Matthew 27

Judas Hangs Himself

1 Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death.2 Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
  3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders.4 "I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man."
  "What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem."
  5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.
  6 The leading priests picked up the coins. "It wouldn't be right to put this money in the Temple treasury," they said, "since it was payment for murder."s7 After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter's field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners.8 That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood.9 This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says,

"They tooks the thirty pieces of silver—
  the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel,
10 and purchased the potter's field,
  as the Lord directed.s"

Jesus' Trial before Pilate

11 Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. "Are you the king of the Jews?" the governor asked him.
  Jesus replied, "You have said it."
  12 But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.13 "Don't you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?" Pilate demanded.14 But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor's surprise.
  15 Now it was the governor's custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted.16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas.s17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate's house that morning, he asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?"18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
  19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: "Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night."
  20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.21 So the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me to release to you?"
  The crowd shouted back, "Barabbas!"
  22 Pilate responded, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?"
  They shouted back, "Crucify him!"
  23 "Why?" Pilate demanded. "What crime has he committed?"
  But the mob roared even louder, "Crucify him!"
  24 Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. The responsibility is yours!"
  25 And all the people yelled back, "We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!"s
  26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

27 Some of the governor's soldiers took Jesus into their headquarterss and called out the entire regiment.28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, "Hail! King of the Jews!"30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it.31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

32 Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene,s and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross.33 And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means "Place of the Skull").34 The soldiers gave him wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.
  35 After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.s36 Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there.37 A sign was fastened above Jesus' head, announcing the charge against him. It read: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."38 Two revolutionariess were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
  39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery.40 "Look at you now!" they yelled at him. "You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
  41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus.42 "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!43 He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, `I am the Son of God.'"44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus

45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock.46 At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, which means "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"s
  47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah.48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink.49 But the rest said, "Wait! Let's see whether Elijah comes to save him."s
  50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.53 They left the cemetery after Jesus' resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
  54 The Roman officers and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, "This man truly was the Son of God!"
  55 And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance.56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

The Burial of Jesus

57 As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus,58 went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him.59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth.60 He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.61 Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, on the Sabbath,s the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate.63 They told him, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: `After three days I will rise from the dead.'64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first."
  65 Pilate replied, "Take guards and secure it the best you can."66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.

Matthew 28

The Resurrection

1 Early on Sunday morning,s as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
  2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
  5 Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.6 He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you."
  8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel's message.9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."

The Report of the Guard

11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened.12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe.13 They told the soldiers, "You must say, `Jesus' disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.'14 If the governor hears about it, we'll stand up for you so you won't get in trouble."15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
  18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,s baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Mark 1

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.s It began2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written:

"Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
  and he will prepare your way.s
3 He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
`Prepare the way for the Lord 's coming!
  Clear the road for him!'s"

4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.
  7 John announced: "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.8 I baptize you withs water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!"

The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on hims like a dove.11 And a voice from heaven said, "You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy."
  12 The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness,13 where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.
  14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God's Good News.s15 "The time promised by God has come at last!" he announced. "The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!"

The First Disciples

16 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simons and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.17 Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"18 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
  19 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee's sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets.20 He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

Jesus Casts Out an Evil Spirit

21 Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
  23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evils spirit began shouting,24 "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
  25 Jesus cut him short. "Be quiet! Come out of the man," he ordered.26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
  27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. "What sort of new teaching is this?" they asked excitedly. "It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!"28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many People

29 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew's home.30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away.31 So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.
  32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus.33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch.34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.36 Later Simon and the others went out to find him.37 When they found him, they said, "Everyone is looking for you."
  38 But Jesus replied, "We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came."39 So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said.
  41 Moved with compassion,s Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!"42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.43 Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning:44 "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy.s This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed."
  45 But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn't publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.