1 Now when morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death. 2 They bound him, led him away, and delivered him to Pilate the governor. 3 Then when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he repented and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 and said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself.” 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went out and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put this into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.” 7 They discussed the matter together and with the money bought the potter's field in which to bury strangers. 8 For this reason that field has been called, “The Field of Blood” to this day. 9 Then that which had been spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they gave it for the potter's field, as the Lord had directed me.” 11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered him, “You say so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear all the charges against you?” 14 But he did not answer even one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 15 Now at the feast it was the custom of the governor to release one prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17 So when they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 He knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him and said, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man. For I have suffered much today because of a dream I had about him.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas, and have Jesus killed. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “What should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all answered, “Crucify him.” 23 Then he said, “Why, what crime has he done?” But they cried out even louder, “Crucify him.” 24 So when Pilate saw that he could not do anything, but instead a riot was starting, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this innocent man. See to it yourselves.” 25 All the people said, “May his blood be on us and our children.” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but he scourged Jesus and handed him over to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the government headquarters and gathered the whole company of soldiers. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They made a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. They knelt down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on him, and they took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him and put his own garments on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 As they came out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to go with them so that he might carry his cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha, which means “The Place of a Skull.” 34 They gave him wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he tasted it, he would not drink. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his garments by casting lots, 36 and they sat and kept guard over him. 37 Above his head they put the charge against him, which read “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 38 Two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right of him and one on the left. 39 Those who passed by insulted him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who were 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 were mocking him, along with the scribes and elders, and said, 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel. Let him come down off the cross, and then we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God, let God rescue him now, if God consents to release him. For he even said, 'I am the Son of God.'” 44 In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also spoke insults to him. 45 Now from the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 46 About the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice and said, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 When some of those who were standing there heard it, they said, “He is calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed staff, and gave it to him to drink. 49 The rest of them said, “Leave him alone. Let us see whether Elijah comes to save him.” 50 Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 51 Behold, the curtain of the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom, and the earth shook, and the rocks split apart. 52 The tombs were opened, and the bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 They came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those who were watching Jesus saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they became very afraid and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” 55 Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for him were there looking on from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58 He approached Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. 62 The next day, which was the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together with Pilate. 63 They said, “Sir, we remember that when that deceiver was alive, he said, 'After three days will I rise again.' 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, otherwise his disciples may come and steal him and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “Take a guard. Go and make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and placing the guard.
Matthew · Unlocked Literal Bible
Matthew 27 Unlocked Literal 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)