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Matthew Chapter 27

New Testament Gospel 66 Verses

What is Matthew 27 about?

The Gospel for a Jewish audience — Jesus as Messiah-King, fulfillment of OT prophecy, and teacher of the Sermon on the Mount. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate the governor.
3Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou [to it].
5And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.
6And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since 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 through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom [certain] of the children of Israel did price;
10and they gave them for the potter`s field, as the Lord appointed me.
11Now 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 by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
15Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would.
16And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?
18For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up.
19And while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.
22Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.
23And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, Let him be crucified.
24So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye [to it].
25And all the people answered and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.
26Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.
27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered unto him the whole band.
28And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head.
31And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, 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 go [with them], that he might bear his cross.
33And they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull,
34they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink.
35And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots;
36and they sat and watched him there.
37And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38Then are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand and one on the left.
39And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,
40and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41In like manner also the chief priests mocking [him], with the scribes and elders, said,
42He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.
43He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach.
45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47And some of them stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth Elijah.
48And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49And the rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to save him.
50And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
51And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent;
52and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised;
53and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.
54Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
55And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus` disciple:
58this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up.
59And Joseph took the body, and 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 tomb, and departed.
61And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
62Now on the morrow, which is [the day] after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate,
63saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again.
64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.
65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go, make it [as] sure as ye can.
66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“When the morning was come, etc.] Or, as soon as it was day, as Luke says, (<422266>Luke 22:66). The sanhedrim had been up all night, which, after eating the passover, they had spent in apprehending, trying, and examining Jesus, and the witnesses against him; and had come to an unanimous vote, that he was guilty of death; upon which they either put Jesus out of the room for a while, or went into another themselves, to consult what further steps should be taken: or if they went home to their own houses, they very quickly got together again, and met in the temple, where they seem to be, (<402705>Matthew 27:5),…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 4
“Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood--What a testimony this to Jesus! Judas had been with Him in all circumstances for three years; his post, as treasurer to Him and the Twelve (Joh 12:6), gave him peculiar opportunity of watching the spirit, disposition, and habits of his Master; while his covetous nature and thievish practices would incline him to dark and suspicious, rather than frank and generous, interpretations of all that He said and did. If, then, he could have fastened on one questionable feature in all that he had so long witnessed, we may be sure that no such speech as this…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Jesus is brought before Pilate - See also Mark 16:1; Luke 23:1; John 18:28. When the morning was come - This was not long after Jesus had been condemned by the Sanhedrin. Peter’s last denial was probably not far from three o’clock a. m., or near the break of day. As soon as it was light, the Jews consulted together for the purpose of taking his life. The sun rose at that season of the year in Judea not far from five o’clock a. m., and the time when they assembled, therefore, was not long after Peter’s denial. The chief priests and elders of the people took counsel - They ned on his trial Matthew 26:65-66 agreed…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“In the morning - As the sanhedrim used to meet in one of the courts of the temple, which was never opened in the night, they were forced to stay till the morning before they could proceed regularly, in the resolution they had taken to put him to death. Mar 15:1; Luk 22:66; Luk 23:1; Joh 18:28. Matthew 27:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“27:1-2 The Jewish leaders were ready to level charges against Jesus before Pilate so that he would order Jesus’ execution. Pilate, a Gentile, fulfills Jesus’ prediction (20:19). 27:1 The charge of blasphemy (26:65-66), though sufficient for the death penalty among Jews, would not convince a Roman judge. Hence, the leading priests and the elders conspired together to prepare a more political charge consistent with capital offenses in Roman law (see 27:11-26; Luke 23:2).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“the morning: Jdg 16:2; Sa1 19:11; Pro 4:16-18; Mic 2:1; Luk 22:66; Act 5:21 all: Mat 23:13, Mat 26:3, Mat 26:4; Psa 2:2; Mar 15:1; Luk 23:1, Luk 23:2; Joh 18:28; Act 4:24-28 Matthew 27:2”
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