Matthew 27:23-66

23And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “1Crucify Him!”

24When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that 2a riot was starting, he took water and 3washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of 4this Man’s blood; 5see to that yourselves.” 25And all the people said, “6His blood shall be on us and on our children!” 26Then he released Barabbas 7for them; but after having Jesus 8scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

279Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into 10the 11Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman 1213cohort around Him. 28They stripped Him and 14put a scarlet robe on Him. 2915And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a 16reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “17Hail, King of the Jews!” 3018They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. 3119After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

3220As they were coming out, they found a man of 21Cyrene named Simon, 22whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.

3323And when they came to a place called 24Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 3425they gave Him 26wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.

35And when they had crucified Him, 27they divided up His garments among themselves by casting 28lots. 36And sitting down, they began to 29keep watch over Him there. 37And above His head they put up the charge against Him 30which read, “31THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

38At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. 39And those passing by were 32hurling abuse at Him, 33wagging their heads 40and saying, “34You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! 35If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42“36He saved others; 37He cannot save Himself. 38He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 4339He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He 40delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 4441The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

4542Now from the 43sixth hour darkness 44fell upon all the land until the 45ninth hour. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “46Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 47And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 4847Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. 49But the rest of them said, “48Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him49.” 50And Jesus 50cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 5151And behold, 52the 53veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and 54the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the 55saints who had 56fallen asleep were raised; 53and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered 57the holy city and appeared to many. 5458Now the centurion, and those who were with him 59keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw 60the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was 6162the Son of God!”

5563Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while 6465ministering to Him. 56Among them was 66Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and 67the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

5768When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled 69a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61And 70Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.

62Now on the next day, 71the day after 72the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, 63and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘73After three days I am to rise again.’ 64Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a 74guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” 66And they went and made the grave secure, and along with 75the guard they set a 76seal on 77the stone.