1 W hen it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people held a consultation against Jesus to put Him to death;

Early in the morning all the head religious leaders of the Jews and the leaders of the people gathered together and talked about how they could put Jesus to death.

2 A nd they bound Him and led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.

They tied Him and took Him away. Then they handed Him over to Pilate who was the leader of the country.

3 W hen Judas, His betrayer, saw that was condemned, '> afflicted in mind and troubled for his former folly; and] with remorse he brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,

Then Judas was sorry he had handed Jesus over when he saw that Jesus was going to be killed. He took back the thirty pieces of silver and gave it to the head religious leaders and the other leaders.

4 S aying, I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. They replied, What is that to us? See to that yourself.

He said, “I have sinned because I handed over a Man Who has done no wrong.” And they said, “What is that to us? That is your own doing.”

5 A nd casting the pieces of silver into the '> sanctuary of the] temple, he departed; and he went off and hanged himself.

He threw the money down in the house of God and went outside. Then he went away and killed himself by hanging from a rope.

6 B ut the chief priests, picking up the pieces of silver, said, It is not legal to put these in the treasury, for it is the price of blood.

The head religious leaders took the money. They said, “It is against the Law to put this money in the house of God. This money has bought blood.”

7 S o after consultation they bought with them the potter’s field in which to bury strangers.

They talked about what to do with the money. Then they decided to buy land to bury strangers in.

8 T herefore that piece of ground has been called the Field of Blood to the present day.

Because of this, that land is called the Field of Blood to this day.

9 T hen were fulfilled the words spoken by Jeremiah the prophet when he said, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him on Whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel,

It happened as the early preacher Jeremiah said it would happen. He said, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver which was the price the Jews said they would pay for Him.

10 A nd they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.

And they bought land to bury strangers in, as the Lord told me.”

11 N ow Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him, You have stated.

Then Jesus stood in front of the leader of the country. The leader asked Jesus, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “What you say is true.”

12 B ut when the charges were made against Him by the chief priests and elders, He made no answer.

When the head religious leaders and the other leaders spoke against Him, He said nothing.

13 T hen Pilate said to Him, Do You not hear how many and how serious are the things they are testifying against You?

Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear all these things they are saying against You?”

14 B ut He made no reply to him, not even to a single accusation, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Jesus did not say a word. The leader was much surprised and wondered about it. Jesus or Barabbas Is to Go Free

15 N ow at the Feast the governor was in the habit of setting free for the people any one prisoner whom they chose.

At the special supper each year the leader of the country would always let one person who was in prison go free. It would be the one the people wanted.

16 A nd at that time they had a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas.

They had a man who was known by all the people whose name was Barabbas.

17 S o when they had assembled for this purpose, Pilate said to them, Whom do you want me to set free for you, Barabbas, or Jesus Who is called Christ?

When they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to let go free? Should it be Barabbas or Jesus Who is called Christ?”

18 F or he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed Him over to him.

For the leader of the country knew the religious leaders had given Jesus over to him because they were jealous.

19 A lso, while he was seated on the judgment bench, his wife sent him a message, saying, Have nothing to do with that just and upright Man, for I have had a painful experience today in a dream because of Him.

While Pilate was sitting in the place where he judges, his wife sent him this word, “Have nothing to do with that good Man. I have been troubled today in a dream about Him.”

20 B ut the chief priests and the elders prevailed on the people to ask for Barabbas, and put Jesus to death.

The head religious leaders and the other leaders talked the many people into asking for Barabbas to go free and for Jesus to be put to death.

21 A gain the governor said to them, Which of the two do you wish me to release for you? And they said, Barabbas!

The leader of the country said to them, “Which one of the two do you want me to let go free?” They said, “Barabbas.”

22 P ilate said to them, Then what shall I do with Jesus Who is called Christ?

Pilate said to them, “Then what am I to do with Jesus Who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Nail Him to a cross!”

