Matthew 27

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 When morning came, al the chief priests and the elders of the people met in council to bring about thedeath of Jesus.	1 When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
2 They had him bound and led him away to hand him over to Pilate, the governor.	2 They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
3 When he found that Jesus had been condemned, then Judas, his betrayer, was fil ed with remorse andtook the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and elders	3 Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 saying, 'I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood.' They replied, 'What is that to us? That is yourconcern.'	4 saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? Look to it yourself."
5 And flinging down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he made off, and went and hanged himself.	5 Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, 'It is against the Law to put this into the treasury;it is blood-money.'	6 The chief priests gathered up the money, but said, "It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury, for it is the price of blood."
7 So they discussed the matter and with it bought the potter's field as a graveyard for foreigners,	7 After consultation, they used it to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners.
8 and this is why the field is stil cal ed the Field of Blood.	8 That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood.
9 The word spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was then fulfil ed: And they took the thirty silverpieces, the sum at which the precious One was priced by the children of Israel,	9 Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by some of the Israelites,
10 and they gave them for the potter's field, just as the Lord directed me.	10 and they paid it out for the potter's field just as the Lord had commanded me."
11 Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, 'Are you theking of the Jews?' Jesus replied, 'It is you who say it.'	11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so."
12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at al .	12 And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer.
13 Pilate then said to him, 'Do you not hear how many charges they have made against you?'	13 Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?"
14 But to the governor's amazement, he offered not a word in answer to any of the charges.	14 But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
15 At festival time it was the governor's practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose.	15 Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished.
16 Now there was then a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas.	16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called (Jesus) Barabbas.
17 So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, 'Which do you want me to release for you:Barabbas, or Jesus who is cal ed Christ?'	17 So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, "Which one do you want me to release to you, (Jesus) Barabbas, or Jesus called Messiah?"
18 For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.	18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over.
19 Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message, 'Have nothing to dowith that upright man; I have been extremely upset today by a dream that I had about him.'	19 While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him."
20 The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release ofBarabbas and the execution of Jesus.	20 The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus.
21 So when the governor spoke and asked them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release for you?'they said, 'Barabbas.'	21 The governor said to them in reply, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They answered, "Barabbas!"
22 Pilate said to them, 'But in that case, what am I to do with Jesus who is cal ed Christ?' They al said,'Let him be crucified!'	22 Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus called Messiah?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!"
23 He asked, 'But what harm has he done?' But they shouted all the louder, 'Let him be crucified!'	23 But he said, "Why? What evil has he done?" They only shouted the louder, "Let him be crucified!"
24 Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took somewater, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, 'I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your concern.'	24 When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Look to it yourselves."
25 And the people, every one of them, shouted back, 'Let his blood be on us and on our children!'	25 And the whole people said in reply, "His blood be upon us and upon our children."
26 Then he released Barabbas for them. After having Jesus scourged he handed him over to becrucified.	26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and col ected the whole cohortround him.	27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him.
28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet cloak round him,	28 They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him.
29 and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his righthand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!'	29 Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
30 And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it.	30 They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head.
31 And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his ownclothes and led him away to crucifixion.	31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.
32 On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, cal ed Simon, and enlisted him to carry hiscross.	32 As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross.
33 When they had reached a place cal ed Golgotha, that is, the place of the skul ,	33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull),
34 they gave him wine to drink mixed with gal , which he tasted but refused to drink.	34 they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink.
35 When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots,	35 After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots;
36 and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him.	36 then they sat down and kept watch over him there.
37 Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.'	37 And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
38 Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.	38 Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left.
39 The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads	39 Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads
40 and said, 'So you would destroy the Temple and in three days rebuild it! Then save yourself if you areGod's son and come down from the cross!'	40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, (and) come down from the cross!"
41 The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way,	41 Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said,
42 with the words, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come downfrom the cross now, and we wil believe in him.	42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.
43 He has put his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, "I am God'sson." '	43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
44 Even the bandits who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way.	44 The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.
45 From the sixth hour there was darkness over al the land until the ninth hour.	45 From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
46 And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'MyGod, my God, why have you forsaken me?'	46 And about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
47 When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, 'The man is cal ing on Elijah,'	47 Some of the bystanders who heard it said, "This one is calling for Elijah."
48 and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he fil ed with vinegar and, putting it on a reed,gave it him to drink.	48 Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink.
49 But the rest of them said, 'Wait! And see if Elijah wil come to save him.'	49 But the rest said, "Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him."
50 But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.	50 But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.
51 And suddenly, the veil of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, therocks were split,	51 And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split,
52 the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy people rose from the dead,	52 tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
53 and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the holy city and appeared to anumber of people.	53 And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
54 The centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and al that wastaking place, and they were terrified and said, 'In truth this man was son of God.'	54 The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!"
55 And many women were there, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesusfrom Galilee and looked after him.	55 There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.
56 Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother ofZebedee's sons.	56 Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57 When it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, cal ed Joseph, who had himself becomea disciple of Jesus.	57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus.
58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be handed over.	58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over.
59 So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud	59 Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it (in) clean linen
60 and put it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. He then rol ed a large stoneacross the entrance of the tomb and went away.	60 and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed.
61 Now Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.	61 But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb.
62 Next day, that is, when Preparation Day was over, the chief priests and the Pharisees went in a bodyto Pilate	62 The next day, the one following the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate
63 and said to him, 'Your Excel ency, we recal that this impostor said, while he was still alive, "Afterthree days I shall rise again."	63 and said, "Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said, 'After three days I will be raised up.'
64 Therefore give the order to have the sepulchre kept secure until the third day, for fear his disciplescome and steal him away and tel the people, "He has risen from the dead." This last piece of fraud would beworse than what went before.'	64 Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people, 'He has been raised from the dead.' This last imposture would be worse than the first."
65 Pilate said to them, 'You may have your guard; go and make al as secure as you know how.'	65 Pilate said to them, "The guard is yours; go secure it as best you can."
66 So they went and made the sepulchre secure, putting seals on the stone and mounting a guard.	66 So they went and secured the tomb by fixing a seal to the stone and setting the guard.