Matthew 26

1 And when Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover comes, and the Son of Man is handed over to be crucified.”

3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the chief priest, the one called Caiaphas, [a] 4 and they made a plan together to seize Jesus by deceit and kill him; 5 but they were saying, “Not during the feast, so that there is no uproar among the people.”

6 Now while Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to him holding an alabaster jar of very costly perfumed oil, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at the table. 8 But when the disciples saw it they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, knowing it, said to them, “Why do you make trouble for the woman? For she has done a good work toward me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. 12 For when she poured this perfumed oil on my body, she did it for my burial. 13 Amen, I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” [b]

14 Then one of the twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me, and I will hand him over to you?” And they weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from then on he was looking for a good moment to hand him over.

17 On the first day of the Feast of Bread Without Yeast the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” [d] 18 And he said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” [e] 19 And the disciples did as Jesus directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples, 21 and while they were eating he said, “Amen, I tell you that one of you will hand me over.” 22 And deeply grieved, they began to say to him, each one, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 But he answered, “The one who dipped his hand in the bowl with me, this one will hand me over. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is handed over; it would have been good for him if that man had not been born.” 25 And Judas, the one handing him over, answered and said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He says to him, “You have said it.” [f]

26 And while they were eating, Jesus took bread, and having blessed it he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” † 27 And he took a cup, and having given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. [g] † 29 And I tell you, I will not drink from now on of this produce of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.” [i]

30 And when they had sung a hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus says to them, “You will all be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ [j] † 32 But after I have been raised I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 But Peter answered and said to him, “If all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Amen, I tell you that this night, before a rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 Peter says to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the disciples said the same.

36 Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he says to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be grieved and troubled. 38 Then he says to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 And going forward a little he fell on his face, praying and saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I want, but as you.” †

40 And he comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping, and he says to Peter, “So you were not able to keep watch with me for one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you do not come into testing. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, let your will be done.” 43 And coming again he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And leaving them he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same word again.

45 Then he comes to the disciples and says to them, “Sleep on now and take your rest. Look, the hour has come near, and the Son of Man is handed over into the hands of sinners. [k] 46 Get up, let us go. Look, the one who is handing me over has come near.”

47 And while he was still speaking, look, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the one handing him over had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And going straight to Jesus he said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and he kissed him. [l] 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. [m]

51 And look, one of those with Jesus stretched out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the slave of the chief priest and took off his ear. 52 Then Jesus says to him, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. † 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once set beside me more than twelve legions of messengers? [n] 54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?”

55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Did you come out with swords and clubs to take me, as against a robber? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple, 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 left him and fled. [o]

57 Those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the chief priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the chief priest, and going inside he sat with the attendants to see the end.

59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60 and they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. But later two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the sanctuary of God and to build it in three days.’” [p] 62 And the chief priest stood up and said to him, “Do you answer nothing? What is it these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. And the chief priest said to him, “I put you on oath by the living God: tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus says to him, “You have said it. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” [q] †

65 Then the chief priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?” And they answered and said, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists; and some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” 71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and says to those there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.” [s] 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.”

73 And after a little while those standing there came up and said to Peter, “Truly you also are one of them, for even your speech gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before a rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.