, they took off the cloak from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

32And as they were going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: this man they compelled to carry his cross. 33And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, which, when translated, is the place of a skull, 34they gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall; and when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. 35And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among themselves, by casting the lot. 36And they sat down and watched him there. 37And they placed above his head the charge that was made against him, written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Then were two robbers crucified with him; one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

39And they that passed by reviled him, shaking their heads, 40and saying: You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself; if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41In like manner also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, derided him, and said: 42He saved others; himself he can not save. If he is the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. 43He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he delights in him; for he said: I am the Son of God. 44The robbers also that were crucified with him, uttered the same reproaches against him.

45From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land till the ninth hour. 46But about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamah sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47Some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, said: This man calls for Elijah. 48And immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, and having filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. 49The rest said: Wait, let us see if Elijah is coming to save him.

50And Jesus again cried with a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. 51And behold, the vail of the temple was rent in two from top to bottom. And the earth did shake, and the rocks were rent: 52and the sepulchers were opened, and many bodies of the saints that slept, arose. 53And they came out of their sepulchers after his resurrection, and entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

54Now the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and what was done, were greatly afraid, and said: Of a truth, this was the Son of God.

55Many women that had followed Jesus from Galilee, and had ministered to him, were there, looking on from a distance. 56Among these was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57When the evening had come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph; and he also was a disciple of Jesus. 58This man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given. 59And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linen, 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. 61And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

62On the morrow, which was the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate, 63and said: Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will arise. 64Therefore, command that the sepulcher be made safe till the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him away, and say to the people, He has risen from the dead; and the last error will be worse than the first. 65Pilate said to them: You have a guard; go, make it as safe as you know how. 66And they went and made the sepulcher safe, by placing a seal upon the stone, and setting the guard.