23 T hey all replied, Let Him be crucified! And he said, Why? What has He done that is evil? But they shouted all the louder, Let Him be crucified!

Then Pilate said, “Why, what bad thing has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Nail Him to a cross!”

24 S o when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was about to break out, he took water and washed his hands in the presence of the crowd, saying, I am not guilty of nor responsible for this righteous Man’s blood; see to it yourselves.

Pilate saw that he could do nothing. The people were making loud calls and there was much pushing around. He took water and washed his hands in front of the many people. He said, “I am not guilty of the blood of this good Man. This is your own doing.”

25 A nd all the people answered, Let His blood be on us and on our children!

Then all the people said, “Let His blood be on us and on our children!”

26 S o he set free for them Barabbas; and he Jesus whipped, and delivered Him up to be crucified.

Pilate let Barabbas go free but he had men whip Jesus. Then he handed Him over to be nailed to a cross. The Crown of Thorns

27 T hen the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the palace, and they gathered the whole battalion about Him.

Then the soldiers of Pilate took Jesus into a large room. A big group of soldiers gathered around Him.

28 A nd they stripped off His clothes and put a scarlet robe ( garment of dignity and office worn by Roman officers of rank) upon Him,

They took off His clothes and put a purple coat on Him.

29 A nd, weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on His head and put a reed (staff) in His right hand. And kneeling before Him, they made sport of Him, saying, Hail (greetings, good health to You, long life to You), King of the Jews!

They put a crown of thorns on His head. They put a stick in His right hand. They got on their knees before Him and made fun of Him. They said, “Hello, King of the Jews!”

30 A nd they spat on Him, and took the reed (staff) and struck Him on the head.

They spit on Him. They took a stick and hit Him on the head.

31 A nd when they finished making sport of Him, they stripped Him of the robe and put His own garments on Him and led Him away to be crucified.

After they had made fun of Him, they took the coat off and put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him away to be nailed to a cross.

32 A s they were marching forth, they came upon a man of Cyrene named Simon; this man they forced to carry the cross of Jesus.

As they were on the way, they came to a man called Simon from the country of Cyrene. They made him carry the cross for Jesus. Jesus on the Cross

33 A nd when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of a Skull,

They came to a place called Golgotha. This name means the place of a skull.

34 T hey offered Him wine mingled with gall to drink; but when He tasted it, He refused to drink it.

They gave Him wine with something in it to take away the pain. After tasting it, He took no more.

35 A nd when they had crucified Him, they divided and distributed His garments by casting lots so that the prophet’s saying was fulfilled, They parted My garments among them and over My apparel they cast lots.

When they had nailed Him to the cross, they divided His clothes by drawing names. It happened as the early preacher said it would happen. He said, “They divided My clothes among them by drawing names to see who would get My coat.”

36 T hen they sat down there and kept watch over Him.

Then they sat down and watched Him.

37 A nd over His head they put the accusation against Him ( the cause of His death), which read, This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.

Over His head they put in writing what they had against Him, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. The Two Robbers

38 A t the same time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right hand and one on the left.

They nailed two robbers to crosses beside Him. One was on His right side. The other was on His left side.

39 A nd those who passed by spoke reproachfully and abusively and jeered at Him, wagging their heads,

Those who walked by shook their heads and laughed at Him.

40 A nd they said, You Who would tear down the sanctuary of the temple and rebuild it in three days, rescue Yourself from death. If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.

They said, “You are the One Who could destroy the house of God and build it up again in three days. Now save Yourself. If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

41 I n the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, made sport of Him, saying,

The head religious leaders and the teachers of the Law and the other leaders made fun of Him also. They said,

42 H e rescued others from death; Himself He cannot rescue from death. He is the King of Israel? Let Him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Him.

“He saved others but He cannot save Himself. If He is the King of the Jews, let Him come down from the cross. Then we will believe in Him.

