Matthew 26

1After Jesus finished speaking all these words, he told his disciples,

2“You know that in two days it will be the Passover, and the Son of Man is being handed over to be crucified.”

3Then the chief priests and the people’s elders assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, a man named Caiaphas,

4and they made plans to seize Jesus by trickery and put him to death.

5But they kept saying, “Not during the festival, so that there will be no uproar among the people.”

6While Jesus was at the house of Simon the leper in Bethany,

7a woman approached him carrying an alabaster jar of costly perfume, and she poured it over his head while he reclined at the table.

8The disciples saw it and became angry, saying, “What is the point of this waste?

9For this could have been sold for a great deal and the proceeds given to the poor.”

10Jesus knew this and said to them, “Why are you making trouble for the woman? It is a fine thing she has done for me.

11For the poor are always with you, but I will not always be with you.

12In pouring this perfume over my body, she was getting me ready for burial.

13Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in all the world, what this woman did will also be spoken of as a memorial to her.”

14Then one of the Twelve, a man named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

15and said, “What are you prepared to give me? In return I will hand him over to you.” They weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him.

16And from that time he kept looking for the right moment to hand him over.

17On the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where would you like us to get the Passover ready for you to eat?”

18He answered, “Go into the city to a certain person and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is close. I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your place.”’”

19The disciples did what Jesus had instructed them, and they got the Passover ready.

20As evening fell, he took his place at the table with the Twelve.

21During the meal he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

22Greatly distressed, each one of them began to ask him, “It is not me, is it, Lord?”

23He replied, “The man who dipped his hand in the dish along with me—he is the one who will betray me.

24The Son of Man is going away as it has been written of him, but woe to the man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man had he never been born.”

25Then Judas, the one betraying him, said, “It is not me, is it, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You yourself have said it.”

26As they ate, Jesus took a loaf of bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it and eat; this is my body.”

27Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and handed it to them, saying, “All of you, drink from it.

28For this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many so that sins may be forgiven.

29But I tell you, from now on I will never drink this fruit of the vine until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30After they sang a hymn, they left for the Mount of Olives.

31Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away because of me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32But once I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

33Peter answered him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

34Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, tonight, before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

35Peter told him, “Even if I have to die alongside you, I will never deny you!” The disciples all said the same.

36Then Jesus came with them to a place named Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit down here while I go over there and pray.”

37He brought along Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, and he began to feel grief and deep distress.

38Then he said to them, “My soul is crushed with grief, even to death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”

39He went on a short distance, fell facedown, and prayed, “My Father, if it can be done, let this cup pass me by. But let it be not as I want, but as you want.”

40Then he came back to the disciples and found them asleep, and he said to Peter, “Were you really not able to stay awake with me for a single hour?

41Keep awake and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42A second time he went off and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass by without my drinking it, may your will be done.”

43When he came back again, he found them asleep, because their eyes had grown heavy.

44He left them once more, went away, and prayed a third time, repeating the same words.

45Then he came to the disciples and said, “Are you going on sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has drawn near, and the Son of Man is being handed over into the hands of sinners.

46Get up; let us be on our way. Look, the one who is betraying me has drawn near.”

47Just then, while he was still talking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came, and with him came a large crowd carrying swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48The betrayer had given them a signal: “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”

49Immediately he went up to Jesus, said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

50Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here for.” Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.

51At that, one of the men with Jesus put out his hand and pulled out his sword. He struck the high priest’s servant and cut his ear off.

52Then Jesus said to him, “Return your sword to its place, because everyone who takes up a sword will be killed by a sword.

53Or do you suppose I am unable to call on my Father, and he would send me right now more than twelve legions of angels?

54How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that this is how it has to happen?”

55In that same hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Did you come out with swords and clubs to seize me as if I were a bandit? Every day I sat teaching in the temple, and you did not take hold of me.

56But all this has happened so that the Scriptures written by the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then the disciples all abandoned him and ran away.

57The men who had seized Jesus brought him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had come together.

58Peter kept following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat down with the officers to see how things would turn out.

59Meanwhile the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus in order to have him executed,

60yet they found nothing, even though many false witnesses stepped forward. At last two men stepped forward

61and said, “This man claimed, ‘I can tear down God’s temple and build it again within three days.’”

62The high priest rose and said to him, “Are you not going to answer at all? What are these men testifying against you?”

63But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to him, “I command you by the living God to tell us under oath whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64Jesus said to him, “You yourself have said it. But I tell you all, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65Then the high priest ripped his garments and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See, you have heard the blasphemy for yourselves just now.

66What is your opinion?” They answered, “He has earned the death penalty.”

67Next they spat in his face and punched him, while some slapped him,

68and said, “Messiah, prophesy to us! Who was it that struck you?”

69Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over to him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”

70But he denied it in front of everyone: “I have no idea what you are saying.”

71When he had gone out to the gate, another servant girl saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”

72Once again he denied it, swearing an oath: “I do not know the man!”

73A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “It is true—you are one of them too. Even the way you speak makes it obvious.”

74Then he started to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed.

75Peter then recalled the words Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times,” and he went out and wept bitterly.