Matthew 26
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples:
2 “You know that the Passover is in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
4 They plotted together to seize Jesus by deceit and kill him.
5 But they said, “Not during the festival, so there won’t be an uproar among the people.”
6 Jesus was in Bethany, at the house of Simon the leper.
7 A woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume and poured it on his head while he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, “Why this waste?
9 This could have been sold for a high price and given to the poor.”
10 Jesus noticed and said to them, “Why are you troubling the woman? She has done a good thing for me.
11 You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
12 By pouring this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed throughout the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
14 Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15 and said, “What will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him.
16 From then on, he looked for a good opportunity to hand him over.
17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you to eat?”
18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: “My time is near. I will celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”
19 The disciples did as Jesus had instructed them and prepared the Passover meal.
20 When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
21 As they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will hand me over.”
22 Deeply saddened, they began to ask him one by one, “Surely it isn’t me, Lord?”
23 He replied, “The one who dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will hand me over.
24 The Son of Man will go, just as it is written about him; but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is handed over! It would have been better for him if that man had never been born.”
25 Judas, the one who was handing him over, asked, “Surely it isn’t me, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”
26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28 For this is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you, from now on I will not drink again from this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all stumble because of me tonight, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
33 Peter answered him, “Even if everyone stumbles because of you, I will never stumble.”
34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
35 Peter said to him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.”
37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and began to feel sorrow and anguish.
38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 He went a little farther, fell facedown, and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I want, but as you want.”
40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “So, couldn’t you keep watch with me for one hour?
41 Keep watch and pray so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away again, a second time, and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, let your will be done.”
43 He came back again and found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
44 He left them, went away again, and prayed a third time, saying the same words again.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is being handed over into the hands of sinners.
46 Get up, let’s go! Look, the one who is handing me over is near.”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, and with him was a large crowd carrying swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 The one who was handing him over had given them a sign: “The one I kiss is the man; seize him.”
49 At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” Then he kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then they came forward, laid hands on Jesus, and seized him.
51 Suddenly, one of those with Jesus reached out, drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.
52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who take up the sword will die by the sword.
53 Or do you think I cannot appeal to my Father, and he would send me more than twelve legions of angels right now?
54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say this must happen?”
55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to seize me as if I were a bandit? Every day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.
56 But all this has happened so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples abandoned him and fled.
57 Those who had seized Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.
58 Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the high priest’s courtyard. He went inside and sat with the guards to see how it would end.
59 The chief priests and the whole Council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death.
60 They found none, even though many false witnesses came forward. At last, two came forward
61 and said, “This man said, ‘I can destroy God’s sanctuary and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this testimony these men are bringing against you?”
63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God: tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Look, you have now heard the blasphemy.
66 What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death.”
67 Then they spat in his face and punched him; others slapped him.
68 They said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?”
69 Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”
70 But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
71 When he went out to the entrance, another girl saw him and said to those there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”
72 Again he denied it with an oath: “I don’t know the man.”
73 A little later, those standing there came up and said to Peter, “You must be one of them too, because your way of speaking gives you away.”
74 Then he began to curse and swear: “I don’t know the man.” And at once the rooster crowed.
75 Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
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