Matthew Chapter 27

The continuation of the history of the passion of Christ. His death and burial.

27:1. And when morning was come, all the chief priests and ancients of the people took counsel against Jesus, that they might put him to death.

27:2. And they brought him bound and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

27:3. Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients,

27:4. Saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. But they said: What is that to us? Look thou to it.

27:5. And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed and went and hanged himself with an halter.

27:6. But the chief priests having taken the pieces of silver, said: It is not lawful to put them into the corbona, because it is the price of blood.

Corbona. . .A place in the temple where the people put in their gifts or offerings.

27:7. And after they had consulted together, they bought with them the potter's field, to be a burying place for strangers.

27:8. For this cause that field was called Haceldama, that is, the field of blood, even to this day.

27:9. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was prized, whom they prized of the children of Israel.

27:10. And they gave them unto the potter's field, as the Lord appointed to me.

27:11. And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to him: Thou sayest it.

27:12. And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he answered nothing.

27:13. Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou hear how great testimonies they allege against thee?

27:14. And he answered him to never a word, so that the governor wondered exceedingly.

27:15. Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would.

27:16. And he had then a notorious prisoner that was called Barabbas.

27:17. They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to You: Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ?

27:18. For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

27:19. And as he was sitting in the place of judgment, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

27:20. But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people that they should ask Barabbas and make Jesus away.

27:21. And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said: Barabbas.

27:22. Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified.

27:23. The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified.

27:24. And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look you to it.

27:25. And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and upon our children.

27:26. Then he released to them Barabbas: and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified.

27:27. Then the soldiers of the governor, taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band.

27:28. And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him.

27:29. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews.

27:30. And spitting upon him, they took the reed and struck his head.

27:31. And after they had mocked him, they took off the cloak from him and put on him his own garments and led him away to crucify him.

27:32. And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: him they forced to take up his cross.

27:33. And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary.

27:34. And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink.

27:35. And after they had crucified him, they divided his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided my garments among them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.

27:36. And they sat and watched him.

27:37. And they put over his head his cause written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27:38. Then were crucified with him two thieves: one on the right hand and one on the left.

27:39. And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads,

27:40. And saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God and in three days dost rebuild it: save thy own self. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

27:41. In like manner also the chief priests, with the scribes and ancients, mocking said:

27:42. He saved others: himself he cannot save. If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross: and we will believe him.

27:43. He trusted in God: let him now deliver him if he will have him. For he said: I am the Son of God.

27:44. And the selfsame thing the thieves also that were crucified with him reproached him with.

27:45. Now from the sixth hour, there was darkness over the whole earth, until the ninth hour.

27:46. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? That is, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?

27:47. And some that stood there and heard said: This man calleth Elias.

27:48. And immediately one of them running took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink.

27:49. And the others said: Let be. Let us see whether Elias will come to deliver him.

27:50. And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

27:51. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom: and the earth quaked and the rocks were rent.

27:52. And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose,

27:53. And coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came into the holy city and appeared to many.

27:54. Now the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake and the things that were done, were sore afraid, saying: Indeed this was the Son of God.

27:55. And there were there many women afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

27:56. Among whom was Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

27:57. And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus.

27:58. He went to Pilate and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered.

27:59. And Joseph taking the body wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth:

27:60. And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument and went his way.

27:61. And there was there Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

27:62. And the next day, which followed the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate,

The day of preparation. . .The eve of the sabbath; so called, because on that day they prepared all things necessary; not being allowed so much as to dress their meat on the sabbath day.

27:63. Saying: Sir, we have remembered, that that seducer said, while he was yet alive: After three days I will rise again.

27:64. Command therefore the sepulchre to be guarded until the third day: lest perhaps his disciples come and steal him away and say to the people: He is risen from the dead. And the last error shall be worse than the first.

27:65. Pilate saith to them: You have a guard. Go, guard it as you know.

27:66. And they departing, made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone and setting guards.