Thematic Bible




Matthew 27:1 (show verse)

At daybreak all the Chief Priests and the Councillors of the Nation consulted together against Jesus, to bring about his death.

Matthew 27:2 (show verse)

They put him in chains and led him away, and gave him up to the Roman Governor, Pilate.

Matthew 27:3 (show verse)

Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that Jesus was condemned, repented of what he had done, and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests and Councillors.

Matthew 27:4 (show verse)

"I did wrong in betraying a good man to his death," he said. "What has that to do with us?" they replied. "You must see to that yourself."

Matthew 27:5 (show verse)

Judas flung down the pieces of silver in the Temple, and left; and went away and hanged himself.

Matthew 27:6 (show verse)

The Chief Priests took the pieces of silver, but they said: "We must not put them into the Temple treasury, because they are blood-money."

Matthew 27:7 (show verse)

So, after consultation, they bought with them the 'Potter's Field' for a burial-ground for foreigners;

Matthew 27:8 (show verse)

And that is why that field is called the 'Field of Blood' to this very day.

Matthew 27:9 (show verse)

Then it was that these words spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled-- 'They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him who was valued, whom some of the people of Israel valued,

Matthew 27:10 (show verse)

And gave them for the Potter's field, as the Lord commanded me.'

Matthew 27:11 (show verse)

Meanwhile Jesus was brought before the Roman Governor. "Are you the King of the Jews?" asked the Governor. "It is true," answered Jesus.

Matthew 27:12 (show verse)

While charges were being brought against him by the Chief Priests and Councillors, Jesus made no reply.

Matthew 27:13 (show verse)

Then Pilate said to him: "Do not you hear how many accusations they are making against you?"

Matthew 27:14 (show verse)

Yet Jesus made no reply--not even a single word; at which the Governor was greatly astonished.

Matthew 27:15 (show verse)

Now, at the Feast, the Governor was accustomed to grant the people the release of any one prisoner whom they might choose.

Matthew 27:16 (show verse)

At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

Matthew 27:17 (show verse)

So, when the people had collected, Pilate said to them: "Which do you wish me to release for you? Barabbas? Or Jesus who is called 'Christ'?"

Matthew 27:18 (show verse)

For he knew that it was out of jealousy that they had given Jesus up to him.

Matthew 27:19 (show verse)

While he was still on the Bench, his wife sent this message to him--"Do not have anything to do with that good man, for I have been very unhappy to-day in a dream on account of him."

Matthew 27:20 (show verse)

But the Chief Priests and the Councillors persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to kill Jesus.

Matthew 27:21 (show verse)

The Governor, however, said to them: "Which of these two do you wish me to release for you?" "Barabbas," they answered.

Matthew 27:22 (show verse)

"What then," Pilate asked, "shall I do with Jesus who is called 'Christ'?" "Let him be crucified," they all replied.

Matthew 27:23 (show verse)

"Why, what harm has he done?" he asked. But they kept shouting furiously: "Let him be crucified!"

Matthew 27:24 (show verse)

When Pilate saw that his efforts were unavailing, but that, on the contrary, a riot was beginning, he took some water, and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying as he did so: "I am not answerable for this bloodshed; you must see to it yourselves."

Matthew 27:25 (show verse)

And all the people answered: "His blood be on our heads and on our children's!"

Matthew 27:26 (show verse)

The Pilate released Barabbas to them; but Jesus he scourged, and gave him up to be crucified.

Matthew 27:27 (show verse)

After that, the Governor's soldiers took Jesus with them into the Government House, and gathered the whole garrison round him.

Matthew 27:28 (show verse)

They stripped him, and put on him a red military cloak,

Matthew 27:29 (show verse)

And having twisted some thorns into a crown, put it on his head, and a rod in his right hand, and then, going down on their knees before him, they mocked him. "Long life to you, King of the Jews!" they said.

Matthew 27:30 (show verse)

They spat at him and, taking the rod, kept striking him on the head;

Matthew 27:31 (show verse)

And, when they had left off mocking him, they took off the military cloak, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to be crucified.

