Matthew 26
1When Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples, 2“You know that the Passover is in two days, and the Son of Man is handed over to be crucified.”
3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4and plotted to seize Jesus by deception and kill him. 5But they said, “Not during the festival, so that there will not be a riot among the people.”
6Now while Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfumed oil and poured it on his head as he reclined at the table. 8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, “Why this waste? 9This could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you troubling the woman? She has done a good deed for me. 11You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. 12In pouring this perfumed oil on my body, she has prepared me for burial. 13Truly 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.”
14Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They weighed out thirty silver pieces for him. 16From then on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
17On the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain person and tell him, ‘The teacher says: My time is near. I am keeping the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19The disciples did as Jesus directed them and prepared the Passover.
20When evening came, he reclined at the table with the twelve disciples. 21As they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will hand me over.” 22Deeply grieved, they each began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23He answered, “The one who dipped his hand into the bowl with me will hand me over. 24The Son of Man goes 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 good for that man if he had not been born.” 25Judas, who was handing him over, answered, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
26As they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing, broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27He took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 28for this is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, from now on I will certainly not drink from this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” 30After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all stumble because of me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33Peter answered him, “Even if everyone stumbles because of you, I will never stumble.” 34Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will certainly not deny you.” And all the disciples said the same.
36Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37Taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, he began to be grieved and distressed. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39Going a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I want, but as you want.” 40He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not keep watch with me for one hour? 41Keep watch and pray so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44Leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same words again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has drawn near, and the Son of Man is handed over into the hands of sinners. 46Get up, let us go. Look, the one handing me over has drawn near.”
47While he was still speaking, look, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. 48The one handing him over had given them a sign, saying, “The one I kiss is he. Seize him.” 49Going straight up to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came forward, laid hands on Jesus, and seized him. 51And look, one of those with Jesus stretched out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the high priest's slave, cutting off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53Or do you think I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen this way?” 55At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though against a bandit? Every day I sat teaching in the temple, and you did not seize me. 56But all this has happened so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
57Those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the high priest's courtyard, and went inside and sat with the attendants to see the outcome. 59The chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death. 60But they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61and said, “This man said, ‘I can tear down the sanctuary of God and build it in three days.’” 62The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these people testify against you?” 63But Jesus kept silent. The high priest said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God: tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, you have now heard the blasphemy. 66What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists; others slapped him, 68saying, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit you?”
69Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A slave girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70But he denied it before everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71When he went out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72Again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73After a little while, those standing there came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them, for even your accent gives you away.” 74Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.