Chapter Text
Jesus Before Pilate
When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
The Death of Judas
3Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
7And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
8Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
Jesus Sentenced to Die
11And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
12And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
15Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36And sitting down they watched him there;
37And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
The Death of Jesus
45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said , This man calleth for Elias.
48And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
55And many women were there beholding afar off , which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
The Burial of Jesus
57When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
58He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59And when Joseph had taken the body, he 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 a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
61And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
The Guard at the Tomb
62Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Summary
Judas returns the thirty pieces of silver in remorse and hangs himself. Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate, who finds no fault in Him but yields to the crowd's demand to crucify Him. The soldiers mock Jesus, crown Him with thorns, and lead Him to Golgotha.
Jesus is crucified between two thieves. Darkness covers the land from the sixth to the ninth hour. He cries out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, and yields up His spirit. The temple veil is torn from top to bottom, and the centurion declares Him the Son of God. Joseph of Arimathaea buries Jesus in his own new tomb.
Meaning
The crucifixion is the central event of all Scripture. Jesus' cry of dereliction reveals that on the cross He experienced genuine separation from the Father as He bore the sins of the world. This was not abandonment but the fulfillment of the plan of redemption, the righteous suffering for the unrighteous.
The tearing of the temple veil from top to bottom signifies that the way into God's presence, previously barred to all except the high priest once a year, is now open to all through the sacrifice of Christ.
Background
Golgotha, meaning the place of a skull, was located outside the city walls of Jerusalem. Roman crucifixion was designed to be the most painful and humiliating form of execution, reserved for slaves and the worst criminals.
The veil of the temple separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. It was reportedly sixty feet high, thirty feet wide, and a handbreadth thick. Its supernatural tearing declared a new era in the relationship between God and man.
Chapter Outline
- vv. 1-10Judas's remorse and tragic end
- vv. 11-26Jesus before Pilate and Barabbas released
- vv. 27-31The soldiers mock the King
- vv. 32-44The crucifixion at Golgotha
- vv. 45-54Darkness, death, and cosmic signs
- vv. 55-61The burial in Joseph's tomb
- vv. 62-66The sepulchre sealed and guarded
Key Verses
“Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.”— 27:22
Pilate's question echoes through the centuries as the inescapable verdict every soul must render concerning Christ. The crowd's answer reveals the tragic rejection of the Messiah by those He came to save.
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”— 27:46
The cry of dereliction quotes Psalm 22:1 and reveals the depth of Christ's substitutionary suffering as He bore the sin of the world. It marks the climactic moment when the Father turned His face from the Son.
“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”— 27:51
The torn veil signifies that access to God's presence is now opened through Christ's sacrifice, ending the old covenant separation between God and man. Torn from top to bottom, it is unmistakably an act of God.
“Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”— 27:54
A Gentile soldier becomes the first to confess Christ's divine sonship after the crucifixion, foreshadowing the gospel's reach to all nations. His confession stands in stark contrast to the mockery of Israel's leaders.
People & Places
People
- Jesus — The Messiah, condemned, mocked, crucified, and buried as the sin-bearing Lamb of God.
- Judas Iscariot — The betrayer who, gripped by remorse, returns the silver and hangs himself.
- Pontius Pilate — Roman governor of Judea who reluctantly sentences Jesus while symbolically washing his hands of guilt.
- Pilate's wife — Unnamed woman who warns her husband based on a troubling dream about Jesus.
- Barabbas — A notable prisoner released by the crowd's demand in place of Jesus.
- Simon of Cyrene — A bystander compelled by Roman soldiers to carry Jesus' cross to Golgotha.
- The two thieves — Criminals crucified on either side of Jesus who initially join in mocking Him.
- The centurion — Roman officer overseeing the execution who confesses Jesus as the Son of God.
- Mary Magdalene — Devoted follower of Jesus who witnesses the crucifixion and burial.
- Mary the mother of James and Joses — Galilean woman among the faithful watching at the cross and tomb.
- The mother of Zebedee's children — Mother of the apostles James and John, present at the crucifixion.
- Joseph of Arimathaea — Wealthy disciple who requests Jesus' body from Pilate and provides his own new tomb.
- Chief priests and elders — Religious leaders who orchestrate the trial, stir the crowd, and later seal the tomb.
Places
- Jerusalem — The holy city where Jesus is tried, crucified, and buried during Passover week.
- The potter's field — Plot purchased with Judas' returned silver, renamed 'the field of blood' as a burial ground for strangers.
- The common hall (Praetorium) — The governor's residence where Roman soldiers mocked and scourged Jesus.
- Golgotha — The 'place of a skull' outside Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified.
- The temple — The sanctuary whose veil was torn in two at the moment of Christ's death.
- Joseph's new tomb — A rock-hewn sepulchre near the crucifixion site where Jesus' body was laid and sealed.
Prophecy & Fulfillment
Matthew explicitly cites two prophetic fulfillments in this chapter. Verses 9-10 connect the thirty pieces of silver and the potter's field to prophetic words associated with Jeremiah, drawing on Zechariah 11:12-13 and themes from Jeremiah 19 and 32. Verse 35 fulfills Psalm 22:18, as the soldiers cast lots for Jesus' garments. Beyond these, the cry of dereliction in verse 46 quotes Psalm 22:1, and the offering of vinegar (v. 34, 48) echoes Psalm 69:21, weaving the crucifixion into the tapestry of messianic Scripture.
Devotional
Matthew 27 confronts us with a sobering paradox: the most unjust act in history accomplished the most just salvation ever offered. Pilate washed his hands but could not wash away his responsibility; the crowd chose Barabbas, yet every sinner since has been freed by that same exchange.
When life feels forsaken, remember that Christ uttered those very words so we would never have to. The torn veil means no shame, no failure, no past can bar you from the Father's presence. Like the centurion, may the cross compel us to confess, 'Truly this was the Son of God.'
Literary Style
Passion narrative in historical prose, marked by rapid scene shifts, terse dialogue, and heavy intertextual citation of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew employs dramatic irony throughout—the mockers unwittingly proclaim truths about Christ—and frames the crucifixion with apocalyptic signs (darkness, earthquake, torn veil, raised saints).