Matthew 27 — Clausal Layout (Greek)

independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended

Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)

The dawn council delivers Jesus to Pilate 27:1–2

Πρωΐας δὲ γενομένηςparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on ἔλαβον; dawn makes the night verdict formal

συμβούλιον ἔλαβον πάντες οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ κατὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦindependent — συμβούλιον λαμβάνειν — Matthew's idiom (12:14; 22:15; 27:7; 28:12); πάντες: the leadership entire

ὥστε θανατῶσαι αὐτόν·purpose — ὥστε + infinitive of intended result — the council's single agenda

καὶ δήσαντες αὐτὸνparticipial — preposed participle — he goes to Rome already fettered; leans on ἀπήγαγον

ἀπήγαγονindependent — the transfer to the praetorium

καὶ παρέδωκαν Πιλάτῳ τῷ ἡγεμόνι.independent — παραδίδωμι — the passion's keyword passes to Rome; τῷ ἡγεμόνι, Matthew's running title for Pilate

The end of Judas and the price of blood 27:3–10

vv. 3–5 — the remorse, the returned silver, the noose

Τότε ἰδὼν Ἰούδας ὁ παραδιδοὺς αὐτὸνparticipial — preposed circumstantial — ὁ παραδιδούς, the participle that has named him since 10:4; leans on ἔστρεψεν

ὅτι κατεκρίθηcontent — the verdict registered — the betrayal's outcome now irreversible

μεταμεληθεὶςparticipial — μεταμέλομαι — regret, not the Gospel's μετανοέω; the second preposed participle

ἔστρεψεν τὰ τριάκοντα ἀργύρια τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσιν καὶ πρεσβυτέροιςindependent — the τριάκοντα ἀργύρια of 26:15 (Zech 11:12) come back

λέγων·participial — the speech-frame of the confession

Ἥμαρτονcontent — one bare verb — the betrayer's own verdict on himself

παραδοὺς αἷμα ἀθῷον.participial — means participle — αἷμα ἀθῷον opens the chapter's blood-chain (vv. 6, 8, 24, 25)

οἱ δὲ εἶπαν·independent — the priests' reply — cold procedure

Τί πρὸς ἡμᾶς;content — verbless dismissal — the guilt disowned

σὺ ὄψῃ.content — σὺ ὄψῃ — the evasion Pilate will return to them in the plural (v. 24)

καὶ ῥίψας τὰ ἀργύρια εἰς τὸν ναὸνparticipial — Zech 11:13 — 'I threw them into the house of the LORD'; leans on ἀνεχώρησεν

ἀνεχώρησεν,independent — ἀναχωρέω — Matthew's verb of retreat, here terminal

καὶ ἀπελθὼνparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἀπήγξατο

ἀπήγξατο.independent — ἀπήγξατο — the verb of Ahithophel, David's betrayer (2 Sam 17:23 LXX); contrast Acts 1:18

vv. 6–8 — the scruple, the potter's field, the standing name

οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς λαβόντες τὰ ἀργύριαparticipial — preposed participle — the money handled, the guilt not; leans on εἶπαν

εἶπαν·independent — the deliberation over tainted coin

Οὐκ ἔξεστιν βαλεῖν αὐτὰ εἰς τὸν κορβανᾶν,content — κορβανᾶς — the temple fund (cf. Deut 23:18): scrupulous about coin, careless of blood

ἐπεὶ τιμὴ αἵματός ἐστιν.cause — τιμὴ αἵματος — their own mouths concede the innocent blood of v. 4

συμβούλιον δὲ λαβόντεςparticipial — the idiom of v. 1 again — a council to launder blood-money; leans on ἠγόρασαν

ἠγόρασαν ἐξ αὐτῶν τὸν ἀγρὸν τοῦ κεραμέως εἰς ταφὴν τοῖς ξένοις.independent — ὁ κεραμεύς — Zech 11:13's potter; Jer 18–19 and 32 supply potter, field, and purchase

διὸ ἐκλήθη ὁ ἀγρὸς ἐκεῖνος Ἀγρὸς Αἵματος ἕως τῆς σήμερον.independent — aetiology — ἕως τῆς σήμερον, the narrator's own day (cf. 28:15); Acts 1:19 gives Ἁκελδαμάχ

vv. 9–10 — the last formula quotation: the thirty silver and the potter's field

τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ἰερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος·independent — indicative τότε ἐπληρώθη (as at 2:17) — no ἵνα where human sin does the fulfilling; ascribed to Jeremiah, worded chiefly from Zech 11:12–13: the attribution crux

