1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 4 “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.” 11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 12 And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?” 14 But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement. 15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19 While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.” 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. 21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied. 22 “What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!” 23 “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.” 25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. 27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. 31 After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him. 32 Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull, 34 they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and the other on His left. 39 And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are 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!” 41 In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, 42 “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him. 45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.” 48 One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink. 49 But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.” 50 When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. 51 At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” 55 And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. 57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. 62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.” 65 “You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.
Matthew · Berean Standard Bible
Matthew 27 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Barabbas
A notorious prisoner, an insurrectionist, whom the crowd chose to be released rather than Jesus.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:16; Matthew 27:17; Mark 15:7
Joses
Named in Mark 15:40 and 15:47 (Joses; Joseph in Matthew 27:56) as a son of the Mary who watched the crucifixion; the text does not identify him with Joses the brother of Jesus in…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40
Mary
A woman who followed Jesus from Galilee and was at the cross, called the mother of James the younger and of Joses (Joseph) and seen at the burial and at the tomb; the text does…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; Mark 15:47
Mary Magdalene
A woman from whom seven demons had gone out, who followed and supported Jesus from Galilee, stood by the cross, saw the burial, and was the first to see the empty tomb and the…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:56; Luke 8:2; John 19:25
Pontius Pilate
Roman governor of Judea who questioned Jesus, found no guilt in Him, released Barabbas, and gave Him up to be crucified and permitted Joseph of Arimathea to take the body.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 27:2; Luke 3:1; John 18:38
Cross references (61)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Mark 15:1; John 18:28; Psalm 2:2; Luke 22:66; Micah 2:1
- 2 Acts 3:13; Matthew 20:19; 1 Timothy 6:13; Luke 13:1; Luke 20:20
- 3 2 Corinthians 7:10; Job 20:15–29; Luke 22:47–48; Luke 22:2–6; Job 20:5
- 4 Jeremiah 26:15; Luke 16:25–26; Luke 23:22; Titus 1:16; 2 Kings 24:4
- 5 Acts 1:18–19; 2 Samuel 17:23; Psalm 55:23; Luke 1:9; Luke 1:21
- 6 Luke 6:7–9; Deuteronomy 23:18; Isaiah 61:8; John 18:28; Matthew 23:24
- 8 Acts 1:19; Matthew 28:15; 2 Chronicles 5:9; Joshua 4:9; Deuteronomy 34:6
- 9 Zechariah 11:12–13; Leviticus 27:2–7; Matthew 1:22
- 10 Zechariah 11:13
- 11 Luke 23:2–3; Mark 15:2–5; Matthew 26:25; John 18:29–38; Mark 14:62
- 12 Matthew 26:63; Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:14; Mark 15:3–5; Acts 8:32
- 13 Matthew 26:62; Acts 22:24; John 18:35
- 14 Isaiah 8:18; 1 Corinthians 4:9; Psalm 71:7; Zechariah 3:8
- 15 Matthew 26:5; John 18:38–40; Luke 23:16; John 19:16; Acts 24:27
- 16 Mark 15:7; Luke 23:18–19; Luke 23:25; John 18:40; Acts 3:14
- 17 1 Kings 18:21; John 19:15; Mark 15:9–12; Joshua 24:15; Matthew 27:21–22
- 18 Proverbs 27:4; Acts 5:17; Mark 15:10; Genesis 37:11; Acts 13:45
- 19 Zechariah 9:9; Proverbs 29:1; 1 Peter 2:22; Matthew 27:24; Luke 23:47
- 20 John 19:15–16; Acts 3:14–15; Mark 15:11; John 18:40; Luke 23:18–20
- 22 Isaiah 53:2–3; John 19:14–15; Mark 15:12–14; Isaiah 49:7; Acts 13:38
- 23 Genesis 37:18–19; Acts 7:57; Acts 23:12–15; Acts 22:22–23; Acts 17:5–7
