Matthew 27: Jesus before Pilate, the cross, and the tomb
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
The chief priests and elders hand Jesus over to Pilate. Judas brings back the silver and hangs himself, Pilate asks Jesus if he is the King of the Jews, offers the crowd Barabbas or Jesus, washes his hands, and has Jesus flogged and handed over to be crucified. Jesus is mocked and crucified between two robbers, cries out and dies, and then the veil of the temple tears, the earth shakes, and tombs open. Joseph of Arimathea lays the body in his own new tomb, and the chief priests and Pharisees ask Pilate for a guard.
Who is speaking?
No verse is in gold. The narrator tells the story. Judas speaks in verse 4, and the chief priests and elders answer him in verse 4, and the chief priests speak again in verse 6. Pilate speaks in verses 11, 13, 17, 21 to 24 and 65, and Jesus answers him in verse 11. Pilate's wife sends her words in verse 19, and the crowd answers in verses 21 to 23 and 25. The soldiers speak in verse 29, those passing by in verse 40, and the chief priests, scribes, Pharisees and elders in verses 42 and 43. Jesus cries out in verse 46, some bystanders speak in verses 47 and 49, the centurion and those with him in verse 54, and the chief priests and Pharisees in verses 63 and 64. Verses 9 and 10 give words that Matthew says were spoken through Jeremiah the prophet. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
In plain English: When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made a plan against Jesus, to put him to death.
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2They bound him, led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
In plain English: They tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
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3Then 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,
In plain English: Then Judas, the one who betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned. He felt remorse (or: regret) and brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders,
The Greek word: "Felt remorse" is metamelomai, which the dictionary gives as "to care afterwards, i.e. regret".
How it is translated: In Matthew this word is in 3 verses, and the World English Bible uses a different English phrase in each: "changed his mind" in , "repent" in , and "felt remorse" here.
What changes: Read as "remorse" or "regret", Judas is sorry for what has happened. Read as "changed his mind", he now thinks differently about what he did. The verse says only that he brought the silver back.
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4saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”
In plain English: saying, "I have sinned, because I betrayed innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? You see to it."
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5He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary and departed. Then he went away and hanged himself.
In plain English: Judas threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary (or: temple) and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
The Greek word: "Sanctuary" is naos, which the dictionary gives as "a shrine, temple".
How it is translated: The World English Bible has "temple" for this word in 6 of its 8 verses in Matthew and "sanctuary" in 2, including this one. It is "temple" in and .
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6The 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.”
In plain English: 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."
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7They took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them to bury strangers in.
In plain English: They made a plan, and with the silver they bought the potter's field as a place to bury strangers (or: foreigners).
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8Therefore that field has been called “The Field of Blood” to this day.
In plain English: So that field has been called "The Field of Blood" to this day.
Good to know: Matthew says the field has been called "The Field of Blood" "to this day". says that in their language the field was called "Akeldama", that is, "The field of blood", and says Judas "obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness". Matthew says in that the chief priests bought it. The two accounts are set side by side here and not joined.
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9Then 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,
In plain English: Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet came true (or: was fulfilled). He said, "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, the one whom some of the children of Israel priced,
Good to know: Matthew says these words were spoken "through Jeremiah the prophet". The words "thirty pieces of silver" and "the potter" are in ("So they weighed for my wages thirty pieces of silver") and ("Throw it to the potter"). speaks of the potter's house, and of a field bought with silver. says thirty pieces of silver were weighed out for Judas. The text does not say how these fit together, and they are not joined here.
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10and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
In plain English: and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."
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11Now 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.”
In plain English: Jesus stood before the governor. The governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said to him, "So you say."
Good to know: The Greek for "So you say" is two words, sy legeis, word for word "You say". It does not say whether Jesus agrees. In his answer to the high priest is "You have said so".
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12When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
In plain English: While the chief priests and elders accused him, he answered nothing.
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13Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?”
In plain English: Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?"
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14He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
In plain English: Jesus did not answer him, not even one word, so the governor was greatly amazed.
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15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they desired.
In plain English: At the feast, the governor was in the habit of releasing one prisoner to the crowd, whichever one they wanted.
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16They had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas.
In plain English: At that time they were holding a well-known prisoner called Barabbas.
Good to know: In the Greek of the corpus, both the Byzantine text and the Tischendorf text, the prisoner is named only Barabbas, in verses 16, 17, 20, 21 and 26. The dictionary gives the name as "son of Abba". says he was bound with fellow insurgents who had committed murder in the insurrection. says he was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city and for murder. says he was a robber. They are set side by side here and not joined.
