Matthew 27:1-6

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

27:1 When 1  it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him. 27:2 They 2  tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate 3  the governor. 4 

Judas’ Suicide

27:3 Now when 5  Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus 6  had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders, 27:4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You take care of it yourself!” 27:5 So 7  Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. 27:6 The 8  chief priests took the silver and said, “It is not lawful to put this into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.”

1 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

3 tc Most mss (A C W Θ 0250 Ë1,13 Ï latt) have Ποντίῳ (Pontiw, “Pontius”) before Πιλάτῳ (Pilatw, “Pilate”), but there seems to be no reason for omitting the tribal name, either intentionally or unintentionally. Adding “Pontius,” however, is a natural expansion on the text, and is in keeping with several other NT and patristic references to the Roman governor (cf. Luke 3:1; Acts 4:27; 1 Tim 6:13; Ign. Magn. 11.1; Ign. Trall. 9.1; Ign. Smyrn. 1.2; Justin Martyr, passim). The shorter reading, supported by א B L 0281 33 pc co, is thus strongly preferred.

4 sn The Jews most assuredly wanted to put Jesus to death, but they lacked the authority to do so. For this reason they handed him over to Pilate in hopes of securing a death sentence. The Romans kept close control of the death penalty in conquered territories to prevent it from being used to execute Roman sympathizers.

5 tn Grk “Then when.” Here τότε (tote) has been translated as “now” to indicate a somewhat parenthetical interlude in the sequence of events.

6 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the leaders’ response to Judas.

8 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.