the Fourth Week of Advent
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Matthew 27
1 As soon as it was day, all the chief priests and senators of the people consulted measures against Jesus how they might put him to death. 2 and when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor of Judea. 3 At the same time, Judas who had betrayed him, finding that he was condemned, repented, and carried back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and senators, saying, 4 I have sinned in betraying the blood of the innocent: and they said, what is it to us? you must look to that. 5 then throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 but the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, it is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 and having consulted together, they laid out the money in buying the potter's field, to serve for a burying place for strangers. 8 for this reason the field is called the field of blood to this day. 9 then was fulfilled what Jeremy the prophet said, "and they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price at which he was valued, by the children of Israel, 10 and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."
11 When Jesus appear'd before the governor, the governor asked him, art thou the king of the Jews? and Jesus answer'd yes. 12 but when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he return'd no answer. 13 whereupon Pilate said to him, don't you hear how many things they lay to your charge? 14 but he made no answer to any thing he said, so that the governor was very much surpriz'd. 15 Now it was customary at that feast for the governor to release a prisoner, such as the people should nominate. 16 there happen'd to be then in custody a notorious criminal, nam'd Barabbas. 17 therefore when they were assembled, Pilate said to them, who would you have releas'd? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ? 18 for he was sensible that they had delivered him up out of meer envy. 19 Whilst he was sitting on the tribunal, his wife sent this message to him, pray, have nothing to do with that just man: for to-day I have suffered very much on his account in a dream. 20 but the chief priests and senators persuaded the people to demand Barabbas, and put to death Jesus. 21 the governor therefore having asked, which of the two would you have me release? they said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate replied, what shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ? they all cried out, let him be crucified. 23 the governor said, why, what mischief has he done? but they cried out the more, let him be crucified. 24 Pilate perceiving he was so far from prevailing, that they were more tumultuous, he took water, and washed his hands before all the people, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: you are answerable for it. 25 at this all the people cry'd out, "his blood be on us, and on our children."
26 Then he released to them Barabbas: but he order'd Jesus to be scourged, and delivered up to be crucified. 27 after this the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered all the foot-guards about him. 28 and having stripp'd him, they put on him a scarlet robe. 29 then pleating a crown of thorns, they set it on his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, in mockery, saying, hail king of the Jews. 30 and they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 and after they had thus insulted him, they took the robe off, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 As they were going along, they met a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: and compelled him to carry the cross.
33 when they were come to a place called Golgotha, a word which signifies a skull, 34 they gave him a mixture of wine and gall: but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. 35 after they had crucified him, they shared his clothes among them by casting losts: 36 and they took their post to watch him there. 37 and they set an Inscription over his head, denoting the reason of his execution, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 At the same time, two robbers were crucified with him: one on his right hand, the other on his left. 39 the passengers all the while reviling him, shook their heads at him, 40 and cry'd, you that could destroy the temple, and rebuild it in three days, now save thy self: if thou art the son of God, come down from the cross. 41 the chief priests, with the scribes and senators, derided him in like manner. 42 he saved others, said they, but cannot save himself: if he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 he relied upon God; if he be such a favourite, let God then deliver him: for he us'd to say he was the son of God. 44 one of the robbers too, who were crucified with him, treated him with the same reproach. 45 Now from the sixth hour to the ninth, the whole land was cover'd with darkness. 46 and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI? that is to say, "my God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me?" 47 some of the standers by, when they heard that, said, he calls upon Elias. 48 immediately one of them ran to fetch a spunge, which they steep'd in vinegar, and fastning it to the end of a stick, they presented it to him, to drink: 49 while the rest cry'd, now let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 but Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and then expir'd. 51 Immediately the vail of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom; the earth trembled, the rocks split, 52 the graves opened, and the bodies of many saints who slept arose, 53 and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared to many. 54 now the centurion, and they that were with him, to guard Jesus, having observ'd the earthquake, and all that had happened, were under great apprehensions, and said, certainly this was the son of God. 55 And several women were there who look'd on at a distance, and had followed Jesus from Galilee, to assist him with their service. 56 among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and of Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
57 In the evening a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself was Jesus's disciple, 58 went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus; which Pilate ordered to be delivered to him. 59 Joseph then having taken the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in a monument which he had lately caused to be hewn out in the rock: and having rolled a large stone to the door of the sepulchre, he went away. 61 in the mean time Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary were sitting over against the sepulchre. 62 Now the next day after the preparation of the sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees went together to Pilate, 63 saying, sir, we remember that this impostor, when he was alive, said, "after three days I will rise again." 64 pray therefore order a guard to be posted at the sepulchre till the third day, for fear his disciples should come and steal him away, and then tell the people, "he is risen from the dead:" for this last imposture would be of worse consequence than the first. 65 to whom Pilate replied, you have a guard, go then, and make it as secure as you can. 66 accordingly they went, and having clapt a seal upon the stone, they posted a guard to secure the sepulchre.