1 E arly 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.

Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

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

and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate the governor.

3 T hen 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.

Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 H e 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.”

saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.

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

And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

6 T he 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.”

And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.

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

And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

8 B ecause of this, that land is called the Field of Blood to this day.

Wherefore that field was called, the field of blood, unto this day.

9 I t 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.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price;

10 A nd they bought land to bury strangers in, as the Lord told me.”

and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

11 T hen 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.”

Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

12 W hen the head religious leaders and the other leaders spoke against Him, He said nothing.

And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

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

Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

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

And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

15 A t 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.

Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would.

16 T hey had a man who was known by all the people whose name was Barabbas.

And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

17 W hen 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?”

When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?

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

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up.

19 W hile 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.”

And while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

20 T he 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.

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

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

But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.

22 P ilate 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!”

Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.

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

And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, Let him be crucified.

24 P ilate 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.”

So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it.

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

And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

26 P ilate 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

Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.

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

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered unto him the whole band.

28 T hey took off His clothes and put a purple coat on Him.

And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

29 T hey 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!”

And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

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

And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head.

31 A fter 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.

And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him.

32 A s 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

And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go with them, that he might bear his cross.

33 T hey came to a place called Golgotha. This name means the place of a skull.

And they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull,

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

they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink.

35 W hen 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.”

And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots;

36 T hen they sat down and watched Him.

and they sat and watched him there.

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

And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

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

Then are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand and one on the left.

39 T hose who walked by shook their heads and laughed at Him.

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,

40 T hey 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.”

and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.

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

In like manner also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42 “ 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.

He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.

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

He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

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

And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach.

45 F rom noon until three o’clock it was dark over all the land.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

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

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

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

And some of them stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth Elijah.

48 A t 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.

And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

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

And the rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to save him.

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

And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.

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

And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent;

52 G raves were opened. Bodies of many of God’s people who were dead were raised.

and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised;

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

and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.

54 T he 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

Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

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

And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

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

among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

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

And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

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

this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up.

59 J oseph took the body and put clean linen cloth around it.

And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60 H e 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.

and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.

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

And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

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

Now on the morrow, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate,

63 T hey 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.’

saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again.

64 S peak 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.”

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.

65 P ilate said to them, “Take the soldiers. Go and watch the grave.”

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go, make it as sure as ye can.

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

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.