Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him and led him away, delivering him to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

Meanwhile, Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that he was condemned and repented. He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They replied, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."

Judas cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, hanged himself. The chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It's not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are the price of blood." They decided to use the money to buy a potter's field for strangers.

This is why that field was called the Field of Blood to this day. As Jeremiah had prophesied, "They took thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him whom some of Israel's children valued." The Lord had directed them to use it for the potter's field.

Jesus stood before the governor, who asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "You say so." When accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no response. Pilate said, "Do you hear how many charges they're bringing against you?" Jesus remained silent, which greatly astonished the governor.

During a festival, the governor was accustomed to releasing one prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time, there was a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. When the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" He knew they had delivered him up out of envy.

Pilate's wife sent him a message saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man; I have suffered greatly today in a dream because of him." The chief priests and elders convinced the crowd to ask for Barabbas' release and demand Jesus' destruction. Pilate asked them, "Which of these two men do you want me to release?" They replied, "Barabbas."

The governor asked, "What shall I do then with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all replied, "Let him be crucified!" Pilate questioned, "What evil has he done?" but they shouted even louder, saying, "Let him be crucified!"

When Pilate saw that he could achieve nothing and a tumult was made, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of this righteous man's blood; see to it yourselves." The people responded, "His blood be on us and our children."

Pilate then released Barabbas to them but handed Jesus over to be crucified after scourging him. The governor's soldiers took Jesus into the common hall and gathered around him the entire cohort of soldiers.

They stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on him. Plaiting a crown of thorns, they placed it on his head and gave him a reed in his right hand. Bowing before him, they mocked, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat on him and took the reed, striking him repeatedly on the head.

After mocking him, they stripped Jesus and put his own clothes back on him, then led him away to crucify him. As they came out, they found a man named Simon from Cyrene whom they compelled to bear his cross.

When they arrived at Golgotha, which is translated "Place of a Skull," they gave Jesus vinegar to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he refused to drink. They crucified him, dividing his garments among themselves by casting lots, as the prophet had spoken: "They parted my garments among them and cast lots for my vesture."

The soldiers sat down and watched him there. Above his head, they set up a sign that read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." Two thieves were crucified alongside him, one on each side.

As people passed by, they reviled him, wagging their heads, saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you're the Son of God, come down from the cross!" The chief priests, scribes, and elders also mocked him, saying, "He saved others; himself he cannot save. He's the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we'll believe in him."

The thieves who were crucified with Jesus hurled insults at him as well.

As the sixth hour approached, darkness fell over the entire land until the ninth hour. At about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Some nearby bystanders thought he was calling for Elijah.

One of them quickly ran and took a sponge filled with vinegar on a reed to offer it to Jesus. The rest said, "Let's see if Elijah will come to save him." After crying out again with a loud voice, Jesus gave up his spirit.

The temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook violently, splitting rocks apart. Graves were opened, and many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep arose.

These resurrected ones went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people. The centurion and those with him, who were watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and all that was happening. They feared greatly, saying, "Truly this man was God's Son."

Many women watched from a distance who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

As evening fell, a wealthy man named Joseph from Arimathaea came, who was also one of Jesus' disciples. He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate gave it to him.

Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb he had hewn out of the rock. A large stone sealed the entrance before he departed. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sat opposite the tomb.

The next day, after securing the bodies of Jesus' followers for burial, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate, saying, "Sir, we recall that deceiver saying while alive, 'After three days I will rise again.'"

They asked Pilate to command the tomb be secured until the third day, so his disciples wouldn't come by night and steal him away, then spread a false rumor about him being raised from the dead. Pilate replied, "You have guards; go make it as secure as you can."

The chief priests and Pharisees went and sealed the stone at the tomb entrance and set a guard to watch over it.