Matthew 27

1 When morning [early, at daybreak] came, all [every single one] the chief priests [high-ranking Jewish leaders] and elders [respected community leaders] of the people [the Jewish nation, a group of individuals] conspired [took counsel, plotted] against Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] to put Him [to execute, cause His death] to death [an end to His physical life, a cessation of bodily functions]. word study 2 They bound [tied or fastened] Him, led [took away, against His will] Him away, and handed [surrendered, yielded up] Him over to [delivered into the authority of] Pilate [the Roman leader] the [specific, governing] governor [ruler, high-ranking official]. word study 3 When Judas [the one who delivered him up], who had betrayed Him, saw [perceived, became aware] that Jesus was condemned [judged guilty, sentenced], he was filled with remorse [deep regret, sorrow] and returned the thirty [a specific quantity] pieces of silver [money, coins] to the chief priests [high-priest, Jewish leaders] and elders [respected leaders, authorities]. word study 4 “I have [deeply] sinned [failed to meet God’s standard] by betraying [handing over, surrendering] innocent [not guilty, blameless] blood,” he said. “What is that [this matter, concern] to us?” they replied. “You bear [are responsible for, must see to] the responsibility [consequences, guilt].” word study 5 So Judas threw [cast down, flung] the silver [money, coins] into the temple [sacred place of worship] and left [withdrew, departed]. Then he went away [departed, went forth] and hanged [strangled, choked] himself. word study 6 The chief priests [high-priest, top Jewish leaders] picked up the pieces of silver [money, silver coins] and said, “It is unlawful [not permitted, against the law] to put this into the treasury [Temple store, Corban], since it is [considered to be] blood [the value of a life, atoning blood] money.” word study 7 After conferring together [taking counsel, having a meeting], they used the money to buy [purchase, acquire] the potter’s field [a place for making clay vessels, a burial ground] as a burial place [a location for burying the dead, a tomb] for foreigners [strangers, those from other countries]. word study 8 That is why [for this reason, therefore] it has been called [named, referred to as] the Field [a plot of land] of Blood to this day [until now, even today]. word study 9 Then what was spoken [through the prophet’s words] through Jeremiah [the prophet of God] the prophet was fulfilled [completed, brought to pass]: “They took [received, accepted] the thirty [a specific quantity] pieces of silver [money, coins], the price [value, worth] set on Him [the Messiah, Jesus] by the people [the children, sons] of Israel [God’s chosen nation], word study 10 and they gave [used to pay for, bestowed] them for the potter’s [ceramic maker, craftsman] field [agricultural land, countryside], as [just as, in the same manner] the Lord [God, Master] had commanded [directed, instructed] me [to me, personally].” word study 11 Meanwhile Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] stood before [in the presence of] the governor [ruler, high-ranking official], who questioned [asked, sought information from] Him: “Are You [do you claim to be] the King [sovereign ruler] of the Jews [people of Judah, Jewish descent]?” “You have said so [it is as you have just said, you say it],” Jesus [the son of God] replied. word study 12 And when He was accused [by the chief priests and those in authority, brought charges against] by the chief priests [high-priest, top Jewish leaders] and elders [respected community leaders, older persons], He gave [answered, responded with] no [none, nobody] answer [response, nothing to say]. word study 13 Then [at that specific point in time] Pilate [the Roman governor] asked Him, “Do You not [completely] hear [listen and understand] how many [numerous] charges [accusations, testimonies] they are bringing [testifying, witnessing] against You [to accuse, to condemn you]?” word study 14 But Jesus gave [no response, complete silence] no answer [to any accusation], not even [a single word, one declaration] to a single charge [or accusation], much to [the point of great astonishment] the governor’s [ruler, high-ranking official] amazement [great wonder, marveling]. word study 15 Now it was the governor’s [ruler, high-ranking official] custom [usual practice, tradition] at the [annual] feast to release [set free] to the crowd [large group, multitude] a prisoner [one held captive] of their choosing [whom they willed, desired]. word study 16 At that time [then, at a specific point] they were holding [had in custody, possessing] a [notable, well-known] notorious prisoner [one held captive] named [called, known as] Barabbas [a notorious, infamous Israelite]. word study 17 So when the crowd [had gathered together, assembled] had assembled, Pilate [the Roman governor] asked them, “Which one [whom, which person] do you want me to release [set free, let loose] to you: Barabbas [a known prisoner], or Jesus [the Messiah, Christ] who is called [named, referred to as] Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah]?” word study 18 For [because, since] he knew [perceived, was aware] it was