Matthew 27:1-25

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

1 ^aWhen morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people ^btook counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2And they bound him and ^cled him away and ^ddelivered him over to ^ePilate the governor.

Judas Hangs Himself

3Then when ^fJudas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus ▼

▼Greek he

was condemned, ^hhe changed his mind and brought back ⁱthe thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? ^jSee to it yourself.” 5And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, ^khe departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into ^lthe treasury, since it is blood money.” 7So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. 8Therefore ^mthat field has been called the Field of Blood ⁿto this day. 9 ^oThen was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, ^p“And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”

Jesus Before Pilate

11 ^qNow Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you ^rthe King of the Jews?” Jesus said, ^s“You have said so.” 12 ^tBut when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13Then Pilate said to him, ^u“Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

15 ^vNow at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or ^wJesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew that it was out ^xof envy that they had delivered him up. 19Besides, while he was sitting on ^ythe judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with ^zthat righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today ^aain a dream.” 20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ^abask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” ^acThey all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23And he said, “Why? ^adWhat evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

24So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that ^aea riot was beginning, he took water and ^afwashed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of ^agthis man’s blood; ▼

▼Some manuscripts  this righteous blood, or  this righteous man’s blood

^aisee to it yourselves.” 25And all the people answered, ^aj“His blood be on us and ^akon our children!”