Matthew 27:1–26

Jesus Handed Over to Pilate

27When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. ^s2After tying Him up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate, ^tthe governor. ^u

Judas Hangs Himself

³Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. ^v4“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said.

“What’s that to us?” they said. “See to it yourself!”

⁵So he threw the silver into the sanctuary ^wand departed. Then he went and hanged himself.

⁶The chief priests took the silver and said, “It’s not lawful ^xto put it into the temple treasury, ^ysince it is blood money.” ^z7So they conferred together and bought the potter’s field with it as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸Therefore that field has been called “Blood Field” to this day. ⁹Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

They took the 30 pieces of silver, the price of Him whose price was set by the Israelites, ¹⁰and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me. ^ab

Jesus Faces the Governor

¹¹Now Jesus stood before the governor. ^c“Are You the King of the Jews?” the governor asked Him.

Jesus answered, “You have said it.” ^de12And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He didn’t answer. ^f

¹³Then Pilate said to Him, “Don’t You hear how much they are testifying against You?” ¹⁴But He didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. ^g

Jesus or Barabbas

¹⁵At the festival ^hthe governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. ¹⁶At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ⁱ¹⁷So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, ^jor Jesus who is called Messiah?” ^k18For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy.

¹⁹While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!” ^l

²⁰The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. ²¹The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”

“Barabbas!” they answered.

²²Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?”

They all answered, “Crucify Him!” ^mn

²³Then he said, “Why? What has He done wrong?”

But they kept shouting, “Crucify Him!” all the more. ^o

²⁴When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, ^pbut that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. ^qSee to it yourselves!” ^r

²⁵All the people answered, “His blood be on us ^sand on our children!” ²⁶Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged, ^the handed Him over to be crucified. ^u