out of [due to, motivated by] envy [jealousy, spite] that they had [surrendered, handed over] handed Jesus [the Messiah, the Christ] over to him [to be judged, to be tried]. word study 19 While Pilate was sitting [seated in judgment, on the tribunal] on the judgment seat [the raised platform of a Roman magistrate], his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing [no part, no involvement] to do with that innocent [just, righteous] man, for I have suffered [experienced great trouble, endured hardship] terribly [many things, greatly] in a dream [a vision, a prophetic insight] today [this day, at this time] because of Him [on account of, due to].” word study 20 But the chief priests [high-priest, top Jewish leaders] and elders [respected community leaders, presbyters] persuaded [convinced by argument or evidence] the crowds [large groups of people, multitudes] to ask [request, petition] for Barabbas [an Israelite prisoner] and to have Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] put to death [destroy, lose completely, execute]. word study 21 “Which [which one, specifically] of the two [a pair] do you want [desire, wish] me to release [set free, liberate] to you [unto you, for your benefit]?” asked [replied, responded] the governor [ruler, leader]. “Barabbas [the son of Abba, a rebellious figure],” they replied [said, answered]. word study 22 “What then [therefore, as a consequence] should I do with Jesus [Joshua, God’s salvation] who is called [named, referred to as] Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah]?” Pilate [the Roman governor] asked. They all [every single one of them] answered, “Crucify [put to death on the cross, impale] Him [the Messiah, the Savior]!” word study 23 “Why [for what reason, what cause]?” asked Pilate [the Roman governor, ruler]. “What evil [harm, wrongdoing] has He done [committed, perpetrated]?” But they shouted [cried out, exclaimed] all the louder [excessively, beyond measure], “Crucify [impale on a cross, execute] Him [the Messiah, Jesus]!” word study 24 When Pilate [the Roman governor] saw that he was accomplishing [prevailing, gaining] nothing, but that instead [rather, more] a riot [tumult, commotion] was breaking out, he took water [to cleanse himself] and washed his hands [to show innocence, cleanse from guilt] before the crowd [multitude, large group]. “I am innocent [not guilty, free from blame] of this man’s blood [the blood of this just person, righteous one],” he said. “You [all of you, collectively] bear the responsibility [are accountable, will see to it].” word study 25 All [the entire crowd, every single one] the people [a nation, a group of individuals] answered [responded, spoke out], “His [Jesus’, the Messiah’s] blood [the atoning sacrifice, life force] be on us [upon our heads, our responsibility] and on our [our own, our descendants’] children [offspring, descendants]!” word study 26 So Pilate released [set free, forgave] Barabbas [an Israelite prisoner] to them. But he had Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] flogged [whipped, scourged], and handed Him over [delivered, surrendered] to be crucified [impaled on a cross, put to death]. word study 27 Then the governor’s [ruler, high-ranking official] soldiers [common warriors, spiritual fighters] took Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] into the Praetorium [Roman governor’s headquarters, official residence] and gathered [assembled, brought together] the whole [entire, complete] company [band, cohort] around Him [toward, into His presence]. word study 28 They stripped [took off his clothing, unclothed] Him and put [placed around, put on] a [crimson, red] scarlet [deep red, crimson-colored] robe [military cloak, royal garment] on Him. word study 29 And they twisted together [wove, platted] a crown [garland, wreath] of thorns [prickly branches] and set it on His head [the upper part of the body]. They put a staff [reed, stick] in His right hand [a symbol of authority] and knelt down [bowed the knee, showed false reverence] before Him to mock [ridicule, jeer at] Him, saying, “Hail [rejoice, greetings], King [sovereign ruler] of the Jews [the Jewish people, Israel]!” word study 30 Then they spit [with contempt, in his face] on Him and took [received, accepted] the staff [reed, stick] and struck [beat, smote] Him on the head [the seat of reason, authority] repeatedly [again and again, many times]. word study 31 After they had [ridiculed] mocked Him, they removed [took off] the robe [a military cloak] and put His own clothes [garments, attire] back on Him. Then they led [took away, guided] Him away to [toward, for the purpose of] crucify [to impale on a cross, execute] Him. word study 32 Along the way [as they came out, on the road] they found [discovered, met] a man [a human being] from Cyrene [a region in Africa], named [identified as] Simon [a Greek name], and they forced [compelled, pressed into service] him to carry [to bear, to take up] the cross [a stake, instrument of capital punishment] of Jesus [the Messiah, the Savior]. word study 33 And when they came [arrived, were brought] to a place [location, spot] called Golgotha [the place like a skull], which means [to say, is interpreted as] The Place of the Skull [a place of a