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 came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together 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 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 when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned 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 by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!”

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 threw the pieces of silver into the temple 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.”

The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple 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 conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers.

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

For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to 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 that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “ And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one whose price had been set by the sons of Israel;

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 directed me.” Jesus before Pilate

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 questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “ It is as you say.”

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

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer.

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

Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?”

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 did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

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 accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted.

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

At that time they were holding a notorious 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?”

So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for 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 because of envy they had handed Him over.

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.”

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly 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.

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.

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 said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for 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 said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “ Crucify Him!”

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 has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “ Crucify Him!”

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.”

When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”

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

And all the people said, “ His blood shall 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 he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. Jesus Is Mocked

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 the whole Roman cohort around Him.

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

They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.

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 after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt 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.

They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat 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.

After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, 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

As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross. The Crucifixion

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

And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means 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 mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to 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 divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots.

36 T hen they sat down and watched Him.

And sitting down, they began to keep watch over 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 above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “ 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.

At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.

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

And those passing by were hurling abuse at 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, “ You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are 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 the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying,

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; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in 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 trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in 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

The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

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

Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon 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?”

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ?” that is, “ My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me ?”

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

And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for 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.

Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink.

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

But the rest of them said, “ Let us see whether Elijah will come 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 out 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 torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.

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

The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who 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 out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to 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 those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “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.

Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to 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 them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Jesus Is Buried

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.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.

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 ordered it to be given to him.

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 large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.

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 opposite the grave.

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 next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with 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.’

and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘ After three days I am to 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.”

Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

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

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.”

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

And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.