Καὶ ἔλαβον τὰ τριάκοντα ἀργύρια,content — Zech 11:12 — the shepherd's wage counted out

τὴν τιμὴν τοῦ τετιμημένουphrase modifier — verbless apposition — τιμή/τιμάω cognates pile up: the 'valuing' of the priceless

ὃν ἐτιμήσαντο ἀπὸ υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ,relative — the valuation laid at Israel's own door

καὶ ἔδωκαν αὐτὰ εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν τοῦ κεραμέως,content — Zech 11:13 bent toward Jer 32:6–9's field-purchase — the citation's Jeremian coloring

καθὰ συνέταξέν μοι κύριος.comparative — καθὰ συνέταξεν — Exodus's obedience-formula (Ex 9:12 LXX); even this deed under direction

The governor's question and the great silence 27:11–14

Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἐστάθη ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ ἡγεμόνος·independent — the scene resumes from v. 2 around the Judas panel — the prisoner at the tribunal

καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν ὁ ἡγεμὼνindependent — the Roman examination opens on the political charge

λέγων·participial — pleonastic speech-participle

Σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων;content — emphatic σύ — you, of all people? the title that will stand over the cross (v. 37)

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἔφη·independent — his only word to Rome

Σὺ λέγεις.content — the poised σὺ λέγεις (cf. 26:25, 64) — affirmation laid back on the asker's own words, neither yes nor no

καὶ ἐν τῷ κατηγορεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀρχιερέων καὶ πρεσβυτέρωνphrase modifier — ἐν τῷ + infinitive — forward-leaning time-frame on ἀπεκρίνατο

οὐδὲν ἀπεκρίνατο.independent — the silence of Isa 53:7 begins

τότε λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος·independent — historic present — the probing turns vivid; Matthew's structuring τότε

Οὐκ ἀκούειςcontent — οὐκ expecting yes — surely you hear this

πόσα σου καταμαρτυροῦσιν;content — indirect exclamatory πόσα — the mounting testimony

καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ πρὸς οὐδὲ ἓν ῥῆμα,independent — πρὸς οὐδὲ ἓν ῥῆμα — the silence total, itemized

ὥστε θαυμάζειν τὸν ἡγεμόνα λίαν.purpose — ὥστε + infinitive — actual result (typed pur; no result key): wonder before the silent prisoner

Barabbas or Jesus — the dream, the cry, the hand-washing 27:15–26

vv. 15–18 — the amnesty custom and the choice posed

Κατὰ δὲ ἑορτὴν εἰώθει ὁ ἡγεμὼν ἀπολύειν ἕνα τῷ ὄχλῳ δέσμιονindependent — pluperfect εἰώθει — the narrator's aside on the Passover amnesty

ὃν ἤθελον.relative — the crowd's pick — the custom that will free the notorious

εἶχον δὲ τότε δέσμιον ἐπίσημον λεγόμενον Βαραββᾶν.independent — ἐπίσημος — 'marked'; a noted strand of witnesses reads Ἰησοῦν Βαραββᾶν, sharpening 'which Jesus?' (vv. 17, 22)

συνηγμένων οὖν αὐτῶνparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on εἶπεν

εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος·independent — the choice put to the crowd

Τίνα θέλετε ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν, Βαραββᾶν ἢ Ἰησοῦν τὸν λεγόμενον χριστόν;content — θέλετε + deliberative subjunctive — the alternative posed as if the answer were safe

ᾔδει γὰρcause — narrator's γάρ — the ground of the maneuver

ὅτι διὰ φθόνον παρέδωκαν αὐτόν.content — διὰ φθόνον — the motive diagnosed: envy, not justice

v. 19 — the dream on the judgment seat

Καθημένου δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματοςparticipial — genitive absolute — the warning lands mid-verdict, on the βῆμα itself; leans on ἀπέστειλεν

ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦindependent — Matthew's insertion — the one voice raised for Jesus in the whole trial

