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.

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted 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 when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Judas Hangs Himself

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, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful 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 by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see 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.

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went 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.”

But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are 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 consulted together 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.

Therefore 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 was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced,

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

and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” Jesus Faces 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 asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 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 answered nothing.

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

But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. Taking the Place of Barabbas

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 releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.

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

And at that time they had 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?”

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

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 to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today 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 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.”

The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” 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, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “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!”

Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, 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.”

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see 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 he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. The Soldiers Mock Jesus

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 garrison around Him.

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

And 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!”

When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee 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.

Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck 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 the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. The King on a Cross

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

Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.

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

And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, 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 sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But 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.”

Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

36 T hen they sat down and watched Him.

Sitting down, they kept 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 they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: 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 two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.

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

And those who passed by blasphemed 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 destroy the temple and build 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,

Likewise the chief priests also, mocking 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. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe 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 trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have 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

Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. Jesus Dies on the Cross

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

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

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 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.”

Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “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 took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.

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

The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if 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.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

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

and the graves 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 graves after His resurrection, they went into 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

So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, 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 who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar,

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 were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

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.

Now when evening had come, 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 commanded the body to be given to him.

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

When Joseph had taken the body, he 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 new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against 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 opposite the tomb. Pilate Sets a Guard

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.

On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to 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, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’

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 command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So 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 your way, 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.

So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.