THE
*GOSPEL
ACCORDING TO
^ MATTHEW

Matthew 27

1Christ is delivered bound to Pilate. 3Judas hangeth himself. 11Christ's silence before Pilate. 15Pilate's custom at the feast, and proposal to the people: 19his wife's message: 20being urged by the multitude, he washeth his hands in his own justification, and releasing Barabbas delivereth Jesus to be crucified. 27Christ is mocked of the soldiers, crowned with thorns, 33crucified between two thieves, 39reviled, 45and calling upon God expireth. 51The astonishing events which attended his death: the centurion's confession. 57Joseph of Arimathaea beggeth his body, and burieth it. 62His sepulchre is sealed, and a watch set over it.


1WHEN thea morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

a Psalm 2:2; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66; 23:2; John 18:28.

2And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontiusb Pilate 1the governor.

b Acts 3:13.

1 Namely, of the Roman Emperor Tiberius, over the land of Judæa, Luke 3:1, for, the Jews had no power left them to punish any man with death without the foregoing consent of the Roman governors, as they themselves testify, John 18:31.

3¶Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, 2repented himself, and 3brought again the thirty piecesc of silver to the chief priests and elders,

2 This was no true repentance, such as Peter had, seeing it was not accompanied with amendment of life, nor with faith and confidence of forgiveness of his sins. Paul calls such repentance, as Judas had, a sorrow of the world which works death, 2 Cor. 7:10.

3 Gr. returned, that is, paid out again.

c (Heb. keseph; Gr. argurion) $0.16: (a different Hebrew word used in Joshua 24:32; different Greek word in Luke 15:8)

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 wentd and 4hanged himself.

d 2 Sam. 17:23; Acts 1:18.

4 See hereof in more detail, Acts 1:18.

6And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them 5into the treasury, because it is 6the price of blood.

5 In the Greek text the Syrian word korbanan is kept, which signifies a gift or offering, and which they called the treasury- or money chest, in which the money, given or consecrated to the service of God, was kept. See 2 Kings 12:9. This is called Mark 12:41 and Luke 21:1 gazophylacium.

6 That is, for which Christ was bought by them to put Him to death. It seems that these hypocrites have respect to the place in Deut. 23:18.

7And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field,e to bury 7strangers in.

e Acts 1:19.

7 That is, coming out of strange countries and being strangers to the Jewish religion, with whom it seems that the Jews would have no communion, no not after their death.

8Wherefore that field was called, 8The field of blood, unto this day.

8 Of this field see Acts 1:19.

9Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by 9Jeremyf the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, 10the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

9 This place is not found in Jeremiah, but in Zechariah, Zech. 11:13, and therefore some ancient teachers think that here was no name of the prophet expressed by Matthew himself, as he is wont also elsewhere to omit it, and as this name is not found in the Syriac translation, which is very ancient, and in some others; and that the name of Jeremiah would by some of the transcribers, through ignorance, (because of the likeness of the letters ιο̃υ and ζο̃υ, as they are written in short) have been inserted out of the margin into the text. But others think that Zechariah was also named Jeremiah, as among the Israelites it was very usual to have two names, especially when they signified almost one kind of thing.

f Zech. 11:12.

10 Others translate it, the value of Him that was valued, which some of the children of Israel did value. Zech. 11:13 brings in Christ Himself, as speaking in His own person, but Matthew, regarding more the sense than the words of the prophet, speaks of Christ in the third person to show that this prophesy was here fulfilled in Him.

10And gave them for the potter’s field, 11as the Lord appointed me.

11 These words are indeed not in the prophets, but the sense of them is.

11Andg Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou 12the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, 13Thou sayest.

g Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3; John 18:33.

12 Namely, Whom the Jews expect for their Messiah and Deliverer.

13 See Mat. 26:25, 64; John 18:37.

12And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

13Thenh said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not 14how many things they witness against thee?

h Mat. 26:62.

14 These things are expressed in Luke 23:2.

14Andi he answered him to 15never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

i Isa. 53:7; Acts 8:32.

15 Partly because the accusations were public lies, partly because He wanted to be innocently condemned for us. And so was fulfilled that which was foretold of Him, Isa. 53:7.