λέγουσα·participial — the speech-frame of the warning

Μηδὲν σοὶ καὶ τῷ δικαίῳ ἐκείνῳ·content — verbless idiom (μηδὲν σοὶ καί…) — δίκαιος: the chapter's verdict on Jesus, from a pagan dreamer

πολλὰ γὰρ ἔπαθον σήμερον κατ' ὄναρ δι' αὐτόν.cause — κατ' ὄναρ — the revelatory dreams of chs. 1–2 return at the passion

vv. 20–23 — the incited crowd chooses

Οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἔπεισαν τοὺς ὄχλουςindependent — ἔπεισαν — the mob managed from above

ἵνα αἰτήσωνται τὸν Βαραββᾶν,purpose — ἵνα after πείθω — the persuasion's double aim: first the release

τὸν δὲ Ἰησοῦν ἀπολέσωσιν.purpose — ἀπολέσωσιν — the verb of Herod (2:13) and the Pharisees' plot (12:14): the long design's last step

ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἡγεμὼνparticipial — preposed pleonastic participle — leans on εἶπεν

εἶπεν αὐτοῖς·independent — the question renewed

Τίνα θέλετε ἀπὸ τῶν δύο ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν;content — ἀπὸ τῶν δύο — the choice forced to its either/or

οἱ δὲ εἶπαν·independent — the crowd answers as coached (v. 20)

Τὸν Βαραββᾶν.content — verbless — one name; the notorious over the Christ

λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος·independent — historic present — the exchange quickens

Τί οὖν ποιήσω Ἰησοῦν τὸν λεγόμενον χριστόν;content — deliberative subjunctive — the fate handed to the crowd

λέγουσιν πάντες·independent — historic present; πάντες — the unanimity v. 25 will make total

Σταυρωθήτω.content — third-person passive imperative — the cross named for the first time in the chapter

ὁ δὲ ἔφη·independent — the protest of innocence

Τί γὰρ κακὸν ἐποίησεν;content — γάρ in a question — no crime found, and none named

οἱ δὲ περισσῶς ἔκραζονindependent — iterative imperfect — argument answered by volume

λέγοντες·participial — the speech-frame of the chant

Σταυρωθήτω.content — the chant verbatim — repetition is the crowd's only reason

vv. 24–26 — the hand-washing, the blood cry, the handover

Ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Πιλᾶτοςparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἀπενίψατο

ὅτι οὐδὲν ὠφελεῖcontent — the object of the seeing — persuasion spent

ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον θόρυβος γίνεται,content — θόρυβος — the tumult the leaders had feared to cause (26:5) now serves them

λαβὼν ὕδωρparticipial — second preposed participle — leans on ἀπενίψατο

ἀπενίψατο τὰς χεῖρας ἀπέναντι τοῦ ὄχλουindependent — the rite of Deut 21:6–7 and Ps 26:6 — innocence claimed by gesture, not by verdict

λέγων·participial — the speech-frame

Ἀθῷός εἰμι ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος τούτου·content — ἀθῷος — Judas's word (v. 4) on Pilate's lips; some witnesses read 'this righteous blood'

ὑμεῖς ὄψεσθε.content — ὑμεῖς ὄψεσθε — the priests' evasion (v. 4) returned in the plural; no one will hold the blood

καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς πᾶς ὁ λαὸςparticipial — πᾶς ὁ λαός — no longer ὄχλος but λαός, the covenant word; leans on εἶπεν

εἶπεν·independent — the answer history has trembled at

Τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἐφ' ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ τέκνα ἡμῶν.content — verbless blood-formula (2 Sam 1:16; Jer 26:15) — the chapter's blood-chain closes in self-imprecation; a verse tragically abused against the Jewish people, in Matthew a bounded narrative irony

τότε ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν,independent — the guilty freed

τὸν δὲ Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσαςparticipial — φραγελλόω (Lat. flagellare) — the participle carries the object of παρέδωκεν; the lashing that preceded crucifixion

παρέδωκενindependent — παρέδωκεν — the chain complete: Judas to priests, priests to Pilate, Pilate to the cross

ἵνα σταυρωθῇ.purpose — the sentence in a purpose clause — Rome's verb takes over

The soldiers' mockery 27:27–31

Τότε οἱ στρατιῶται τοῦ ἡγεμόνος παραλαβόντες τὸν Ἰησοῦν εἰς τὸ πραιτώριονparticipial — preposed circumstantial — indoors, out of the crowd's sight; leans on συνήγαγον

