Matthew 27 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Early in the morning all the chief priests and elders of the people consulted together and decided to have Jesus put to death.
1 Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
2 They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
2 They bound him, led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
3 When Judas, the one who'd betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus had been condemned to death, he regretted what he'd done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
3 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,
4 “I've sinned! I've betrayed innocent blood!” he told them. “What's that got to do with us?” they replied. “That's your problem!”
4 saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”
5 Judas threw the silver coins into the sanctuary and left. He went away and hanged himself.
5 He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary and departed. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests took the silver coins and said, “This is blood money, so it's not lawful to put this in the Temple treasury.”
6 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.”
7 So they agreed to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners.
7 They took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them to bury strangers in.
8 That's why the field is still called today the “Field of Blood.”
8 Therefore that field has been called “The Field of Blood” to this day.
9 This fulfilled the prophecy spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “They took thirty silver coins—the ‘value’ of the one who was bought at the price set by some of the children of Israel—
9 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah 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,
10 and used them to pay for the potter's field, just as the Lord instructed me to do.”
10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
11 Jesus was brought before Pilate the governor who asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” “You said it,” Jesus replied.
11 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.”
12 But when the chief priests and elders brought charges against him, Jesus did not answer.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13 “Don't you hear how many charges they're bringing against you?” Pilate asked him.
13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?”
14 But Jesus didn't say anything, not a single word. This greatly surprised the governor.
14 He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
15 Now it was the custom of the governor to release to the crowd during the festival whichever prisoner they wanted.
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they desired.
16 At that time a notorious prisoner was being held, a man named Barabbas.
16 They had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas.
17 So Pilate asked the crowds that had gathered, “Who do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, called the Messiah?”
17 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?”
18 (He had realized it was because of jealousy that they had handed Jesus over to him to be tried.)
18 For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.
19 While he was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent a message to him that said, “Don't do anything to this innocent man, for I've suffered terribly today as a result of a dream about him.”
19 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.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders convinced the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to have Jesus put to death.
20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
21 When the governor asked them, “So which of the two do you want me to release to you?” they answered, “Barabbas.”
21 But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
22 “Then what shall I do with Jesus, called the Messiah?” he asked them. They all shouted out, “Have him crucified!”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” Pilate asked. But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”
23 But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
24 When Pilate saw it was a lost cause, and that a riot was developing, he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I'm innocent of this man's blood. It's on your heads!” he told them.
24 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.”
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us, and on our children!”
25 All the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but he had Jesus flogged and sent to be crucified.
26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.
27 The governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and the whole battalion surrounded him.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.
28 They stripped him and put a scarlet cloak on him.
28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.
29 They made a crown of thorns and placed it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand. They kneeled down in front of him and mocked him, saying, “We salute you, King of the Jews!”
29 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!”
30 They spat on him, and took the stick and beat him over the head with it.
30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.
31 When they'd finished mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
31 When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 On the way they found a man called Simon, from Cyrene, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross.
32 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.
33 When they arrived at Golgotha, meaning “Place of the Skull,”
33 When they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull,”
34 they gave him wine mixed with gall. But having tasted it, he refused to drink it.
34 they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.
35 After they had crucified him, they rolled dice to divide his clothes between them.
35 When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,
36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there.
36 and they sat and watched him there.
37 They placed a sign over his head with the charge against him. It read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
37 They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
38 They crucified two rebels with him, one on the right, and one on the left.
38 Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.
39 Those who passed by shouted insults at him, shaking their heads,
39 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads
40 saying, “You who promised to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, why don't you save yourself! If you really are the Son of God, then come down from the cross.”
40 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!”
41 The chief priests mocked him in the same way, along with the religious teachers and elders.
41 Likewise the chief priests also mocking with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said,
42 “He saved other people, but he can't save himself!” they said. “If he really is the king of Israel, let him come down from the cross, and then we'll believe him!
42 “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.
43 He trusts God so confidently—well let God rescue him now if he wants him, because he claimed ‘I am the Son of God.’”
43 He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
44 The rebels who were crucified with him also insulted him in the same way.
44 The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.
45 From noon until three o'clock darkness covered the whole country.
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
46 At about three o'clock Jesus shouted out loud, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
47 When some of those standing there heard it, they said, “He's calling for Elijah!”
47 Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and grabbed a sponge, soaked it in vinegar, put it on a stick, and gave it to Jesus to drink.
48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.
49 But the others said, “Leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah will come and save him.”
49 The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
50 Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and breathed his last.
50 Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
51 Right then the veil of the Temple was torn apart from top to bottom. The ground shook, the rocks split apart,
51 Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
52 and the graves were opened. Many of those who had lived good lives and had fallen asleep in death were raised to life.
52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
53 After the resurrection of Jesus they went out from the graveyards into the holy city where many people saw them.
53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what happened, they were terrified, and said, “This really was the Son of God!”
54 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!”
55 Many women were also watching from a distance, those who had followed Jesus from Galilee and had supported him.
55 Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.
56 These included Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57 When evening came, a rich man named Joseph, from Arimathea (who was also a disciple of Jesus),
57 When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came.
58 went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate ordered it to be handed over to him.
58 This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.
59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it up in a fresh linen cloth,
59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth
60 and placed it in his own new tomb, cut out of solid rock. He rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb, and left.
60 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.
61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
61 Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
62 The next day, after the Preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to see Pilate.
62 Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,
63 They said to him, “Sir, we recall that the imposter said while he was still alive, ‘After three days, I'll rise again.’
63 saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’
64 Give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. That way his disciples can't come and steal his body and tell people that he was raised from the dead, and the deception in the end will become worse than it was at first.”
64 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.”
65 “I'll give you a guard of soldiers,” Pilate told them. “Now go, and make it as secure as you possibly can.”
65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the entrance stone and posting soldiers as guards.
66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
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)