Jesus Delivered to Pilate
1 Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people schemed together against Jesus to put him to death, 2 and they bound him and led him away and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
Judas Hangs Himself
3 Then when Judas, who betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse and brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.”
But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”
5 He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary and departed. He went away and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It’s not lawful to put them into the treasury since it is blood money.” 7 They consulted together and bought the potter’s field with it, a burial site for foreigners. 8 Therefore that field was called “The Field of Blood” to this day. 9 Then that which was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled, saying,
“They took the 30 pieces of silver,
the value of him whose price
had been set by the Israelites,
10 and they gave it for the potter’s field,
as the Lord commanded me.” a
Jesus Before Pilate
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, “So you say.”
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear all the things they are testifying against you?”
14 He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
15 Now at the feast, it was the custom of the governor to release to the crowds, one prisoner whom they chose. 16 They had in custody at that time, a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you, Barabbas or Jesus, who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew that it was because of envy they had delivered him up.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.”
20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called the Messiah?”
They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
23 But the governor said, “Why? What crime has he committed?”
But they cried out more, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
Pilate Washes his Hands
24 So when Pilate saw that he was not prevailing, 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. See to it yourselves.”
25 All the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them, and after having Jesus flogged, he delivered him up that he might be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole battalion together against him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 When they had braided a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand, and having bowed down on their knees before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And after they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
32 As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33 When they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull”, 34 they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall, but after tasting it, he would not drink it.
35 When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet,
“They parted my garments among themselves,
and upon my clothing they cast lots.” b
36 Sitting down, they kept guard over him there. 37 They set up over his head, the accusation written against him, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
38 Then there were two thieves being crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left. 39 Those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
41 Likewise the chief priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said, 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 in God. Let God deliver him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 The thieves also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.
The Death of Jesus
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”
That is,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
47 Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him a drink. 49 The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
50 Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep arose; 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 Now the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done, feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
55 Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee were there watching from afar, ministering to him. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
The Burial of Jesus
57 When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came. 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 in a clean linen cloth 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of the rock, and he rolled a great stone against the door of the tomb and departed. 61 Mary Magdalene was there and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 Now the next day, which was the day after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together before Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest 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 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
a Zechariah 11:12-13
b Psalm 22:18