Matthew 27:11–54

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

Mocked by the Military

²⁷Then ^vthe governor’s soldiers took Jesus into headquarters and gathered the whole company around Him. ^w28They stripped Him and dressed Him in a scarlet military robe. ^x29They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and placed a reed in His right hand. And they knelt down before Him and mocked Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰Then they spit on Him, took the reed, and kept hitting Him on the head. ³¹When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. ^y

Crucified Between Two Criminals

³²As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced this man to carry His cross. ^z33When they came to a place called Golgotha ^a(which means Skull Place), ³⁴they gave Him wine ^bmixed with gall to drink. But when He tasted it, He would not drink it. ³⁵After crucifying Him they divided His clothes by casting lots. ^cd36Then they sat down and were guarding Him there. ³⁷Above His head they put up the charge against Him in writing:

THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁸Then two criminals ^ewere crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. ^f39Those who passed by were yelling insults at ^gHim, shaking their heads ^h40and saying, “The One who would demolish the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” ⁱ⁴¹In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, ^jmocked Him and said, ⁴²“He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel! ^kLet Him ^lcome down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. ⁴³He has put His trust in God; let God rescue Him now—if He wants Him! ^mFor He said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ” ⁴⁴In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with Him kept taunting Him. ⁿ

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁵From noon until three in the afternoon ^odarkness came over the whole land. ^pq46About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá ^rsabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken ^sMe?” ^tu

⁴⁷When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah!”

⁴⁸Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, and offered Him a drink. ^v49But the rest said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save Him!”

⁵⁰Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. ^w51Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary ^xywas split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split. ⁵²The tombs were also opened ^zand many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. ⁵³And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

⁵⁴When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “This man really was God’s Son!” ^ab