15Nowj at that 16feast the governor was wontk to release unto 17the people a prisoner, whom they would.

j Mark 15:6; Luke 23:17; John 18:39.

16 Namely, of the passover, John 18:39.

k accustomed

17 Gr. unto the multitude.

16Andl they had then a 18notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

l Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19; John 18:40.

18 That is, a famous and eminent (one), whose person and ill deeds were notorious. For, he was put in prison for murder and sedition, Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19; John 18:40.

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.

20Butm the chief priests and elders 19persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

m Mark 15:11; Luke 23:18; John 18:40; Acts 3:14.

19 Or, moved them thereunto by counseling.

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 20the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

20 That is, of His death, whereof notwithstanding he was not wholly innocent, seeing he might not, to please others, put an innocent person to death, as the governor Festus himself testifies, Acts 25:16.

25Then answered all the people, and said, 21Hisn blood be on us, and on our children.

21 That is, if this blood be innocently shed, the judgment or vengeance of God is to come upon us and our posterity. Which likewise shortly after was fulfilled by the Romans, and is fulfilling still, Mat. 24:21. A similar phrase see Lev. 20:9; 2 Sam. 1:16.

n Acts 5:28.

26¶Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had 22scourgedo Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

22 The Romans had indeed the custom that they caused those, who were condemned to death, to be publicly scourged first, but it appears out of John 19:1 that Pilate did this, because he hoped to satisfy the Jews with this lesser punishment, and to move them to compassion, that he might thus release Him.

o whip (verb)

27Thenp the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

p Mark 15:16; John 19:2.

28And they 23stripped him, and put on him a 24scarlet robe.

23 Namely, of His upper garment.

24 This was a certain kind of costly purple color, as the other evangelists call it. Or, of scarlet, which was worn only by kings and great ones, Dan. 5:7. And so these made a mock of the Kingly office of Christ. For which purpose served also the crown of thorns and the reed instead of a scepter, and the following mockery.

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 25his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

25 Namely, His upper garments which they had stripped off.

32Andq as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, 26Simon by name: him they 27compelled 28to bear his cross.

q Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26.

26 See of this Simon in more detail, Mark 15:21.

27 See of this word in Mat. 5:41.

28 Gr. to take up, namely, to carry the same after Christ, Luke 23:36. It was usual that those, who would be crucified, must bear their cross themselves to the place of execution. But seeing Christ was very much weakened in His body by the preceded ill-treatment, therefore they joined this man unto Him.

33Andr when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, 29a place of a skull,

r Psalm 69:21; Mark 15:22; Luke 23:33; John 19:17.

29 Or, place of the skull, or of the brain-pan, which place seems to be so called because there used to be justice done by reason whereof many dead skulls of offenders were found there. Or, as some think, because that hill had the form or shape of a brain-pan.

34¶They gave him 30vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

30 Mark 15:23 says wine mingled with myrrh, which drink was used to be given to those who were condemned, that they might forget their pain to which the soldiers add vinegar and gall, herein also to show their maliciousness towards Him.

35Ands they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, Theyt parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast 31lots.

s Mark 15:24; John 19:23.

t Psalm 22:18.

31 Because His inner coat was without seam, as may be seen in John 19:23.

36And sitting down they watched him there;

37Andu set up over his head his 32accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

u Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38; John 19:19.

32 Or, His offense. Other, His cause. Namely, whereof He was accused, and for which He was condemned.

38Thenv were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

v Isa. 53:12.

39¶Andw they that passed by reviled him, 33wagging their heads,

w Psalm 22:7; 69:20; Mark 15:29; Luke 23:35.

33 As a sign of contempt, and that they truly wished it to Him. See Psalm 22:7; Lam. 2:15.

40And saying, Thoux that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

x Mat. 26:61; John 2:19.

41Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42He saved others; himself 34he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

34 Or, can He not deliver Himself?

43Hey trusted in God; let him deliver him now, 35if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

y Psalm 22:8.

35 That is, if He has delight in Him.

44The 36thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

36 Actually this was done by one of the murderers, as Luke testifies in Luke 23:39, but this is spoken thus in common to show that Christ was mocked of all sorts of men, even of the murderers themselves. Unless we say (as some of the ancient teachers are of the opinion) that at first both would have reviled Him, and afterwards one of them, seeing the miracles which came to pass, was converted.