συνήγαγον ἐπ' αὐτὸν ὅλην τὴν σπεῖραν.independent — hyperbolic 'whole' σπεῖρα, nominally 600 — a garrison's sport

καὶ ἐκδύσαντες αὐτὸνparticipial — preposed participle — leans on περιέθηκαν

χλαμύδα κοκκίνην περιέθηκαν αὐτῷ,independent — χλαμὺς κοκκίνη — a trooper's red cloak standing in for imperial purple (Mark's πορφύρα)

καὶ πλέξαντες στέφανον ἐξ ἀκανθῶνparticipial — preposed participle — στέφανος, the victor's wreath, in thorn; leans on ἐπέθηκαν

ἐπέθηκαν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ κάλαμον ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ αὐτοῦ,independent — crown and mock-scepter — the regalia complete

καὶ γονυπετήσαντες ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦparticipial — preposed manner participle — the obeisance that is unwittingly due; leans on ἐνέπαιξαν

ἐνέπαιξαν αὐτῷindependent — ἐμπαίζω — the third passion-prediction's own verb (20:19), now enacted

λέγοντες·participial — the speech-frame of the acclamation

Χαῖρε, βασιλεῦ τῶν Ἰουδαίων,content — the Ave Caesar parodied — Pilate's question (v. 11) become a barracks liturgy

καὶ ἐμπτύσαντες εἰς αὐτὸνparticipial — Isa 50:6 — the servant spat upon; leans on ἔλαβον

ἔλαβον τὸν κάλαμονindependent — the scepter reclaimed as a rod

καὶ ἔτυπτον εἰς τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ.independent — iterative imperfect — the homage turned to blows

καὶ ὅτε ἐνέπαιξαν αὐτῷ,conditional — temporal ὅτε (typed cnd; no temporal key) — the sport concluded

ἐξέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὴν χλαμύδαindependent — the costume reclaimed

καὶ ἐνέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ,independent — re-clothed for the road — the garments soon to be diced for (v. 35)

καὶ ἀπήγαγον αὐτὸνindependent — ἀπήγαγον — the verb of v. 2 resumed: the last remove

εἰς τὸ σταυρῶσαι.purpose — εἰς τό + infinitive — the purpose stated without comment

Golgotha — crucified between two robbers 27:32–38

vv. 32–34 — Simon conscripted; the drugged wine refused

Ἐξερχόμενοι δὲparticipial — preposed participle — outside the city (cf. Heb 13:12); leans on εὗρον

εὗρον ἄνθρωπον Κυρηναῖον ὀνόματι Σίμωνα·independent — a pilgrim from North Africa pulled from the crowd

τοῦτον ἠγγάρευσανindependent — ἀγγαρεύω — the requisition-verb of 5:41: the forced mile at its darkest

ἵνα ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ.purpose — αἴρω τὸν σταυρόν — the discipleship phrase of 16:24, enacted under compulsion

Καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τόπον λεγόμενον Γολγοθᾶ,participial — preposed participle — forward-leaning on ἔδωκαν (v. 34)

ὅ ἐστιν Κρανίου Τόπος λεγόμενος,phrase modifier — the Aramaic name glossed for Greek readers

ἔδωκαν αὐτῷ πιεῖν οἶνον μετὰ χολῆς μεμιγμένον·independent — χολή — Ps 69:21's own word ('gall for my food'), sharpening Mark's myrrh toward the psalm

καὶ γευσάμενοςparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἠθέλησεν

οὐκ ἠθέλησεν πιεῖν.independent — the narcotic refused — death met with senses unclouded (cf. 26:29)

vv. 35–38 — the dividing, the watch, the titulus, the two robbers

σταυρώσαντες δὲ αὐτὸνparticipial — the crucifixion itself in a subordinate participle — no description at all

διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦindependent — Ps 22:18 — the psalm's wording absorbed uncited (the Byzantine citation-plus is omitted)

βάλλοντες κλῆρον,participial — manner participle — the soldiers dice beneath the cross

καὶ καθήμενοιparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἐτήρουν

ἐτήρουν αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ.independent — τηρέω, Matthew alone — these watchers become the confessors of v. 54

καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἐπάνω τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ τὴν αἰτίαν αὐτοῦ γεγραμμένην·independent — the titulus — the legal αἰτία posted over the cross

Οὗτός ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων.content — Matthew alone adds the name — 'This is Jesus': the charge is, ironically, the truth

Τότε σταυροῦνται σὺν αὐτῷ δύο λῃσταί,independent — historic present — λῃσταί, brigands of Barabbas's kind; numbered with transgressors (Isa 53:12)

εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων.phrase modifier — verbless — the places the sons of Zebedee asked for (20:21, 23)

The threefold mockery 27:39–44

vv. 39–40 — the passers-by

Οἱ δὲ παραπορευόμενοι ἐβλασφήμουν αὐτὸνindependent — ἐβλασφήμουν — the blasphemy charge (26:65) inverted onto the mockers

κινοῦντες τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶνparticipial — Ps 22:7 — the scorners' gesture from the psalm

καὶ λέγοντες·participial — the speech-frame of the first taunt

Ὁ καταλύων τὸν ναὸν καὶ ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις οἰκοδομῶν,content — verbless jeer — the garbled temple-saying of 26:61 thrown back

σῶσον σεαυτόν·content — σῴζω — the taunt's imperative, the word of his healings and his name (1:21)

εἰ υἱὸς εἶ τοῦ θεοῦ,conditional — the tempter's protasis verbatim (4:3, 6) — forward-leaning on κατάβηθι; the last temptation is the cross

κατάβηθι ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦ.content — the apodosis — the descent demanded as proof

vv. 41–43 — the chief priests with scribes and elders

ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἐμπαίζοντες μετὰ τῶν γραμματέων καὶ πρεσβυτέρωνparticipial — preposed circumstantial — the second wave, the professionals; leans on ἔλεγον

ἔλεγον·independent — iterative imperfect — they mock to one another, not to him

Ἄλλους ἔσωσεν,content — fronted Ἄλλους — an unwitting confession of his work

ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται σῶσαι·content — truer than they know — saving others is why he does not save himself (20:28)

βασιλεὺς Ἰσραήλ ἐστιν,content — the title shifted from Pilate's 'of the Jews' to Israel's own idiom — in scorn

καταβάτω νῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ σταυροῦcontent — third-person imperative — νῦν: the sign demanded on their schedule

καὶ πιστεύσομεν ἐπ' αὐτόν.content — sight demanded before faith — the Gospel's order inverted

πέποιθεν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν,content — Ps 22:8 — the psalm's mockers speak their assigned lines (cf. Wis 2:18–20)

ῥυσάσθω νῦνcontent — Ps 22:8 continued — ῥυσάσθω, 'let him deliver him'

εἰ θέλει αὐτόν·conditional — backward protasis, anchored — Ps 22:8's ὅτι θέλει αὐτόν made a sneering condition

εἶπεν γὰρcause — the mockers' γάρ — the sonship claim cited as the charge

ὅτι Θεοῦ εἰμι υἱός.content — ὅτι recitative; Θεοῦ fronted — cf. 26:63–64: the trial's claim requoted at the cross

v. 44 — the robbers

τὸ δ' αὐτὸ καὶ οἱ λῃσταὶ οἱ συσταυρωθέντες σὺν αὐτῷ ὠνείδιζον αὐτόν.independent — the third wave — even the co-crucified (contrast Luke 23:39–43); the rejection total

The darkness and the cry — the death of Jesus 27:45–50

Ἀπὸ δὲ ἕκτης ὥρας σκότος ἐγένετο ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἕως ὥρας ἐνάτης.independent — Amos 8:9 — sun down at noon; judgment-darkness over γῆ, land or earth

περὶ δὲ τὴν ἐνάτην ὥραν ἀνεβόησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς φωνῇ μεγάλῃindependent — ἀναβοάω φωνῇ μεγάλῃ — a shout, not a whisper; his first word since v. 11

λέγων·participial — the speech-frame of the only word from the cross

Ηλι ηλι λεμα σαβαχθανι;content — Ps 22:1 — Hebraizing Ηλι (against Mark's Aramaic Ελωι), easing the Elijah-mishearing of v. 47; the psalm prayed, not merely fulfilled

