Matthew 27

“When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” Naming Pilate and Pontius keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty…” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” The line’s distinctive content terms include departed, hanged, pieces. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it…” The line’s distinctive content terms include blood, chief, lawful. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bought, bury, counsel. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the…” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.” The line’s distinctive content terms include accused, chief, elders. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.” The line’s distinctive content terms include governor, greatly, insomuch. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.” The line’s distinctive content terms include feast, governor, people. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.” Naming Barabbas keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man…” Naming Have keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.” Naming Barabbas and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands…” Naming Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” Naming His keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” Naming Barabbas and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.” The line’s distinctive content terms include robe, scarlet, stripped. Its relationship to verses 27 and 29 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed…” Naming Hail and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.” The line’s distinctive content terms include head, reed, smote. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away…” The line’s distinctive content terms include crucify, mocked, raiment. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.” Naming Cyrene and Simon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,” Naming Golgotha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.” The line’s distinctive content terms include drink, gall, gave. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include garments, lots, parted. Its relationship to verses 34 and 36 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And sitting down they watched him there;” The line’s distinctive content terms include sitting, watched. Its relationship to verses 35 and 37 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” The line’s distinctive content terms include accusation, head, JESUS. Its relationship to verses 36 and 38 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,” The line’s distinctive content terms include heads, passed, reviled. Its relationship to verses 38 and 40 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,” Naming Likewise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we…” Naming Israel and King keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.” Naming Son keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include crucified, teeth, thieves. Its relationship to verses 43 and 45 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hour, darkness, land. Its relationship to verses 44 and 46 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.” Naming Elias and Some keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include rent, bottom, earth. Its relationship to verses 50 and 52 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,” The line’s distinctive content terms include arose, bodies, graves. Its relationship to verses 51 and 53 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” The line’s distinctive content terms include appeared, city, graves. Its relationship to verses 52 and 54 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:” Naming Galilee and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.” Naming Mary and Among keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:” Naming Arimath and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,” Naming Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include departed, door, hewn. Its relationship to verses 59 and 61 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.” Naming Mary and Magdalene keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,” Naming Pharisees and Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.” Naming Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.