Yesu Apelekwa Kwa Pilato

27 Asubuhi na mapema, makuhani wakuu wote na wazee walifanya mkutano, wakashauriana jinsi ya kumwua. Wakamfunga, wakampeleka na kumkabidhi kwa Pilato ambaye alikuwa gavana.

Majuto Ya Yuda

Yuda, ambaye alimsaliti Yesu, alipoona kuwa Yesu amehuku miwa alijuta. Akazirudisha zile fedha alizopewa kwa makuhani wakuu na wazee akawaambia, “Nimetenda dhambi kwa maana nimem saliti mtu asiye na hatia.” Wakamjibu, “Hilo latuhusu nini sisi? Ni shauri yako.”

Basi Yuda akazitupa zile fedha Hekaluni, akaondoka; akaenda akajinyonga.

Wale makuhani wakuu wakazichukua zile fedha wakasema, “Si halali kuchanganya fedha hizi na sadaka kwa sababu hizi ni fedha zenye damu.” Kwa hiyo baada ya kujadiliana waliamua kuzitumia kununua shamba la mfinyanzi, liwe mahali pa kuzikia wageni. Kwa hiyo shamba hili limeitwa ‘Shamba la damu’ hadi leo. Ndipo yakatimia yale aliyonena nabii Yeremia kwamba, “Walichukua vile vipande thelathini vya fedha, thamani aliyopangiwa na wana wa Israeli, 10 wakanunulia shamba la mfinyanzi kama Bwana alivyon iagiza.”

Yesu Mbele Ya Pilato

11 Yesu akapelekwa mbele ya gavana naye akamwuliza, “Wewe ndiye mfalme wa Wayahudi?” Yesu akajibu, “Hayo umetamka wewe.” 12 Lakini makuhani wakuu na wazee walipomshtaki kwa mambo mengi hakujibu neno. 13 Ndipo Pilato akamwuliza, “Husikii mambo hayo yote wanayokushtaki nayo?” 14 Lakini Yesu hakujibu neno hata kwa shtaka moja. Gavana akashangaa sana.

15 Kila wakati wa sikukuu, gavana alikuwa na desturi ya kum fungua mfungwa mmoja atakayechaguliwa na watu. 16 Wakati huo alikuwapo mfungwa mmoja mwenye kujulikana sana, aliyeitwa Baraba. 17 Basi watu walipokusanyika, Pilato akawauliza, “Mnataka niwa fungulie nani; Baraba au Yesu aitwaye Kristo?” 18 Kwa sababu alijua kuwa Yesu aliletwa kwake kwa ajili ya wivu wa viongozi wa Wayahudi. 19 Alipokuwa ameketi kwenye kiti cha hukumu, mke wake alimpelekea ujumbe, “Usijihusishe katika kesi ya huyu mtu asiye na hatia. Leo nimehangaika sana katika ndoto kwa ajili yake.”

20 Basi makuhani na wazee wakawashawishi umati wa watu kwamba waombe Baraba afunguliwe na Yesu auawe. 21 Gavana akawau liza tena , “Ni yupi mnataka niwafungulie?” Wakajibu, “Bar aba!” 22 “Sasa nifanye nini na huyu Yesu aitwaye Kristo?” Wakajibu wote , “Asulubiwe!” 23 Akasema, “Kwa nini? Amefanya kosa gani?” Lakini wao wakazidi kupiga kelele, “Asulubiwe.”

24 Pilato alipoona kwamba hakuna zaidi ambalo angeweza kufa nya na kwamba ghasia ilikuwa ikianza, akachukua maji, akanawa mikono mbele yao, akasema, “Sina hatia na damu ya mtu huyu. Jambo hili ni juu yenu.”

Jambo hili ni juu yenu.”