skull, Dead Man’s Head], word study 34 they offered Him wine [mixed with a bitter substance, vinegar] to drink, mixed with gall [a bitter, poisonous plant]; but after tasting [experiencing the flavor] it, He refused [would not, declined] to drink [swallow, consume] it. word study 35 When they had [nailed to the cross, impaled] crucified Him, they divided [divided and distributed, parted] up His garments [clothing, outer garments] by [throwing, casting] casting lots [a portion, a share determined by chance]. word study 36 And [then, at that point] sitting down [to rest, being seated], they kept watch [observed carefully, to guard] over Him [Jesus, the Messiah] there [in that place, at that location]. word study 37 Above [over, upon] His head [the upper part of the body] they posted [set up, placed] the written [inscribed, recorded] charge [accusation, cause] against Him: THIS IS [a declaration of identity] JESUS [Joshua, God is salvation] [the Messiah, Christ], THE KING [sovereign ruler, monarch] OF THE JEWS [the people of Judah, Israelites]. word study 38 Two [thieves, or rebels] robbers were crucified [put to death on a cross, impaled] with Him, one [on the right hand, at His right side] on His right hand and the other [on the left, at His left side] on His left. word study 39 And those who passed by [traveled near, accompanied] heaped abuse [reviled, blasphemed] on Him, shaking [moving, wagging] their heads [in scorn, as a sign of rejection] word study 40 and saying, “You who are going to [utterly demolish and then reconstruct] destroy the temple [a sacred place of worship, the inner sanctuary] and rebuild it in three days [a specific period of time, a prophetic span], save [rescue, deliver] Yourself [from the cross, from death]! If You are [truly, genuinely] the Son [having the nature, character] of God [the supreme Deity, the Almighty], come down [descend, step down] from the cross [the instrument of execution]!” word study 41 In the same way [similarly, in a like manner], the chief priests [high-priest, top Jewish leaders], scribes [scholars of the law], and elders [respected community leaders] mocked [to jeer at, ridicule] Him, saying [to speak, share teachings], word study 42 “He saved [delivered, rescued] others, but He cannot [is not able, lacks the power] save [rescue, deliver] Himself [His own life]. He is [claims to be, is proclaimed as] the King [Ruler, Sovereign] of Israel [the chosen people, descendants of Jacob]! Let Him come down [descend, step down] now [at this moment, immediately] from the cross [the instrument of crucifixion, the stake], and we will believe [trust, have faith] in Him [as the Messiah, the Savior]. word study 43 He trusts [has complete confidence, relies] in God [the one true deity, Creator]. Let God [the Almighty, Heavenly Father] deliver Him now [at this moment, immediately] if He wants [desires, is pleased with] Him. For He said, ‘I am [exist as, have the nature of] the Son [Child, heir] of God [the Father, divine].’” word study 44 In the same way [then, at that time], even the robbers [rebels] who were crucified with Him [suffering together, in the same manner] berated [reviled, spoke badly of] Him [with scorn, insulted]. word study 45 From the sixth [noon] hour [a specific time, a period of darkness] until the ninth [three o’clock] hour [the time of Jesus’ crucifixion] darkness [the absence of light, spiritual or physical] came over [upon, against] all [every, the whole] the land [earth, soil, the world]. word study 46 About [around, at the time of] the ninth hour [3 pm, late in the day] Jesus cried out [shouted loudly, gave a great cry] in a loud voice [with a mighty sound], “Eli, Eli, lema [why have you] sabachthani [thou hast forsaken me]?” which means [that is to say], “My God [the supreme deity], My God [the one true God], why have You [completely, utterly] forsaken [abandoned, deserted] Me [left me without help]?” word study 47 When some [certain, specific] of those standing [in an upright position, physically or figuratively] there [at that location, in that place] heard [listened, understood] this, they said, “He is calling [to address by name, to summon] Elijah [the prophet, Elias].” word study 48 One [a certain individual] of them quickly [immediately, without delay] ran and brought a sponge [a simple household item]. He filled it with sour wine [vinegar, a type of sour wine], put it on a reed [a stick, a plant that grows in the water], and held it up for Jesus [the Messiah, the Savior] to drink [to receive, to take in]. word study 49 But the others [remaining ones, the rest] said, “Leave [release, let go of] Him alone [to Himself, untouched]. Let us see [perceive, behold] if [whether, in case] Elijah [the prophet] comes [will come, is coming] to save [deliver, rescue] Him [Himself].” word study 50 When Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] had cried out [with a loud voice, shouted] again [once more, a second time] in a loud [great, intense] voice, He yielded up [released, let go of] His spirit [the vital principle, breath of life]. word study 51 At that moment [suddenly, right then] the veil [curtain, partition] of the temple [sacred place of worship] was torn [rent, split] in two [into two pieces] from top [from above, heavenward] to