τοῦτ' ἔστιν·phrase modifier — Matthew's gloss-formula on the transliterated cry

Θεέ μου θεέ μου, ἱνατί με ἐγκατέλιπες;content — rare vocative Θεέ — the dereliction real, yet still 'my God': abandonment addressed to the Abandoner

τινὲς δὲ τῶν ἐκεῖ ἑστηκότων ἀκούσαντεςparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἔλεγον

ἔλεγονindependent — the mishearing begins

ὅτι Ἠλίαν φωνεῖ οὗτος.content — Ηλι heard as Ἠλίας — the rescuer-prophet (Mal 4:5) heard where God is being addressed

καὶ εὐθέως δραμὼν εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶνparticipial — the first of four preposed participles stacked before the verb

καὶ λαβὼν σπόγγονparticipial — the second

πλήσας τε ὄξουςparticipial — ὄξος — the soldiers' posca; Ps 69:21's second cup, after the gall of v. 34

καὶ περιθεὶς καλάμῳparticipial — the fourth — leans on ἐπότιζεν

ἐπότιζεν αὐτόν.independent — conative imperfect — 'tried to give'

οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ ἔλεγον·independent — the deathbed made a spectacle; after this verse major witnesses insert the spear-thrust of John 19:34 — omitted with the editions

Ἄφες ἴδωμενcontent — ἄφες + hortatory subjunctive

εἰ ἔρχεται Ἠλίας σώσων αὐτόν.content — indirect question; future participle σώσων — σῴζω again (vv. 40, 42): the rescue that will not come

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν κράξας φωνῇ μεγάλῃparticipial — the second great cry — strength where the crucified should have none; leans on ἀφῆκεν

ἀφῆκεν τὸ πνεῦμα.independent — ἀφῆκεν active — not 'expired' but 'let go': the death willed, not merely suffered (cf. John 19:30)

The torn veil, the opened tombs, the centurion's confession 27:51–54

Καὶ ἰδοὺ τὸ καταπέτασμα τοῦ ναοῦ ἐσχίσθη ἀπ' ἄνωθεν ἕως κάτω εἰς δύο,independent — ἰδού + divine passive — torn from the top: God's side; the way opened (cf. Heb 10:19–20)

καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐσείσθη,independent — σείω — Matthew's earthquake-motif (8:24; 21:10; 28:2, 4): creation registers the death

καὶ αἱ πέτραι ἐσχίσθησαν,independent — σχίζω again — veil and rock torn by the same verb

καὶ τὰ μνημεῖα ἀνεῴχθησανindependent — Ezek 37:12–13 — 'I will open your graves'; the divine passives continue

καὶ πολλὰ σώματα τῶν κεκοιμημένων ἁγίων ἠγέρθησαν,independent — Matthew's most disputed pericope — the death itself already raises the dead; κεκοιμημένων, the sleep of Dan 12:2

καὶ ἐξελθόντες ἐκ τῶν μνημείων μετὰ τὴν ἔγερσιν αὐτοῦparticipial — μετὰ τὴν ἔγερσιν αὐτοῦ — the clause guarding Christ's priority as firstfruits (1 Cor 15:20); leans on εἰσῆλθον

εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν πόλινindependent — ἡ ἁγία πόλις (4:5) — Jerusalem still 'holy' after the blood cry of v. 25

καὶ ἐνεφανίσθησαν πολλοῖς.independent — ἐμφανίζω — the sign narrated deadpan; the layout keeps it as narrated, not argued

Ὁ δὲ ἑκατόνταρχος καὶ οἱ μετ' αὐτοῦ τηροῦντες τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἰδόντες τὸν σεισμὸν καὶ τὰ γενόμεναparticipial — the watchers of v. 36 — in Matthew the whole squad sees; leans on ἐφοβήθησαν

ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα,independent — ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα — the fear of theophany (17:6)

λέγοντες·participial — the confession-frame

Ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς ἦν οὗτος.content — θεοῦ υἱός anarthrous but fronted — Gentile executioners confess what the mockers made a taunt (vv. 40, 43)

The women watching from afar 27:55–56

Ἦσαν δὲ ἐκεῖ γυναῖκες πολλαὶ ἀπὸ μακρόθεν θεωροῦσαι,independent — periphrastic imperfect — the faithful watchers where the Twelve have fled (26:56)

