The continuation of the history of the passion of Christ. His death and
burial.
27:1. And when morning was come, all the chief priests and ancients of
the people took counsel against Jesus, that they might put him to
death.
27:2. And they brought him bound and delivered him to Pontius Pilate
the governor.
27:3. Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned,
repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the
chief priests and ancients,
27:4. Saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. But they said:
What is that to us? Look thou to it.
27:5. And casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed
and went and hanged himself with an halter.
27:6. But the chief priests having taken the pieces of silver, said: It
is not lawful to put them into the corbona, because it is the price of
blood.
Corbona.... A place in the temple where the people put in their gifts
or offerings.
27:7. And after they had consulted together, they bought with them the
potter’s field, to be a burying place for strangers.
27:8. For this cause that field was called Haceldama, that is, the
field of blood, even to this day.
27:9. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet,
saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him
that was prized, whom they prized of the children of Israel.
27:10. And they gave them unto the potter’s field, as the Lord
appointed to me.
27:11. And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him,
saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to him: Thou sayest
it.
27:12. And when he was accused by the chief priests and ancients, he
answered nothing.
27:13. Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou hear how great
testimonies they allege against thee?
27:14. And he answered him to never a word, so that the governor
wondered exceedingly.
27:15. Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release
to the people one prisoner, whom they would.
27:16. And he had then a notorious prisoner that was called Barabbas.
27:17. They therefore being gathered together, Pilate said: Whom will
you that I release to You: Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ?
27:18. For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
27:19. And as he was sitting in the place of judgment, his wife sent to
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.
27:20. But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people that
they should ask Barabbas and make Jesus away.
27:21. And the governor answering, said to them: Whether will you of
the two to be released unto you? But they said: Barabbas.
27:22. Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then with Jesus that is
called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified.
27:23. The governor said to them: Why, what evil hath he done? But they
cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified.
27:24. And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a
tumult was made, taking water washed his hands before the people,
saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look you to it.
27:25. And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and
upon our children.
27:26. Then he released to them Barabbas: and having scourged Jesus,
delivered him unto them to be crucified.
27:27. Then the soldiers of the governor, taking Jesus into the hall,
gathered together unto him the whole band.
27:28. And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him.
27:29. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a
reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked
him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews.
27:30. And spitting upon him, they took the reed and struck his head.
27:31. And after they had mocked him, they took off the cloak from him
and put on him his own garments and led him away to crucify him.
27:32. And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: him they
forced to take up his cross.
27:33. And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the
place of Calvary.
27:34. And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he
had tasted, he would not drink.
27:35. And after they had crucified him, they divided his garments,
casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophet, saying: They divided my garments among them; and upon my
vesture they cast lots.
27:36. And they sat and watched him.
27:37. And they put over his head his cause written: THIS IS JESUS THE
KING OF THE JEWS.
27:38. Then were crucified with him two thieves: one on the right hand
and one on the left.
27:39. And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads,
27:40. And saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God and in
three days dost rebuild it: save thy own self. If thou be the Son of
God, come down from the cross.
27:41. In like manner also the chief priests, with the scribes and
ancients, mocking said:
27:42. He 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.
27:43. He trusted in God: let him now deliver him if he will have him.
For he said: I am the Son of God.
27:44. And the selfsame thing the thieves also that were crucified with
him reproached him with.
27:45. Now from the sixth hour, there was darkness over the whole
earth, until the ninth hour.
27:46. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying:
Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? That is, My God, My God, why hast thou
forsaken me?
27:47. And some that stood there and heard said: This man calleth
Elias.
27:48. And immediately one of them running took a sponge and filled it
with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink.
27:49. And the others said: Let be. Let us see whether Elias will come
to deliver him.
27:50. And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
27:51. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top
even to the bottom: and the earth quaked and the rocks were rent.
27:52. And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that
had slept arose,
27:53. And coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came into
the holy city and appeared to many.
27:54. Now the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus,
having seen the earthquake and the things that were done, were sore
afraid, saying: Indeed this was the Son of God.
27:55. And there were there many women afar off, who had followed Jesus
from Galilee, ministering unto him:
27:56. Among whom was Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James and
Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
27:57. And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of
Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus.
27:58. He went to Pilate and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate
commanded that the body should be delivered.
27:59. And Joseph taking the body wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth:
27:60. And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a
rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument and went
his way.
27:61. And there was there Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, sitting
over against the sepulchre.
27:62. And the next day, which followed the day of preparation, the
chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate,
The day of preparation.... The eve of the sabbath; so called, because
on that day they prepared all things necessary; not being allowed so
much as to dress their meat on the sabbath day.
27:63. Saying: Sir, we have remembered, that that seducer said, while
he was yet alive: After three days I will rise again.
27:64. Command therefore the sepulchre to be guarded until the third
day: lest perhaps his disciples come and steal him away and say to the
people: He is risen from the dead. And the last error shall be worse
than the first.
27:65. Pilate saith to them: You have a guard. Go, guard it as you
know.
27:66. And they departing, made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone
and setting guards.