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17When 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?”
In plain English: When the crowd had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"
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18For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.
In plain English: Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over because of envy.
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19While 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.”
In plain English: While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him: "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, because today I have suffered many things in a dream because of him."
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20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
In plain English: The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to destroy Jesus.
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21But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
In plain English: The governor answered them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"
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22Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
In plain English: Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!"
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23But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
In plain English: The governor said, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they cried out exceedingly, "Let him be crucified!"
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24So 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.”
In plain English: Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, and that a riot (or: disturbance) was starting. He took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it."
Good to know: The Tischendorf Greek in the corpus does not have the word for "righteous" here: it reads "I am innocent of this blood". "You see to it" uses the same Greek word the chief priests and elders used to Judas in (sy opsei, to one person). Here it is hymeis opsesthe, said to the crowd.
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25All the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!”
In plain English: All the people answered, "May his blood be on us and on our children!"
The Greek words: Here "people" is laos. In verses 15, 20 and 24 the word for the crowd is ochlos, which the dictionary gives as "a throng".
How it is translated: In Matthew laos is in 15 verses, and the World English Bible has "people" in every one. Ochlos is in 48 verses, with "multitude" in 46 and "crowd" in 2.
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26Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.
In plain English: Then Pilate released Barabbas to them. Jesus he flogged, and he handed him over to be crucified.
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27Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.
In plain English: Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium (the governor's courtroom, or the building around it) and gathered the whole garrison (or: cohort) together against him.
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28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.
In plain English: They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.
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29They 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!”
In plain English: They twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. They kneeled down before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
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30They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.
In plain English: They spat on him, took the reed, and struck him on the head.
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31When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
In plain English: When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
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32As 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.
In plain English: As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to go with them to carry his cross.
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33When they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull,”
In plain English: They came to a place called "Golgotha", which means "The place of a skull",
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34they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.
In plain English: and they gave him sour wine mixed with gall to drink. When he had tasted it, he would not drink it.
Good to know: Where the World English Bible has "sour wine", the Byzantine Greek has oxos, which the dictionary gives as "vinegar, i.e. sour wine". The Tischendorf Greek in the corpus has oinos, "wine", mixed with gall. In Matthew oxos is in 2 verses, and the World English Bible has "sour wine" here and "vinegar" in . says they offered him wine mixed with myrrh.
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35When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,
In plain English: When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among them by throwing lots,
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36and they sat and watched him there.
In plain English: and they sat down and watched (or: guarded) him there.
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37They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
In plain English: Over his head they set up the charge against him, written: "THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."
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38Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.
In plain English: Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
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39Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads
In plain English: Those who passed by blasphemed him (or: spoke against him with abusive words), shaking their heads
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40and 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!”
In plain English: 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!"
Good to know: Words like these were spoken against Jesus before the high priest in : "I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days."
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41Likewise the chief priests also mocking with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said,
In plain English: In the same way the chief priests mocked him too, together with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders. They said,
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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.
In plain English: "He saved others, but he cannot save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.
Good to know: The Tischendorf Greek in the corpus has no "If" here: it reads "He is King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now".
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43He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
In plain English: He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if God wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
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44The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.
In plain English: The robbers who were crucified with him also threw the same insults at him.
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45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
In plain English: From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land (or: earth) until the ninth hour.
The Greek word: "Land" is gē, which the dictionary gives as "soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe".
How it is translated: In Matthew this word is in 38 verses. The World English Bible has "earth" in 24, "land" in 10 and "ground" in 4.
What changes: Read as "land", the darkness is over the whole country or region. Read as "earth", it is over the whole earth. The plain line gives both.
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46About 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?”
In plain English: About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?" That is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken (or: left) me?"
The Greek words: In the Byzantine Greek the cry is written Ēli, Ēli, lima sabachthani. The Tischendorf Greek in the corpus has ēlei, ēlei, lema sabachthanei. begins with the same word twice, Eli, Eli, meaning "my God" (the Hebrew text in the corpus numbers this verse 22:2). gives the cry as "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani". Matthew then gives the meaning in Greek: Theé mou, Theé mou, "My God, my God".
How it is translated: "Forsaken" is enkataleipō, which the dictionary gives as "to leave behind in some place" or, "in a bad sense", "to desert".
