Matthew 27

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

1 Whent it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him.

2 Theyt tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilates the governor.s

Judas’ Suicide

3 Now whent Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesust had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders,4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You take care of it yourself!”5 Sot Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself.6 Thet chief priests took the silver and said, “It is not lawful to put this into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.”7 Aftert consulting together they bought the Potter’s Field with it, as a burial place for foreigners.8 For this reason that field has been called the “Field of Blood” to this day.9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiahs the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one whose price had been set by the people of Israel,t

10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”ss

Jesus and Pilate

11 Thent Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him,t “Are you the kings of the Jews?” Jesust said, “You say so.”s12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond.13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many charges they are bringing against you?”

14 But he did not answer even one accusation, so that the governor was quite amazed.
15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd,s whomever they wanted.16 At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesuss Barabbas.17 So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesuss Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?”ts18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.)s19 Ast he was sitting on the judgment seat,ts his wife sent a messaget to him:t “Have nothing to do with that innocent man;t I have suffered greatly as a result of a dreamt about him today.”20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.21 Thet governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!”22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?”ts They all said, “Crucify him!”ts

23 He asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!”

Jesus is Condemned and Mocked

24 Whent Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!”s25 Int reply all the people said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”26 Then he released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged,ts he handed him overt to be crucified.s27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residencets and gathered the whole cohorts around him.28 Theyt stripped him and put a scarlet robes around him,29 and after braidingt a crown of thorns,s they put it on his head. Theyt put a stafft in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him:t “Hail, king of the Jews!”ts30 Theyt spat on him and took the stafft and struck him repeatedlyt on the head.

31 Whent they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Thent they led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

32 Ast they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forcedt to carry his cross.s33 Theyt came to a place called Golgothat (which means “Place of the Skull”)s34 and offered Jesust wine mixed with gall to drink.s But after tasting it, he would not drink it.35 Whent they had crucifieds him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice.ts36 Then they sat down and kept guard over him there.37 Abovet his head they put the charge against him,s which read:t “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.”38 Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.39 Thoset who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads40 and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!s If you are God’s Son, come downs from the cross!”41 Int the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the lawt and elderst – were mocking him:t42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes downt now from the cross, we will believe in him!43 He trusts in God – let God, if he wants to, deliver him nows because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!”

44 Thet robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.s

Jesus’ Death

45 Now from noon until three,t darkness came over all the land.s46 Att about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice,t “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”s47 Whent some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.”48 Immediatelyt one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine,s put it on a stick,t and gave it to him to drink.49 But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.”s50 Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.51 Just thent the temple curtaint was torn in two, from top to bottom. Thet earth shook and the rocks were split apart.52 And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had diedt were raised.53 (Theyt came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.)54 Now when the centurions and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified and said, “Truly this one was God’s Son!”55 Manyt women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him supportts were also there, watching from a distance.

56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Jesus’ Burial

57 Nowt when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.s58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.s Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him.59 Josepht took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,t60 and placed its in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock.t Then he rolled a great stone across the entrancet of the tomb and went away.

61 (Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, opposite the tomb.)

The Guard at the Tomb

62 Thet next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Phariseess assembled before Pilate63 and said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’64 So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his bodyt and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”65 Pilate said to them, “Taket a guard of soldiers. Go and make it as secure as you can.”

66 Sot they went with the soldierst of the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

Matthew 28

The Resurrection

1 Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lordt descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it.3 Hist appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.4 Thet guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him.5 But the angel saidt to the women, “Do not be afraid; I knowt that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.s6 He is not here, for he has been raised,t just as he said. Come and see the place where hes was lying.7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. Het is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!”8 Sot they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.9 Butt Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” Theyt came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him.

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”

The Guards’ Report

11 Whilet they were going, somet of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened.12 Aftert they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole his bodyt while we were asleep.’14 Ift this matter is heard before the governor,t we will satisfy hims and keep you out of trouble.”t

15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day.s

The Great Commission

16 Sot the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated.17 Whent they saw him, they worshiped him,t but some doubted.t18 Then Jesus came up and said to them,t “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore got and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,s

20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember,t I am with yous always, to the end of the age.”s

Mark 1

The Ministry of John the Baptist

1 The beginning of the gospels of Jesus Christ,t the Son of God.ss

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,s
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way,s

3 the voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
makeshis paths straight.’”s
4 In the wildernesst John the baptizert began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.s5 Peoplet from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalems were going out to him, and he was baptizing themt in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.6 John wore a garment made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.s7 He proclaimed,t “One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthyts to bend down and untie the strapt of his sandals.

8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

9 Nowt in those days Jesus came from Nazareths in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.t10 And just as Jesust was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavenst splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.s11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my one dear Son;t in you I take great delight.”ts12 The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness.

13 He was in the wilderness forty days,s enduring temptations from Satan. Het was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.t

Preaching in Galilee and the Call of the Disciples

14 Now after John was imprisoned,t Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospels of God.t15 Het said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of Gods is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”16 As he went along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).s17 Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.”ts18 They left their nets immediately and followed him.s19 Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother in theirt boat mending nets.

20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus’ Authority

21 Thent they went to Capernaum.ss When the Sabbath came,t Jesust went into the synagogues and began to teach.22 The people theret were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority,s not like the experts in the law.t23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit,s and he cried out,t24 “Leave us alone,ts Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy Ones of God!”25 Butt Jesus rebuked him:t “Silence! Come out of him!”s26 After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.27 They were all amazed so that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

28 Sot the news about him spread quickly throughout all the region around Galilee.

Healings at Simon’s House

29 Nowt as soon as they left the synagogue,s they entered Simon and Andrew’s house, with James and John.30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down, sick with a fever, sot they spoke to Jesust at once about her.31 He came and raised her up by gently taking her hand. Then the fever left her and she began to servet them.32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed.33 The whole town gathered by the door.

34 Sot he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons.s Butt he would not permit the demons to speak,s because they knew him.s

Praying and Preaching

35 Thent Jesust got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer.t36 Simon and his companions searched for him.37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”38 He replied,t “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.”t

39 Sot he went into all of Galilee preaching in their synagoguess and casting out demons.

Cleansing a Leper

40 Nowt a lepers came to him and fell to his knees, asking for help. “Ift you are willing, you can make me clean,” he said.41 Moved with compassion,s Jesust stretched out his hand and toucheds him, saying, “I am willing. Be clean!”42 The leprosy left him at once, and he was clean.43 Immediately Jesust sent the mant away with a very strong warning.44 He told him,t “See that you do not say anything to anyone,s but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commandeds for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”t

45 But as the mant went out he began to announce it publicly and spread the story widely, so that Jesust was no longer able to enter any town openly but stayed outside in remote places. Stillt they kept comingt to him from everywhere.