- 1When 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.
- 3 Then 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.
- 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.
- 19 When 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.
- 24 When 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.
- 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
- 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.
- 29 And 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.
- 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,
- 34 They 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.
- 39 And 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.
- 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.
- 50 Jesus, 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.
- 57When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, 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.
- 62 Now 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.
KING JAMES VERSION
MATTHEW 27
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Matthew 27 — Jesus is condemned and crucified, the earth bears witness at His death, and His sealed tomb is placed under guard.
About this illustration
The crucifixion and guarded burial are combined across one dark landscape. Suffering is shown at a respectful distance without graphic wounds or exposed nudity, and resurrection light is reserved for Matthew 28.
Scripture basis: Matthew 27:1–66King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEInscription
Approximately AD 26–36
The Pilate Stone
A damaged Latin building dedication from Caesarea preserves Pontius Pilate's name and contemporary title, Prefect of Judaea, anchoring the Gospel governor in the administrative center and titulature of Roman Judaea.
Luke 3:1 · Matthew 27:1–26 · Mark 15:1–15
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArtifact
First century AD
Crucified Man Yehohanan Ossuary
A first-century Jerusalem heel bone pierced by an iron nail and deposited with remains in an inscribed ossuary provides rare direct evidence for Roman crucifixion followed by Jewish tomb burial.
Matthew 27:32–60 · Mark 15:21–46 · Luke 23:26–53
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEInscription
First century BC or AD
Nazareth Inscription: An Imperial Grave-Decree
A Greek marble decree threatens severe punishment for disturbing tombs, but its only link to Nazareth is a collector's note; marble isotopes instead point to Kos and sharply weaken attempts to connect it with Jesus' empty tomb.
Matthew 27:57–66 · Matthew 28:11–15 · Mark 15:42–47
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArtifact
AD 29–32
Coins Issued Under Pontius Pilate
Small bronze issues dated by Tiberius's regnal years to AD 29–32 provide year-specific administrative evidence for Pilate's Judaean prefecture and its Roman ritual imagery, while neither naming Jesus nor recording his trial.
Luke 3:1 · Matthew 27:1–26 · John 18:28–38
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
5th–6th century
Papyrus P105: Matthew 27:62–64 and 28:2–5
Papyrus P105, P.Oxy. LXIV 4406, is a fifth- or sixth-century Greek codex fragment preserving the request to secure Jesus' tomb and the angelic scene at the tomb in Matthew 28, with evidence of later amuletic reuse.
Matthew 27:62–64 · Matthew 28:2–5
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchaeological site
Iron Age quarry through Roman, Constantinian, medieval, and modern phases
Archaeological Sequence Beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Archaeology beneath the Holy Sepulchre traces a quarry outside ancient occupation, rock-cut tombs, Roman transformation, and Constantine’s fourth-century memorial church.
John 19:17–20 · John 19:38–42 · Matthew 27:57–61
View all 9 archaeology resources
- Dura Parchment 24: A Third-Century Gospel Harmony Fragment
- Book of Mulling: An Irish Gospel Book
- Munich Clm 29270/1 (VL 45): Fifth-Century Matthew Palimpsest Fragment
Prophecy Events
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
30
Psalms 69:21Gall and Vinegar Offered to the Sufferer
Psalm 69 says the afflicted righteous sufferer receives gall for food and vinegar in thirst.
Conflictvinegargallthirstcrucifixion
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
30
Psalms 22:1 · Psalms 22:6–8 · Psalms 22:14–18The Pierced Sufferer of Psalm 22
Psalm 22 depicts an afflicted, mocked sufferer whose garments are divided. Watchman 33 sees the passion narratives reflecting the psalm; Roman execution and nailing are historically documented, while the famous hands-and-feet wording is textually disputed.
JudgmentJesus ChristPsalm 22crucifixiontextual criticism
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
30
Isaiah 50:4–9The Servant Gives His Back and Face
Isaiah’s obedient servant endures striking, beard-pulling, shame, and spitting while trusting God’s vindication.
ConflictServantmockingpassionvindication
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
30
Isaiah 52:13–15 · Isaiah 53:1–12The Suffering Servant Is Cut Off
Isaiah portrays a rejected servant who suffers, bears sin, and is cut off. Watchman 33 identifies the servant with Jesus; a pre-Christian Isaiah manuscript and independent evidence for execution under Pilate anchor the setting, while the redemptive meaning remains theological.
JudgmentJesus ChristSuffering ServantIsaiah 53crucifixion
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
30
Exodus 26:31–33The Veil and Access through His Flesh
The sanctuary veil separates the holy place from the most holy presence of God.
Covenantveilholy placeaccess to Godflesh of Christ
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
30
Zechariah 11:12–13Thirty Pieces of Silver
Zechariah’s rejected shepherd receives thirty pieces of silver, which are then cast to the potter in the house of the Lord.
ConflictsilverJudaspotterbetrayal
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