25 Watu wote wakajibu, “Damu yake na iwe juu yetu na juu ya watoto wetu!”

26 Basi akawafungulia Baraba, na baada ya kuamuru Yesu apigwe viboko, akamtoa asulubiwe.

Askari Wamdhihaki Yesu

27 Kisha askari wa gavana wakampeleka Yesu kwenye makao makuu ya gavana wakakusanya kikosi cha askari, wakamzunguka Yesu.

28 Wakamvua nguo zake, wakamvika kanzu ya rangi nyekundu. 29 Wakasokota taji ya miiba wakamvika kichwani. Wakamwekea fimbo mkono wake wa kulia, wakapiga magoti mbele zake wakamdhihaki wakisema, “Uishi maisha marefu, mfalme wa Wayahudi!” 30 Wakamtemea mate, wakachukua ile fimbo wakampiga nayo kich wani. 31 Baada ya kumdhihaki, walimvua ile kanzu, wakamvika tena nguo zake. Kisha wakampeleka kumsulubisha.

Yesu Asulubishwa

32 Walipokuwa wakienda, walikutana na mtu mmoja wa Kirene aitwaye Simoni, wakambebesha ule msalaba kwa nguvu. 33 Na wali pofika sehemu iitwayo Golgotha, maana yake mahali pa Fuvu la Kichwa, 34 wakampa divai iliyochanganywa na nyongo ili anywe; lakini baada ya kuionja, akaikataa.

35 Walipokwisha kumsulubisha wakagawana nguo zake kwa kuzi pigia kura. 36 Kisha wakaketi, wakamchunga. 37 Juu ya kichwa chake, kwenye msalaba, wakaandika shtaka lake: ‘HUYU NI YESU, MFALME WA WAYAHUDI.’ 38 Wanyang’anyi wawili walisulubiwa pamoja naye, mmoja kulia kwake na mwingine kushoto kwake.

39 Watu waliokuwa wakipita njiani walimtukana, wakatikisa vichwa vyao 40 na kusema, “Si ulisema ungevunja Hekalu na kulijenga kwa muda wa siku tatu? Jiokoe basi! Kama wewe ni Mwana wa Mungu shuka msalabani.” 41 Hali kadhalika, makuhani wakuu, walimu wa sheria na wazee walimdhihaki, wakisema, 42 “Aliwaokoa wengine, lakini hawezi kujiokoa mwenyewe. Yeye si Mfalme wa Israeli? Ashuke kutoka msalabani nasi tutamwamini. 43 Anamwamini Mungu; basi Mungu na amwokoe sasa kama anamtaka. Kwa maana alisema, ‘Mimi ni Mwana wa Mungu.’ ” 44 Hata wale wanyang’anyi waliosulubiwa naye walimtukana kwa njia hiyo hiyo.

Kifo Cha Yesu

45 Tangu saa sita mchana mpaka saa tisa, nchi nzima ilikuwa giza. 46 Mnamo saa tisa Yesu akalia kwa sauti kuu, “Eli, Eli lama sabakthani?” Yaani, “Mungu wangu, Mungu wangu, mbona ume niacha?”

47 Baadhi ya watu waliokuwa wamesimama hapo waliposikia haya walisema, “Anamwita Eliya!” 48 Mmoja wao akaenda mbio akaleta sponji akaichovya kwenye siki akaiinua kwa mwanzi akamwekea mdo moni. 49 Lakini wengine wakasema, “Hebu tuone kama Eliya ata kuja kumwokoa.” [Na mwingine akachukua mkuki akamchoma ubavuni, pakatoka maji na damu].

50 Yesu akalia tena kwa sauti kuu, kisha akakata roho. 51 Wakati huo huo pazia la Hekalu likapasuka vipande viwili, kuanzia juu hadi chini. Dunia ikatetemeka na miamba ikapasuka. 52 Makaburi yakafunguka na miili ya watakatifu waliofariki ili fufuka. 53 Walitoka makaburini na Yesu alipofufuka walikwenda Mji Mtakatifu wakawatokea watu wengi. 54 Basi yule jemadari na wale waliokuwa naye wakimlinda Yesu walipoona lile tetemeko na yote yaliyotokea, waliogopa wakasema, “Hakika, huyu alikuwa

Mwana wa Mungu!”

