Matthew 27:1-6

Context

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

27:1 When¹ it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him. 27:2 They² tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate³ the governor.⁴

Judas’ Suicide

27:3 Now when⁵ Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus⁶ 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 So⁷ Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. 27:6 The⁸ chief priests took the silver and said, “It is not lawful to put this into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.”

[27:1] ¹tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:2] ²tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:2] ³tc Most mss (A C W Θ 0250 Ë^1,13 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.

[27:2] ⁴sn 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.

[27:3] ⁵tn Grk “Then when.” Here τότε (tote) has been translated as “now” to indicate a somewhat parenthetical interlude in the sequence of events.

[27:3] ⁶tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[27:5] ⁷tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the leaders’ response to Judas.

[27:6] ⁸tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.