45Nowz from the 37sixth hour there was 38darkness over all the 39land unto the ninth hour.

z Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44.

37 That is, from about noon till about three o’clock in the afternoon, according to our reckoning of time. See Mat. 20:3; John 11:9. See further Mark 15:25; John 19:14.

38 This was no ordinary eclipse of the sun, seeing the passover was kept at full moon, when the moon stands right opposite to the sun on the other side of the heaven, and for this cause cannot hinder the light of the sun, but a supernatural work of God, coming to pass by a miracle, as the darkness in Egypt, Exod. 10:22.

39 Some understand hereby the land of the Jews only. Others the whole globe of the earth.

46And about the ninth hour Jesus criedaa with a loud voice, saying, 40Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou 41forsaken me?

aa Psalm 22:1; Heb. 5:7.

40 These words are taken out of Psalm 22:1.

41 Namely, under the burden of Thy terrible wrath against the sins of men, without permitting Me to enjoy the sense of Thy favor and help, Gal. 3:13. But these are no words of despair, seeing He perfectly trusted in Him notwithstanding, as appears by the words, My God. See likewise here, Heb. 5:7.

47Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, 42This man calleth for Elias.

42 This they said, mocking Him, because the words Eli and Elijah come pretty near one another.

48Andab straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and 43put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

ab Psalm 69:21; John 19:29.

43 Gr. put it about a reed. This he did because Christ had said: I thirst, as John 19:28 witnesses.

49The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

50¶Jesus,ac when he had cried again with a loud voice, 44yielded up the ghost.

ac Luke 23:46.

44 Gr. send forth the ghost from Himself, that is, His soul, John 10:18.

51And,ad behold, the 45veilae of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

ad 2 Chron. 3:14; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45.

45 This was a certain tapestry or embroidered cloth, which hung in front of the Holy of Holies, and separated the same from the holy place, or foremost part of the temple. What this signified, is declared in Heb. 10:20.

ae curtain

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 46holy city, and appeared unto many.

46 Namely, Jerusalem. See Mat. 4:5.

54Nowaf 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.

af Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47.

55Andag many women were there beholding afarah off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministeringai47unto him:

ag Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49.

ah Psalm 38:11.

ai Luke 8:2.

47 Or, to minister unto Him, namely, in His life of their goods, Luke 8:3.

56Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary 48the mother of James and Joses, and 49the mother of Zebedee's children.

48 See of her in Mat. 13:55.

49 See also of her, Mat. 20:20.

57Whenaj the 50even was come, there came a rich man 51of Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

aj Mark 15:42; Luke 23:50; John 19:38.

50 That is, late of the day before the sun was gone down. For with the going down of the sun the Sabbath begun.

51 Namely, by birth. This was a city in the land of the Jews, Luke 23:51.

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 52clean linen cloth,

52 Which he had bought new for that purpose, Mark 15:46.

60Andak laid it in his own 53new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

ak Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53.

53 In which yet no man before was laid, Luke 23:53, which by God’s disposing came so to pass, that men might not say or think that anyone else was risen again.

61And there was Mary Magdalene, and the 54other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

54 Namely, named and described previously in verse 56.

62¶Now the next day, that 55followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

55 That is, on their own paschal-day, or, day of the passover, which then was also the sabbath-day

63Saying, Sir, we remember that that 56deceiver said, while he was yet alive, Afteral three days I 57will rise again.

56 As such these ungodly men slander Christ yet after His death.

al Mat. 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; Mark 8:31; 10:34; Luke 9:22; 18:33; 24:6.

57 Gr. I arise.

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 58error shall be worse than the first.

58 Or, deception.

65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a 59watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

59 They were the soldiers, who were appointed to keep and to watch the temple on the outside, which had their station in the Tower Antonia. See Josephus, Antiq. lib. 18, cap. 6.

66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, 60sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

60 That no man would be so bold as to open the grave without their knowledge, as Dan. 6:17, which likewise came to pass by God’s disposing, to make Christ’s resurrection so much the more certain and glorious.