The Condemnation of Jesus

1. Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.
2. And having bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.

Judas’ Remorse and Death

3. Then Judas, who had delivered Him, seeing that He was condemned, felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.
4. And he said, “I have sinned, having delivered innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself.”
5. And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed. And he went and hanged himself.
6. And the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.”
7. And they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.
8. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him who was valued, whom they of the children of Israel valued,
10. and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.”

Jesus Before Pilate

11. Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “You say it.”
12. And while He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
13. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?”
14. And He did not answer him with a word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

The Choice Between Jesus and Barabbas

15. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the crowd one prisoner, whom they wished.
16. And they had then a notable prisoner called 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 Christ?”
18. For he knew that because of envy they had delivered 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. Now the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
21. But the governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas.”
22. Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let Him be crucified.”
23. And the governor said, “Why? What evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified.”
24. So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous Man; see to it yourselves.”
25. And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
26. Then he released to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

The Mocking of Jesus

27. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s hall, and they gathered the whole cohort around Him.
28. And they stripped Him and put on Him a scarlet robe.
29. And having twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they knelt before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
30. And they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.
31. And after mocking Him, they took off the robe and put His own garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

The Crucifixion

32. And as they went out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon; him they compelled to carry His cross.
33. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, that is, Place of a Skull,
34. they gave Him wine to drink mingled with gall; and having tasted it, He would not drink.
35. And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They divided my garments among them, and upon my clothing did they cast lots.
36. And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.
37. And over His head they put His accusation written: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.”
38. Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right hand and one on the left.

The Death of Jesus

39. And those passing by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads
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. Likewise the chief priests, mocking with the scribes and elders, said,
42. “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.
43. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
44. And even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him in the same way.

The Darkness and Death

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 out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
47. And some of those standing there, when they heard, said, “This Man calls Elijah.”
48. And immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, giving Him to drink.
49. The rest said, “Let be, let us see whether Elijah comes to save Him.”
50. And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit.

The Response to Jesus’ Death

51. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
52. and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,
53. and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54. Now the centurion and those who were with him, watching Jesus after He had cried out and yielded up the spirit, feared greatly, saying, “Truly this Man was the Son of God.”

The Burial of Jesus

55. And many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him,
56. among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57. Now when evening came, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.
58. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given to him.
59. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60. and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock, and he rolled a large stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.
61. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62. Now on the next day, that is, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together before Pilate,
63. saying, “Sir, we remember that 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 by night and steal Him away, 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, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you can.”
66. So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting a guard.