Matthew 27:22-28:6

New International Version

²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”^(A) Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar^(B) was starting, he took water and washed his hands^(C) in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”^(D) he said. “It is your responsibility!”^(E)

²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”^(F)

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged,^(G) and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(H)

²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium^(I) and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,^{(J) 29} and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.^{(K) 30} They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.^{(L) 31} After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.^(M)

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(N)

³² As they were going out,^(O) they met a man from Cyrene,^(P) named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.^{(Q) 33} They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).^{(R) 34} There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;^(S) but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. ³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^{(T) 36} And sitting down, they kept watch^(U) over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him,^(V) one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads^{(W) 40} and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,^(X) save yourself!^(Y) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”^{(Z) 41} In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel!^(AA) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe^(AB) in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him^(AC) now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus^(AD)

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness^(AE) came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^[a] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[b](AF)

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar,^(AG) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.^(AH)

⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple^(AI) was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split^{(AJ) 52} and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and^[c] went into the holy city^(AK) and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding^(AL) Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”^(AM)

⁵⁵ Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.^{(AN) 56} Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,^[d] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.^(AO)

The Burial of Jesus^(AP)

⁵⁷ As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb^(AQ) that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

⁶² The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ⁶³ “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’^{(AR) 64} So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body^(AS) and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

⁶⁵ “Take a guard,”^(AT) Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal^(AU) on the stone^(AV) and posting the guard.^(AW)

Jesus Has Risen^(AX)

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene^(AY) and the other Mary^(AZ) went to look at the tomb.

² There was a violent earthquake,^(BA) for an angel^(BB) of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone^(BC) and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.^{(BD) 4} The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid,^(BE) for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.^(BF) Come and see the place where he lay.