55 Wanawake wengi walio kuwa wamefuatana na Yesu tangu Gali laya wakimhudumia, nao walikuwapo wakitazama kwa mbali yote yali yotokea. 56 Kati yao walikuwapo Mariamu Magdalena, Mariamu mama yake Yakobo na Yusufu na mama yao wana wa Zebedayo.

Yesu Azikwa Kaburini

57 Ilipofika jioni, alifika tajiri mmoja kutoka Arimathea aitwaye Yusufu, ambaye pia alikuwa mwanafunzi wa Yesu. 58 Akaenda kwa Pilato akaomba mwili wa Yesu. Pilato akaamuru apewe. 59-60 Yusufu alichukua mwili wa Yesu akauweka katika sanda safi akauzika katika kaburi lake jipya ambalo lilikuwa limechongwa kwenye mwamba. Kisha akaviringisha jiwe kubwa akafu nika mlango wa kaburi, akaondoka. 61 Mariamu Magdalena na yule Mariamu mwingine walikuwa wamekaa mbele ya kaburi.

Walinzi Wa Kaburi

62 Siku iliyofuata, yaani siku iliyofuata ile siku ya Maan dalizi ya sabato, makuhani wakuu na Mafarisayo walimwendea Pilato 63 wakamwambia, “Tunakumbuka kwamba yule mwongo alisema, ‘Baada ya siku tatu nitafufuka.’ 64 Tunaomba uamuru kwamba kabu ri liwekewe ulinzi hadi siku ya tatu. Vinginevyo wanafunzi wake wanaweza wakaja wakauiba mwili wake na kuwaambia watu kwamba amefufuka. Jambo hili likitokea uongo huu wa mwisho utakuwa mbaya zaidi ya ule wa kwanza.” 65 Pilato akawaambia, “Ninyi mnao askari. Nendeni mkaweke ulinzi, mhakikishe pamekuwa salama kama mpendavyo.” 66 Wakaenda wakaweka ulinzi kaburini, wakaliwekea lile jiwe mhuri na kuwaweka askari walinzi.

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.(A) So they bound him, led him away and handed him over(B) to Pilate the governor.(C)

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

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

So Judas threw the money into the temple(G) and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.(H)

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.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood(I) to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:(J) “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](K)

Jesus Before Pilate(L)

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 prisoner(Q) chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[b] 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 innocent(T) man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream(U) 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 uproar(X) was starting, he took water and washed his hands(Y) in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”(Z) he said. “It is your responsibility!”(AA)

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

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

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(AD)

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium(AE) and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,(AF) 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.(AG) 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.(AH) 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.(AI)

The Crucifixion of Jesus(AJ)

32 As they were going out,(AK) they met a man from Cyrene,(AL) named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.(AM) 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).(AN) 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall;(AO) but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(AP) 36 And sitting down, they kept watch(AQ) 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,(AR) one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads(AS) 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,(AT) save yourself!(AU) Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”(AV) 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!(AW) Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe(AX) in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him(AY) 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(AZ)

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness(BA) 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](BB)

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,(BC) 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.(BD)

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple(BE) was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split(BF) 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 and[e] went into the holy city(BG) and appeared to many people.

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

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

The Burial of Jesus(BL)

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 tomb(BM) 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.’(BN) 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body(BO) 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,”(BP) Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal(BQ) on the stone(BR) and posting the guard.(BS)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:10 See Zech. 11:12,13; Jer. 19:1-13; 32:6-9.
  2. Matthew 27:16 Many manuscripts do not have Jesus; also in verse 17.
  3. Matthew 27:46 Some manuscripts Eloi, Eloi
  4. Matthew 27:46 Psalm 22:1
  5. Matthew 27:53 Or tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they
  6. Matthew 27:56 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph