Matthew 27:1–66

¹ When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death. ² They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor. ³ When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. ⁴ “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” ⁵ So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. ⁶ The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” ⁷ After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. ⁸ That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel, ¹⁰ and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.” ¹¹ Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. ¹² And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. ¹³ Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?” ¹⁴ But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement. ¹⁵ Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. ¹⁶ At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. ¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.” ²⁰ But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. ²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied. ²² “What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!” ²³ “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!” ²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”…