- 24 Matthew 27:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Psalm 26:6; John 19:4; Job 9:30–31
- 25 Joshua 2:19; Acts 5:28; Acts 7:52; 1 Thessalonians 2:15–16; Deuteronomy 19:10
- 26 Isaiah 53:5; John 19:1; Mark 15:15; Isaiah 50:6; Luke 23:16
- 27 John 18:33; John 18:28; Acts 10:1; Mark 15:16–20; Acts 23:35
- 28 Mark 15:17; Luke 23:11; John 19:2–5
- 29 Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 20:19; Mark 15:18; Psalm 69:19–20; John 19:2–3
- 30 Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67; Isaiah 53:7; Mark 15:19; Job 30:8–10
- 31 Isaiah 53:7; 1 Kings 21:10; Matthew 21:39; Hebrews 13:12; Acts 7:58
- 32 Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26; Matthew 16:24; Acts 6:9; Acts 2:10
- 33 John 19:17–19; Mark 15:22–32; Luke 23:44; Mark 15:34; John 19:23–24
- 34 Psalm 69:21; Mark 15:23; Matthew 27:48; John 19:28–30
- 35 Psalm 22:18; Mark 15:24–32; John 19:23–24; Luke 23:34; Acts 4:10
- 36 Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Mark 15:44
- 37 John 19:19–22; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38
- 38 John 19:18; John 19:31–35; Luke 23:39–43; Matthew 27:44; Mark 15:27
- 39 Psalm 109:25; Lamentations 1:12; Psalm 31:11–13; Psalm 22:17; Lamentations 2:15–17
- 40 Matthew 26:61; Matthew 4:3; Matthew 4:6; John 2:19–22; Matthew 26:63–64
- 41 Psalm 35:26; Isaiah 28:22; Mark 15:31–32; Luke 23:35; Zechariah 11:8
- 42 John 1:49; Matthew 27:37; Acts 4:14; Luke 19:38; John 12:13
- 43 Psalm 22:8; John 10:36; Psalm 71:11; Psalm 14:6; John 5:17–25
- 44 Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:32; Luke 23:39–43; Psalm 35:15; Job 30:7–9
- 45 Amos 8:9; Mark 15:33–34; Isaiah 50:3; Luke 23:44–45; Revelation 9:2
- 46 Psalm 22:1; Hebrews 5:7; Isaiah 53:10; Mark 15:34; Psalm 71:11
- 47 Malachi 4:5; Mark 15:35–36; Matthew 11:14
- 48 Psalm 69:21; John 19:29–30; Luke 23:36; Matthew 27:34
- 50 John 19:30; Isaiah 53:9–12; Psalm 22:14–15; Luke 23:46; Hebrews 9:14
- 51 Hebrews 10:19–22; Mark 15:38; Hebrews 6:19; Luke 23:45; Revelation 11:19
- 52 Isaiah 26:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 15:20; John 5:25–29; Daniel 12:2
- 54 Matthew 27:36; Mark 15:39; Matthew 27:43; Romans 1:4; Luke 23:47–49
- 55 Luke 8:2–3; Luke 23:48–49; John 19:25–27; Luke 23:27–28
- 56 John 19:25; Mark 15:47–16:1; Mark 16:9; Matthew 28:1; John 20:1
- 57 John 19:38–42; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56
- 58 Mark 15:44–46; Luke 23:52–53
- 60 Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:66; Matthew 28:2; Luke 24:2; Mark 16:3–4
- 61 Matthew 27:56; Matthew 28:1
- 62 Mark 15:42; John 19:14; John 19:42; Matthew 26:17; Matthew 27:1–2
- 63 Luke 9:22; Matthew 16:21; Mark 10:34; Mark 8:31; Luke 18:33
- 64 Matthew 28:13
- 65 Matthew 27:66; Matthew 28:11–15; Psalm 76:10; Proverbs 21:30
- 66 Daniel 6:17; Matthew 27:60; Matthew 28:2; 2 Timothy 2:19; Matthew 28:11
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Seest thou what He is first asked? which thing most of all they were continually bringing forward in every way? For since they saw Pilate making no account of the matters of the law, they direct their accusation to the state charges.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For when the things which pertain to His passion are prophetically spoken there also in the person of Christ, that is mentioned which is unfolded in the Gospel: "They gave me gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar for drink." And as it were after such a feast and dainties in this way given to …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
For as to their being aware of it, they say to Pilate, "That deceiver said," these are their words, "while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again;" and yet we know His disciples were ignorant of this; even as they had been beforehand more void of understanding than these: wherefore also these became self-condemned.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
take for a witness Pilate himself, who gave sentence upon Him, saying, I find no fault in this Man: and when he gave Him up, and had washed his hands, he said, I am innocent of the blood of this just person.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
He lays down His life, but He has power to take it again; and the veil is rent, for the mysterious doors of Heaven are opened; the rocks are cleft, the dead arise. He dies, but He gives life, and by His death destroys death.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)