αἵτινες ἠκολούθησαν τῷ Ἰησοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίαςrelative — ἀκολουθέω — the discipleship verb, held by the women

διακονοῦσαι αὐτῷ·participial — διακονέω — the service-verb (20:26–28) that names their following

ἐν αἷς ἦν Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωσὴφ μήτηρ καὶ ἡ μήτηρ τῶν υἱῶν Ζεβεδαίου.relative — the witnesses named — the two Marys anchor cross, burial (v. 61), and empty tomb (28:1)

The burial by Joseph of Arimathea 27:57–61

Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένηςparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on ἦλθεν; burial before sundown

ἦλθεν ἄνθρωπος πλούσιος ἀπὸ Ἁριμαθαίας, τοὔνομα Ἰωσήφ,independent — πλούσιος — Matthew's word where Mark has 'council member': Isa 53:9, 'with a rich man in his death'

ὃς καὶ αὐτὸς ἐμαθητεύθη τῷ Ἰησοῦ·relative — μαθητεύω — Matthew's discipling-verb (13:52; 28:19)

οὗτος προσελθὼν τῷ Πιλάτῳparticipial — preposed participle — the bold request; leans on ᾐτήσατο

ᾐτήσατο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ.independent — σῶμα — the request that spares Jesus the criminals' pit

τότε ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἐκέλευσεν ἀποδοθῆναι.independent — ἀποδοθῆναι — 'given back,' as if owed; Rome's last ruling on the case

καὶ λαβὼν τὸ σῶμα ὁ Ἰωσὴφparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἐνετύλιξεν

ἐνετύλιξεν αὐτὸ ἐν σινδόνι καθαρᾷ,independent — σινδὼν καθαρά — Matthew alone notes the cleanness: purity about the defiled corpse

καὶ ἔθηκεν αὐτὸ ἐν τῷ καινῷ αὐτοῦ μνημείῳindependent — καινῷ αὐτοῦ — new, and his own: Matthew's additions; no prior dead, no confusion of bodies

ὃ ἐλατόμησεν ἐν τῇ πέτρᾳ,relative — a sealed single-entrance chamber — the stage set for the guard and for 28:2

καὶ προσκυλίσας λίθον μέγαν τῇ θύρᾳ τοῦ μνημείουparticipial — λίθον μέγαν — 'great,' Matthew's touch; preposed on ἀπῆλθεν

ἀπῆλθεν.independent — the burial complete — one word of departure

ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ Μαριὰμ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ ἡ ἄλλη Μαρία καθήμεναι ἀπέναντι τοῦ τάφου.independent — periphrastic — the two Marys mark the spot; the chain of witness runs unbroken to 28:1

The guard at the tomb 27:62–66

Τῇ δὲ ἐπαύριον,phrase modifier — dative of time — forward-leaning on συνήχθησαν; the Sabbath itself, unnamed

ἥτις ἐστὶν μετὰ τὴν παρασκευήν,relative — the periphrasis avoids saying 'Sabbath' of this errand to Pilate

συνήχθησαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι πρὸς Πιλᾶτονindependent — the Pharisees' only appearance in the passion — the old coalition reassembled at the tomb

λέγοντες·participial — the anxious petition

Κύριε, ἐμνήσθημενcontent — the enemies remember the three-day saying — the disciples have forgotten it

ὅτι ἐκεῖνος ὁ πλάνος εἶπεν ἔτι ζῶν·content — ὁ πλάνος — 'the deceiver'; ἔτι ζῶν concedes the death is real

Μετὰ τρεῖς ἡμέρας ἐγείρομαι.content — the predictions of 16:21; 17:23; 20:19 quoted back — futuristic present ἐγείρομαι

κέλευσον οὖν ἀσφαλισθῆναι τὸν τάφον ἕως τῆς τρίτης ἡμέρας,content — ἀσφαλίζω — the securing-verb that tolls through vv. 64–66

μήποτε ἐλθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ κλέψωσιν αὐτὸνpurpose — μήποτε — the theft-theory feared here is the one bribed into circulation at 28:13

καὶ εἴπωσιν τῷ λαῷ·purpose — τῷ λαῷ — the same λαός that took the blood (v. 25)

Ἠγέρθη ἀπὸ τῶν νεκρῶν,content — the feared announcement — verbatim the angel's word at 28:7