Matthew 27:32 (show verse)

As they were on their way out, they came upon a man from Cyrene of the name of Simon; and they compelled him to go with them to carry the cross.

Matthew 27:33 (show verse)

On reaching a place named Golgotha (a place named from its likeness to a skull),

Matthew 27:34 (show verse)

they gave him some wine to drink which had been mixed with gall; but after tasting it, Jesus refused to drink it.

Matthew 27:35 (show verse)

When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among them by casting lots.

Matthew 27:36 (show verse)

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

Matthew 27:37 (show verse)

Above his head they fixed the accusation against him written out--'THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.'

Matthew 27:38 (show verse)

At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right, the other on the left.

Matthew 27:39 (show verse)

The passers-by railed at him, shaking their heads as they said:

Matthew 27:40 (show verse)

"You who 'destroy the Temple and build one in three days,' save yourself! If you are God's Son, come down from the cross!"

Matthew 27:41 (show verse)

In the same way the Chief Priests, with the Teaches of the Law and Councillors, said in mockery:

Matthew 27:42 (show verse)

"He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the 'King of Israel'! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.

Matthew 27:43 (show verse)

He has trusted in God; if God wants him, let him deliver him now; for he said 'I am God's Son.'"

Matthew 27:44 (show verse)

Even the robbers, who were crucified with him, reviled him in the same way.

Matthew 27:45 (show verse)

After mid-day a darkness came over all the country, lasting till three in the afternoon.

Matthew 27:46 (show verse)

And about three Jesus called out loudly: "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabacthani"--that is to say, 'O my God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?'

Matthew 27:47 (show verse)

Some of those standing by heard this, and said: "The man is calling for Elijah!"

Matthew 27:48 (show verse)

One of them immediately ran and took a sponge, and, filling it with common wine, put it on the end of a rod, and offered it to him to drink.

Matthew 27:49 (show verse)

But the rest said: "Wait and let us see if Elijah is coming to save him." [However another man took a spear, and pierced his side; and water and blood flowed from it.]

Matthew 27:50 (show verse)

But Jesus, uttering another loud cry, gave up his spirit.

Matthew 27:51 (show verse)

Suddenly the Temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, the rocks were torn asunder,

Matthew 27:52 (show verse)

the tombs opened, and the bodies of many of God's People who had fallen asleep rose,

Matthew 27:53 (show verse)

And they, leaving their tombs, went, after the resurrection of Jesus, into the Holy City, and appeared to many people.

Matthew 27:54 (show verse)

The Roman Captain, and the men with him who were watching Jesus, on seeing the earthquake and all that was happening, became greatly frightened and exclaimed: "This must indeed have been God's Son!"

Matthew 27:55 (show verse)

There were many women there, watching from a distance, who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee and had been attending on him.

Matthew 27:56 (show verse)

Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebediah's sons.

Matthew 27:57 (show verse)

When evening had fallen, there came a rich man belonging to Ramah, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.

Matthew 27:58 (show verse)

He went to see Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus; upon which Pilate ordered it to be given him.

Matthew 27:59 (show verse)

So Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen sheet,

Matthew 27:60 (show verse)

And laid it in his newly-made tomb which he had cut in the rock; and, before he left, he rolled a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Matthew 27:61 (show verse)

Mary of Magdala and the other Mary remained behind, sitting in front of the grave.

Matthew 27:62 (show verse)

The next day--that is, the day following the Preparation-Day- -the Chief Priests and Pharisees came in a body to Pilate, and said:

Matthew 27:63 (show verse)

"Sir, we remember that, during his lifetime, that impostor said 'I shall rise after three days.'

Matthew 27:64 (show verse)

So order the tomb to be made secure till the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal him, and then say to the people 'He has risen from the dead,' when the latest imposture will be worse than the first."

Matthew 27:65 (show verse)

"You may have a guard," was Pilate's reply; "go and make the tomb as secure as you can."

Matthew 27:66 (show verse)

So they went made the tomb secure, by sealing the stone, in presence of the guard.