Matthew, 27
The continuation of the history of the passion of Christ. His death and burial.
[1] And when morning was come, all the chief priests and ancients of the people took counsel against Jesus, that they might put him to death. •
[2] And they brought him bound and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. •
[3] Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients, •
[4] Saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. But they said: What is that to us? Look thou to it.
[5] And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed and went and hanged himself with an halter. •
[6] But the chief priests having taken the pieces of silver, said: It is not lawful to put them into the corbona 1, because it is the price of blood. •
Corbona: A place in the temple where the people put in their gifts or offerings.
[7] And after they had consulted together, they bought with them the potter's field, to be a burying place for strangers. •
[8] For this cause that field was called Haceldama, that is, the field of blood, even to this day. •
[9] Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was prized, whom they prized of the children of Israel. •
[10] And they gave them unto the potter's field, as the Lord appointed to me.
[11] And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to him: Thou sayest it. •
[12] And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he answered nothing.
[13] Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou hear how great testimonies they allege against thee?
[14] And he answered him to never a word, so that the governor wondered exceedingly. •
[15] Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would. •
[16] And he had then a notorious prisoner that was called Barabbas. •
[17] They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to You: Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ?
[18] For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
[19] And as he was sitting in the place of judgment, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. •
[20] But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people that they should ask Barabbas and make Jesus away. •
[21] And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said: Barabbas. •
[22] Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified.
[23] The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified.
[24] And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, taking water washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look you to it. •
[25] And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and upon our children. •
[26] Then he released to them Barabbas: and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified. •
[27] Then the soldiers of the governor, taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band. •
[28] And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. •
[29] And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews. •
[30] And spitting upon him, they took the reed and struck his head.
[31] And after they had mocked him, they took off the cloak from him and put on him his own garments and led him away to crucify him. •
[32] And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: him they forced to take up his cross. •
[33] And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary. •
[34] And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink. •
[35] And after they had crucified him, they divided his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided my garments among them; and upon my vesture they cast lots. •
[36] And they sat and watched him.
[37] And they put over his head his cause written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. •
[38] Then were crucified with him two thieves: one on the right hand and one on the left. •
[39] And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, •
[40] And saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God and in three days dost rebuild it: save thy own self. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. •
[41] In like manner also the chief priests, with the scribes and ancients, mocking said:
[42] He saved others: himself he cannot save. If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross: and we will believe him. •
[43] He trusted in God: let him now deliver him if he will have him. For he said: I am the Son of God. •
[44] And the selfsame thing the thieves also that were crucified with him reproached him with. •
[45] Now from the sixth hour, there was darkness over the whole earth, until the ninth hour. •
[46] And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? That is, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? •
[47] And some that stood there and heard said: This man calleth Elias. •
[48] And immediately one of them running took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink. •
[49] And the others said: Let be. Let us see whether Elias will come to deliver him.
[50] And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. •
[51] And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom: and the earth quaked and the rocks were rent. •
[52] And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose, •
[53] And coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came into the holy city and appeared to many.
[54] Now the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake and the things that were done, were sore afraid, saying: Indeed this was the Son of God. •
[55] And there were there many women afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: •
[56] Among whom was Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. •
[57] And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. •
[58] He went to Pilate and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered. •
[59] And Joseph taking the body wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth: •
[60] And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument and went his way. •
[61] And there was there Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. •
[62] And the next day, which followed the day of preparation 1, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate, •
The day of preparation: The eve of the sabbath; so called, because on that day they prepared all things necessary; not being allowed so much as to dress their meat on the sabbath day.
[63] Saying: Sir, we have remembered, that that seducer said, while he was yet alive: After three days I will rise again. •
[64] Command therefore the sepulchre to be guarded until the third day: lest perhaps his disciples come and steal him away and say to the people: He is risen from the dead. And the last error shall be worse than the first.
[65] Pilate saith to them: You have a guard. Go, guard it as you know. •
[66] And they departing, made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone and setting guards. •