καὶ ἔσται ἡ ἐσχάτη πλάνη χείρων τῆς πρώτης.purpose — πλάνη echoes πλάνος — for Matthew the real deception is the guards' bought story (28:15)

ἔφη αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος·independent — the last exchange with Rome

Ἔχετε κουστωδίαν·content — κουστωδία (Lat. custodia) — 'take a guard' or 'you have your own': the Latinism kept ambiguous

ὑπάγετε ἀσφαλίσασθεcontent — asyndetic double imperative — Pilate washes his hands of this too

ὡς οἴδατε.comparative — ὡς οἴδατε — dry: however secure you can make it

οἱ δὲ πορευθέντεςparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἠσφαλίσαντο

ἠσφαλίσαντο τὸν τάφονindependent — the third ἀσφαλίζω — sealed against the very act that needs no open door (28:2, 6)

σφραγίσαντες τὸν λίθον μετὰ τῆς κουστωδίας.participial — σφραγίσαντες — the seal of Dan 6:17 on the lions' den; every precaution now serves the resurrection's evidence

Analysis. Matthew 27 runs on Mark 15's paratactic rails — flush-left aorists with preposed participles and genitive absolutes leaning forward on their verbs (Πρωΐας δὲ γενομένης, συνηγμένων οὖν αὐτῶν, Καθημένου δὲ αὐτοῦ, Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης), all speech hanging blue beneath its verb of saying — but nearly everything Matthew adds tightens one theme: responsibility for innocent blood. The tags trace the chain the layout exposes: Judas's αἷμα ἀθῷον (v. 4), the priests' τιμὴ αἵματος (v. 6), the Ἀγρὸς Αἵματος named ἕως τῆς σήμερον (v. 8), the wife's dream-warning about τῷ δικαίῳ ἐκείνῳ (v. 19), Pilate's Ἀθῷός εἰμι ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος τούτου (v. 24), and the people's τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἐφ' ἡμᾶς (v. 25) — with the evasion σὺ ὄψῃ / ὑμεῖς ὄψεσθε handed from priests to Judas and from Pilate to people: everyone consigns the blood to someone else, and no one is clean. Into the Judas panel Matthew sets his last formula quotation (vv. 9–10), shaped as at 2:17: indicative τότε ἐπληρώθη flush left — no ἵνα where human sin does the fulfilling — with the citation as content beneath λέγοντος, ascribed to Jeremiah though worded chiefly from Zech 11:12–13 with Jeremian motifs (potter, field, purchase), the famous attribution crux named without being solved. The Psalm 22 substructure carries the cross: parted garments (v. 35), wagging heads (v. 39), the leaders' πέποιθεν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν, ῥυσάσθω νῦν (v. 43 = Ps 22:8, the chapter's one near-verbatim taunt-citation), and the ninth-hour cry itself (v. 46 = Ps 22:1) — Hebraizing Ηλι ηλι rather than Mark's Aramaic Ελωι, easing the Ἠλίαν mishearing of v. 47, with Matthew's gloss (τοῦτ' ἔστιν) hanging beneath the glossed cry; the gall of v. 34 and the ὄξος of v. 48 sound Ps 69:21, and εἰ υἱὸς εἶ τοῦ θεοῦ (v. 40, paraphrased v. 43) replays the tempter's protasis of 4:3, 6 at the cross. Cruxes kept honest: Σὺ λέγεις (v. 11) keeps its studied poise, affirmation laid back on the asker; ἀφῆκεν τὸ πνεῦμα (v. 50) is active — he lets his spirit go, a willed death, not mere expiry; the opened tombs and raised saints (vv. 51–53) stand as bare coordinate divine passives, with μετὰ τὴν ἔγερσιν αὐτοῦ guarding the risen Christ's priority — Matthew's most disputed pericope, laid out as narrated, not argued; the centurion's θεοῦ υἱός (v. 54) is anarthrous but emphatically fronted, the taunt of vv. 40 and 43 returned as confession; the 'Jesus Barabbas' reading at vv. 16–17 and the spear-thrust interpolation after v. 49 are noted and not printed; and the guard pericope (vv. 62–66), Matthew's own, closes the chapter on πλάνος/πλάνη — the 'last deception' the priests fear becomes the irony of 28:11–15, since the sealed and watched tomb only strengthens the witness it was hired to prevent.