Matthew 27:45–56

The Death of Jesus

27:45–56pp—Mk 15:33–41; Lk 23:44–49; Jn 19:29–30

⁴⁵From noon until three in the afternoon darkness^x came over all the land. ⁴⁶About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^c lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^dy

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

⁴⁸Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar,^z put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

⁵⁰And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.^a

⁵¹At that moment the curtain of the temple^b was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split^{c 52}and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and^e went into the holy city^d and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴When the centurion and those with him who were guarding^e Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”^f

⁵⁵Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.^{g 56}Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,^f and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.^h