Judas Hangs Himself

27 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed.b 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him overc to Pilate the governor.d

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him,e saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silverf to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”g

5 So Judas threw the money into the templeh and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.i

6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Bloodj to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:k “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”a l

Jesus Before Pilate

27:11–26pp—Mk 15:2–15; Lk 23:2,3,18–25; Jn 18:29–19:16

11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”m

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.n 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”o 14 But Jesus made no reply,p not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisonerq chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesusb Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”r 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat,s his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocentt man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dreamu because of him.”

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.v

21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”w Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproarx was starting, he took water and washed his handsy in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”z he said. “It is your responsibility!”a

25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”b

26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged,c and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

27:27–31pp—Mk 15:16–20

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetoriumd and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,e 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.f 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.g 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.h

The Crucifixion of Jesus

27:33–44pp—Mk 15:22–32; Lk 23:33–43; Jn 19:17–24

32 As they were going out,i they met a man from Cyrene,j named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.k 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).l 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;m but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.n 36 And sitting down, they kept watcho over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

38 Two rebels were crucified with him,p one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their headsq 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,r save yourself!s Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”t 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel!u Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believev in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue himw now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus

27:45–56pp—Mk 15:33–41; Lk 23:44–49; Jn 19:29–30

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darknessx came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,c lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).d y

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar,z put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.a

51 At that moment the curtain of the templeb was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks splitc 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection ande went into the holy cityd and appeared to many people.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guardinge Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”f

55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.g 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,f and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.h

The Burial of Jesus

27:57–61pp—Mk 15:42–47; Lk 23:50–56; Jn 19:38–42

57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tombi that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’j 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the bodyk and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take a guard,”l Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a sealm on the stonen and posting the guard.o

Jesus Has Risen

28:1–8pp—Mk 16:1–8; Lk 24:1–10; Jn 20:1–8

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalenep and the other Maryq went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake,r for an angels of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stonet and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.u 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid,v for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.w Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.x There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them.y “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothersz to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guardsa went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him awayb while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor,c we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.d 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.e 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,f baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,g 20 and teachingh them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with youi always, to the very end of the age.”j

Mark

Mark likely had pragmatic Roman readers in mind when he recorded the events of Jesus’ life on earth. His Gospel, which stresses action, gives a straightforward, detailed account of Jesus’ ministry. This Gospel is perhaps the most exciting collection of stories about Jesus, focusing especially on the miracles he performed.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1:2–8pp—Mt 3:1–11; Lk 3:2–16

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,a the Son of God,b a 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way”c b—

3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’ ”d c

4 And so John the Baptistd appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentancee for the forgiveness of sins.f 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,g and he ate locustsh and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.i 8 I baptize you withe water, but he will baptize you withf the Holy Spirit.”j

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

1:9–11pp—Mt 3:13–17; Lk 3:21,22
1:12,13pp—Mt 4:1–11; Lk 4:1–13

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazarethk in Galilee and was baptized by Johnl in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.m 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,n whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”o

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days,p being temptedg by Satan.q He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Jesus Announces the Good News

1:16–20pp—Mt 4:18–22; Lk 5:2–11; Jn 1:35–42

14 After Johnr was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,s proclaiming the good news of God.t 15 “The time has come,”u he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believev the good news!”w

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.x

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

1:21–28pp—Lk 4:31–37

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.y 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.z 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us,a Jesus of Nazareth?b Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”c

25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”d 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.e

27 The people were all so amazedf that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole regiong of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many

1:29–31pp—Mt 8:14,15; Lk 4:38,39
1:32–34pp—Mt 8:16,17; Lk 4:40,41

29 As soon as they left the synagogue,h they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up.i The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.j 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.k He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.l

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

1:35–38pp—Lk 4:42,43

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.m 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”n 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogueso and driving out demons.p

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

1:40–44pp—Mt 8:2–4; Lk 5:12–14

40 A man with leprosyh came to him and begged him on his knees,q “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41 Jesus was indignant.i He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone.r But go, show yourself to the priests and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,t as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.u Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.v