Matthew 27:1-30 ▼

1 When morning came all the High Priests and the Elders of the people consulted together against Jesus to put Him to death;

2 and binding Him they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate the Governor.

3 Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, smitten with remorse he brought back the thirty shekels to the High Priests and Elders

4 and said, "I have sinned, in betraying to death one who is innocent." "What does that matter to us?" they replied; it is your business."

5 Flinging the shekels into the Sanctuary he left the place, and went and hanged himself.

6 When the High Priests had gathered up the money they said, "It is illegal to put it into the Treasury, because it is the price of blood."

7 So after consulting together they spent the money in the purchase of the Potter's Field as a burial place for people not belonging to the city;

8 for which reason that piece of ground received the name, which it still bears, of 'the Field of Blood.'

9 Then were fulfilled the words spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah, "And I took the thirty shekels, the price of the prized one on whom Israelites had set a price,

10 and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."

11 Meanwhile Jesus was brought before the Governor, and the latter put the question, "Are you the King of the Jews?" "I am their King," He answered.

12 When however the High Priests and the Elders kept bringing their charges against Him, He said not a word in reply.

13 "Do you not hear," asked Pilate, "what a mass of evidence they are bringing against you?"

14 But He made no reply to a single accusation, so that the Governor was greatly astonished.

15 "Now it was the Governor's custom at the Festival to release some one prisoner, whomsoever the populace desired;

16 and at this time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

17 So when they were now assembled Pilate appealed to them. "Whom shall I release to you," he said, "Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?"

18 For he knew that it was from envious hatred that Jesus had been brought before him.

19 While he was sitting on the tribunal a message came to him from his wife. "Have nothing to do with that innocent man," she said, "for during the night I have suffered terribly in a dream through him."

20 The High Priests, however, and the Elders urged the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to demand the death of Jesus.

21 So when the Governor a second time asked them, "Which of the two shall I release to you?" --they cried, "Barabbas!"

22 "What then," said Pilate, "shall I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?" With one voice they shouted, "Let him be crucified!"

23 "Why, what crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they kept on furiously shouting, "Let him be crucified!"

24 So when he saw that he could gain nothing, but that on the contrary there was a riot threatening, he called for water and washed his hands in sight of them all, saying, "I am not responsible for this murder: you must answer for it."

25 "His blood," replied all the people, "be on us and on our children!"

26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he ordered to be scourged, and gave Him up to be crucified.

27 Then the Governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and called together the whole battalion to make sport of Him.

28 Stripping off His garments, they put on Him a general's short crimson cloak.

29 They twisted a wreath of thorny twigs and put it on His head, and they put a sceptre of cane in His right hand, and kneeling to Him they shouted in mockery, "Long live the King of the Jews!"

30 Then they spat upon Him, and taking the cane they repeatedly struck Him on the head with it.