bottom [to the lowest point, downward]. The earth [ground, soil] quaked [shook, trembled] and the rocks [masses of stone, cliffs] were split [rent, torn apart]. word study 52 The tombs [graves, resting-places of the dead] broke open, and the bodies [physical persons, whole beings] of many [a large number, numerous] saints [holy ones, set apart] who had fallen asleep [died, passed away] were raised [arose, awakened to new life]. word study 53 After Jesus’ resurrection [from the dead, coming back to life], when they had come out [gone forth, emerged] of the tombs [graves, resting places], they entered [went into, came forth into] the holy [set apart, sacred] city [Jerusalem, the holy town] and appeared [were seen, became visible] to many people [a large crowd, many individuals]. word study 54 When the centurion [a Roman military officer] and those with him who were guarding Jesus [watching over, observing] saw the earthquake [a shaking of the ground] and all that had happened, they were terrified [exceedingly afraid, in awe] and said, “Truly [surely, with certainty] this was the Son [a child, an heir] of God [the one true deity, the supreme Creator].” word study 55 And many [numerous, a large crowd] women [females, wives] were there [in that place, present], watching [beholding, observing] from a distance [afar off, from a remote location]. They had followed [accompanied, walked behind] Jesus [the Savior, God’s salvation] from Galilee [the region, the district] to minister [serve, attend to His needs] to Him [the Messiah, the Anointed One]. word study 56 Among them were Mary [from Magdala town] Magdalene, Mary [the mother of James and Joseph] the mother of James [one of Jesus’ twelve apostles] and Joseph [also known as Joses], and the mother [a female parent] of Zebedee’s [the father of James and John] sons [male children]. word study 57 When it was [toward] evening [nightfall, the time of day], there came a [wealthy, prosperous] rich man from Arimathea [a town in Palestine] named Joseph, who himself [personally, as an individual] was a [faithful, devoted] disciple [follower, learner] of Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation]. word study 58 He [this man, a specific individual] went to Pilate [the Roman governor] to ask [request, beg] for the body [physical person, corpse] of Jesus [Joshua, God’s salvation], and Pilate [the Roman leader] ordered [commanded, gave instruction] that it be given [handed over, delivered] to him [Joseph, the one requesting]. word study 59 So Joseph [and others, with assistance] took [received, accepted] the body [physical person, corpse], wrapped [folding, enshrouding] it in a clean [pure, ceremonially undefiled] linen [fine, white] cloth [burial garment], word study 60 and placed it [in a tomb that had been prepared for himself] in his own new [fresh, recently constructed] tomb that he had cut [hewn, quarried] into the rock [a solid cliff or mountain]. Then he rolled a great [large, immense] stone across the entrance [door, opening] to the tomb [sepulcher, grave] and went away [departed, left the scene]. word study 61 Mary [a follower of Jesus, healed of seven demons] Magdalene [from Magdala, a town in Palestine] and the other [different, another] Mary [a devoted follower of Jesus] were sitting [seated, resting] there [in that place] opposite [across from, in front of] the tomb [grave, sepulchre, place of burial]. word study 62 The next day [after the Preparation, following the day of preparation], the one after [which is] Preparation Day [the day before the Sabbath, a time to get ready], the chief priests [high-priest, top Jewish leaders] and Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] assembled [gathered together, came together] before [in the presence of, to] Pilate [the Roman leader, governor]. word study 63 “Sir [lord, master],” they said, “we remember [recall to mind, bring to remembrance] that while He was alive [still living, yet alive] that deceiver [one who leads astray, false teacher] said, ‘After three [a specific number of] days [a 24-hour period, a period of time] I will rise again [be resurrected, come back to life].’ word study 64 So give the order [command therefore] that the tomb [grave, sepulchre] be secured [made sure, guarded] until the third [last] day. Otherwise, His disciples [followers, learners] may come [by night, secretly] and steal [take away, remove] Him away [from the tomb, by deceit] and tell the people [declare to the crowd, announce] He has risen [been raised, come back] from the dead [from death, the grave]. And this last [final, ultimate] deception [error, falsehood] would be worse [more evil, harmful] than the first [initial, beginning].” word study 65 “You [as Roman authorities] have a guard [watch, Roman sentry],” Pilate [the Roman governor] said. “Go [depart, leave], make the tomb [the burial place] as secure [safe, firm] as you know [are able, have knowledge] how [in every way, completely].” word study 66 So they went [to the tomb, and made the sepulchre sure] and secured [made safe, firmly fastened] the tomb [grave, place of burial] by sealing [stamping, marking for security] the stone [rock, barrier] and posting [setting, placing on watch] the guard [Roman sentry, watchmen]. word study