1 N ow when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel 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 delivered him up to Pontius 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 T hen Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and 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 that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”

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 H e threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away 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 T he chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, “It’s not lawful to put them into the treasury, since 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 T hey took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them, to bury strangers in.

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

8 T herefore that field was called “The Field of Blood” to this day.

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

9 T hen that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom some of the children of Israel priced,

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 commanded 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, saying, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “So you say.”

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 W hen he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

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

13 T hen Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?”

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

14 H e gave him no answer, not even one word, 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 accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired.

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 T hey had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

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

17 W hen therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to 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 because of envy they had delivered him up.

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

19 W hile he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things 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 N ow the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

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 B ut the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” 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, “What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”

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 B ut the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “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 nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.”

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 ll the people answered, “May 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 T hen he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered 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 Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.

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

28 T hey stripped him, and put a scarlet robe on him.

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

29 T hey braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, “Hail, 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 T hey spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.

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

31 W hen they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

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

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 T hey came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull.”

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

34 T hey gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.

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

35 W hen they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting 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 a nd they sat and watched him there.

Then they sat down and watched Him.

37 T hey set up over his head the accusation against him written, “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 T hen there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his 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 T hose who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads,

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

40 a nd 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!”

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 L ikewise the chief priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said,

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

42 “ He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in 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 wants 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 T he robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.

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 there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

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

46 A bout the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

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

47 S ome of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”

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

48 I mmediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him a 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 T he rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”

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

50 J esus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded 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 B ehold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked 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 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 entered into the holy city and appeared to many.

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 N ow the centurion, and those who 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.”

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 M any women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving 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 Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

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 evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple came.

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 T his man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.

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

59 J oseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

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

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

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 M ary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

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

62 N ow on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to 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 s aying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver 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 C ommand therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception 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 with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.

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