43 H e trusts in God; let God deliver Him now if He cares for Him and will have Him, for He said, I am the Son of God.

He trusts God. Let God save Him now, if God cares for Him. He has said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

44 A nd the robbers who were crucified with Him also abused and reproached and made sport of Him in the same way.

And the robbers who were nailed to crosses beside Him made fun of Him the same way also. The Death of Jesus

45 N ow from the sixth hour (noon) there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour (three o’clock).

From noon until three o’clock it was dark over all the land.

46 A nd about the ninth hour (three o’clock) Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?—that is, My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me '> helpless, forsaking and failing Me in My need]?

About three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You left Me alone?”

47 A nd some of the bystanders, when they heard it, said, This Man is calling for Elijah!

When some of those who stood by heard that, they said, “This Man is calling for Elijah.”

48 A nd one of them immediately ran and took a sponge, soaked it with vinegar (a sour wine), and put it on a reed (staff), and was about to give it to Him to drink.

At once one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it with sour wine. He put it on a stick and gave it to Him to drink.

49 B ut the others said, Wait! Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him from death.

The others said, “Let Him alone. Let us see if Elijah will come and save Him.”

50 A nd Jesus cried again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit.

Then Jesus gave another loud cry and gave up His spirit and died. The Powerful Works at the Time of His Death

51 A nd at once the curtain of the sanctuary of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split.

At once the curtain in the house of God was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks fell apart.

52 T he tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep in death were raised;

Graves were opened. Bodies of many of God’s people who were dead were raised.

53 A nd coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

After Jesus was raised from the grave, these arose from their graves and went into Jerusalem, the Holy City. These were seen by many people.

54 W hen the centurion and those who were with him keeping watch over Jesus observed the earthquake and all that was happening, they were terribly frightened and filled with awe, and said, Truly this was God’s Son!

The captain of the soldiers and those with him who were watching Jesus, saw all the things that were happening. They saw the earth shake and they were very much afraid. They said, “For sure, this Man was the Son of God.” The Women at the Cross

55 T here were also numerous women there, looking on from a distance, who were of those who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him.

Many women were looking on from far away. These had followed Jesus from the country of Galilee. They had cared for Him.

56 A mong them were Mary of Magdala, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Among them was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. The Grave of Jesus

57 W hen it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.

When it was evening, a rich man came from the city of Arimathea. His name was Joseph. He was a follower of Jesus also.

58 H e went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate said that the body should be given to him.

59 A nd Joseph took the body and rolled it up in a clean linen cloth used for swathing dead bodies

Joseph took the body and put clean linen cloth around it.

60 A nd laid it in his own fresh ( undefiled) tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a big boulder over the door of the tomb and went away.

He laid it in his own new grave. This grave had been cut out in the side of a rock. He pushed a big stone over the door of the grave and went away.

61 A nd Mary of Magdala and the other Mary kept sitting there opposite the tomb.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed there. They were sitting near the grave.

62 T he next day, that is, the day after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate

The next day, the day after Jesus was killed, the head religious leaders and the proud religious law-keepers gathered together in front of Pilate.

63 A nd said, Sir, we have just remembered how that vagabond Imposter said while He was still alive, After three days I will rise again.

They said, “Sir, we remember what that Man Who fooled people said when He was living, ‘After three days I am to rise from the dead.’

64 T herefore give an order to have the tomb made secure and safeguarded until the third day, for fear that His disciples will come and steal Him away and tell the people that He has risen from the dead, and the last deception and fraud will be worse than the first.

Speak the word to have the grave watched for three days. Then His followers cannot come at night and take Him away and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ The last mistake would be worse than the first.”

65 P ilate said to them, You have a guard go, make it as secure as you can.

Pilate said to them, “Take the soldiers. Go and watch the grave.”

66 S o they went off and made the tomb secure by sealing the boulder, a guard of soldiers being with them and remaining to watch.

Then they went and made the soldiers stand by the grave. They put a lock on the big stone door.