What changes: Read as "left behind", Jesus asks why he has been left in this place. Read as "forsaken" or "deserted", he asks why God has left him. The plain line gives both.
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47Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
In plain English: Some of those standing there heard it and said, "This man is calling Elijah."
Good to know: The bystanders say he is calling Elijah. The Greek name for Elijah is Ēlias, and the cry in the Byzantine Greek is Ēli. The text gives only what they said.
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48Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.
In plain English: Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, filled it with vinegar (or: sour wine), put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.
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49The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
In plain English: The rest said, "Let him be. Let's see whether Elijah comes to save him."
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50Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
In plain English: Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit (or: breath).
The Greek word: "Spirit" is pneuma. The dictionary gives it as "a current of air, i.e. breath" and also "a spirit".
How it is translated: In Matthew the World English Bible has "spirit" in 16 of the 19 verses with this word, and never "breath".
What changes: Read as "breath", Jesus lets out his last breath. Read as "spirit", he gives up his spirit. The plain line gives both.
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51Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
In plain English: And look, the veil of the temple was torn in two, from the top to the bottom. The earth shook and the rocks were split.
The Greek word: "Veil" is katapetasma, which the dictionary gives as "the door screen (to the Most Holy Place) in the Jewish Temple". It is in only 1 verse of Matthew. says of the veil: "The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you."
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52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
In plain English: The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the holy ones (or: saints) who had fallen asleep were raised,
The Greek words: "Holy ones" is hagioi. In Matthew the World English Bible has "saints" in 1 of the 11 verses with this word, this one, and "holy" in 10. "Had fallen asleep" is from koimaō, which the dictionary gives as "to put to sleep" and, figuratively, "to decease". In Matthew it is in 2 verses: here, and , where the guards are told to say "we slept".
Good to know: The text does not name any of these holy ones and does not say how many: it says "many bodies".
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53and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.
In plain English: and, coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
Good to know: The words "after his resurrection" stand between "coming out of the tombs" and "they entered". They can go with either. Read with "coming out", the holy ones leave the tombs after his resurrection. Read with "entered", the tombs are opened at his death and the holy ones enter the city after his resurrection. The plain line keeps the same order.
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54Now the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done, were terrified, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
In plain English: The centurion, and those with him who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that were happening. They were terrified and said, "Truly this was the Son of God (or: a son of God)!"
The Greek words: "The Son of God" is theou huios, word for word "of God son". The Greek has no word for "the" before "son", so it can be read "the Son of God" or "a son of God" (or: God's Son). The same is true of the words in and .
What changes: Read as "the Son of God", the centurion uses the title. Read as "a son of God", he says Jesus was a son of God, without the title. The plain line gives both.
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55Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.
In plain English: Many women were there, watching from far away. They had followed Jesus from Galilee and served him.
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56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
In plain English: Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
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57When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came.
In plain English: When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came. He too was a disciple of Jesus.
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58This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.
In plain English: He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body be given up.
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59Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth
In plain English: Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
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60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
In plain English: and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and went away.
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61Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
In plain English: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
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62Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,
In plain English: On the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate,
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63saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’
In plain English: saying, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: 'After three days I will rise again (or: be raised).'
The Greek word: "Deceiver" is planos, which the dictionary gives as "an impostor or misleader". It is in only 1 verse of Matthew. In the whole New Testament it is in 4 verses, and the World English Bible has "deceiver" in 3 of them.
Good to know: The Greek for "I will rise again" is egeiromai, which can be read "I rise" or "I am raised". The chief priests and Pharisees say Jesus said "After three days". In Matthew the words of Jesus elsewhere are "the third day be raised up" (, , ) and "three days and three nights" (). They are set side by side here and not joined.
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64Command 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.”
In plain English: Command, then, that the tomb be made secure until the third day, in case his disciples come at night, steal him away, and tell the people, 'He is risen (or: has been raised) from the dead.' Then the last deception will be worse than the first."
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65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
In plain English: Pilate said to them, "You have a guard (or: Take a guard). Go, make it as secure as you know how."
The Greek words: "You have a guard" is echete koustōdian. The Greek for "you have" is spelled the same as the command "have!", so the verse can be read "You have a guard", as the World English Bible has it, or "Take a guard." The dictionary gives koustōdia as "a Roman sentry".
What changes: Read as a statement, Pilate tells them they already have a guard. Read as a command, he tells them to take one. In both, he then tells them to go and make the tomb as secure as they know how.
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66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
In plain English: So they went and made the tomb secure. They sealed the stone, together with the guard.
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