Matthew 27:1-25 ▼

1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.

2 They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.

4 “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

5 So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

6 The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”

7 After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners.

8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

9 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel,

10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.”

11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

12 And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.

13 Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?”

14 But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.

16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.

17 So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

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

21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.

22 “What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”

23 “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”

24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”