Matthew 27 1

Matthew 27:1 kjv

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

Matthew 27:1 nkjv

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.

Matthew 27:1 niv

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed.

Matthew 27:1 esv

When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

Matthew 27:1 nlt

Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death.

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 1 Meaning

This verse marks a critical transition in the Passion narrative, describing the Jewish Sanhedrin's unanimous and definitive decision, reconvened early in the morning, to condemn Jesus to death. It sets the stage for Jesus's handover to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, as the Jewish authorities lacked the power to carry out capital punishment under Roman occupation.

Matthew 27 1 Context

Matthew 27:1 immediately follows the Jewish night trial of Jesus, which culminated in His condemnation for blasphemy by the Sanhedrin (Matt 26:57-68). This morning meeting signifies a crucial step: the religious leaders, having rendered their verdict, now needed to legally hand Jesus over to the Roman civil authority to execute the capital punishment. Jewish law under Roman rule prohibited them from carrying out executions directly. The early hour reflects their urgency to dispatch Jesus before any potential public uprising, especially given the Passover feast was underway. It also likely served as a formal confirmation of the irregular night trial's verdict to adhere to some semblance of legal procedure for public appearance and Roman handover. This verse begins the account of Jesus's formal Roman trial and ultimate crucifixion.

Matthew 27 1 Word analysis

• When the morning was come (Greek: πρωΐα δὲ γενομένης, prōïa de genomenēs): This phrase specifies the time—early dawn, just as the previous night of betrayal, arrest, and Jewish trial concludes. The timing is significant; it underscores the haste and determination of the Sanhedrin to quickly finalize their proceedings against Jesus. For capital cases, Jewish legal tradition generally required trials to be conducted during the day and not on the eve of a Sabbath or major festival. This early morning reconvening or ratification implies their malicious intent, overriding careful deliberation for swift action to secure a death sentence before public sentiment could shift or Roman authorities fully engaged in other festival matters.
• all (Greek: πάντες, pantes): This word emphasizes the overwhelming consensus or unified opposition from the collective Jewish leadership. While some individual members of the Sanhedrin might have privately dissented (e.g., Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea), "all" here reflects the public, corporate decision of the body present. It signifies a profound and widespread rejection of Jesus by the religious establishment of Israel.
• the chief priests (Greek: οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς, hoi archiereis): This group comprised the high priest (Caiaphas at the time), former high priests, and members of their powerful families, primarily Sadducees. They held significant political and religious influence, deeply invested in maintaining the status quo with Rome and preserving their own power and Temple cult. They saw Jesus as a threat to their authority and the stability they precariously held.
• and elders of the people (Greek: καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ, kai hoi presbyteroi tou laou): This refers to respected, influential lay leaders, many of whom were wealthy and aristocratic, and sometimes associated with the Pharisaic party, though the "elders" generally represented a broader social class than the "chief priests." Together with the chief priests and scribes (implied, often grouped with elders), they formed the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish judicial and administrative council. Their involvement signifies broad leadership support for the condemnation.
• took counsel (Greek: συμβούλιον ἔλαβον, symboulion elabon - literally "held a consultation" or "formed a resolution"): This indicates a formal session or deliberative meeting of the Sanhedrin. It wasn't an informal discussion but a resolution agreed upon by the official governing body. The nature of this "counsel" was not one of impartial justice but of achieving a predetermined outcome.
• against Jesus (Greek: κατὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, kata tou Iēsou): The preposition kata means "against" or "down upon," emphasizing their direct adversarial posture and malicious intent directed specifically towards Jesus. It underscores the targeted nature of their gathering.
• to put him to death (Greek: ὥστε θανατῶσαι αὐτόν, hōste thanatōsai auton): This phrase unequivocally states their ultimate, desired outcome: capital punishment. It confirms their premeditated resolve to eliminate Jesus. Because only the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate, held the jus gladii (right of the sword or capital punishment authority) in Judea, their decision meant they must present Jesus to Pilate with an accusation sufficient for Roman execution. Their charge against Jesus, initially religious (blasphemy), would have to be reframed as a political threat (sedition) to secure the death penalty from Rome.

Matthew 27 1 Bonus section

• Illegality of the Trial: According to later Jewish Mishnaic law (which may reflect earlier customs), a capital trial had strict rules that appear to have been violated in Jesus's case: trials could not be held at night, verdicts had to be given in daylight, and an immediate execution was prohibited (requiring at least one day for reconsideration). The swiftness and nocturnal setting of the first session, followed by the hurried morning re-assembly, suggest the leaders were operating outside, or stretching, traditional legal bounds to achieve their objective quickly.
• Symbolic Significance of Morning: The break of day, often symbolizing new beginnings or light after darkness, here contrasts sharply with the sinister, life-ending agenda of the religious authorities. Light reveals truth, yet in this "morning," the darkness of human sin and conspiracy triumphs for a time over the light of the world.
• Shift in Jurisdiction: This verse formally initiates the transfer of jurisdiction from the Jewish Sanhedrin to the Roman procurator, a move dictated by Rome's curtailment of the Sanhedrin's power to inflict capital punishment. This transfer was pivotal in fulfilling prophecy regarding the manner of Jesus's death (crucifixion, a Roman method), and allowing His blood to be upon Gentiles, not just Jews, for wider spiritual implications.

Matthew 27 1 Commentary

Matthew 27:1 acts as the critical bridge connecting Jesus's religious trial to His civil trial, ushering in the climactic phase of His Passion. Following the chaotic and illicit night-time condemnation for blasphemy by the Sanhedrin, this verse records their formal morning assembly. The assembly was essential, either to rubber-stamp the previous night's verdict according to Jewish procedural law that forbade capital trials at night, or simply to strategize the next steps in presenting Jesus to Pilate. The collective action of "all the chief priests and elders" underscores the deep-seated institutional opposition to Jesus, an opposition fueled by fear of losing their power, Roman favor, and the status quo. Their singular focus "to put him to death" reveals the malicious intent that permeated their actions. They sought not justice but annihilation. This verse perfectly sets the scene for Jesus to be delivered into Gentile hands, fulfilling Jesus's own prophecies (Mt 20:18-19) and divine plans articulated in the Old Testament regarding the Suffering Servant (Isa 53). It highlights the determined resolve of humanity's rulers against God's Anointed, yet, unbeknownst to them, serving God's predetermined will for humanity's salvation (Acts 2:23).