Matthew 26

The Plot to Kill Jesus

1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2  a “You know that after two days b the Passover is coming, and c the Son of Man d will be delivered up to be crucified.”

3  e Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in f the palace of the high priest, whose name was g Caiaphas, 4  h and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast i lest there be an uproar among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

6  j Now when Jesus was at k Bethany in the house of Simon the leper ▼
▼ Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and m given to the poor.” 10 But n Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For o you always have the poor with you, but p you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it q to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever r this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told s in memory of her.”

Judas to Betray Jesus

14  t Then one of the twelve, whose name was u Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they v paid him w thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity x to betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples

17  y Now on z the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him aa ‘The Teacher says ab My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

20  ac When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. ▼
▼ Some manuscripts add disciples
 21 And as they were eating ae he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, af “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes ag as it is written of him, but ah woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ai It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I aj Rabbi?” He said to him, ak “You have said so.”

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

26  al Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and am after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; an this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he ao had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for ap this is my aq blood of the ▼
▼ Some manuscripts insert new
 covenant, which is poured out for as many at for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you au in my Father’s kingdom.”

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial

30  av And when they had sung a hymn aw they went out to ax the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will ay strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up az I will go before you to Galilee.” 33  ba Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34  bb Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night bc before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35  bd Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

36  be Then Jesus went with them bf to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him bg Peter and bh the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, bi “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and bj watch ▼
▼ Or keep awake; also verses 40, 41
 with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face bl and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let bm this cup pass from me; bn nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41  bo Watch and bp pray that you bq may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it br your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for bs their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for bt the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. ▼
▼ Or Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?
 See bv the hour is at hand, and bw the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

47  bx While he was still speaking by Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings bz Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, ca “Friend cb do what you came to do.” ▼
▼ Or  Friend, why are you here?
 Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his cd sword and struck the servant ▼
▼ Greek bondservant
 of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For cf all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53  cg Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me ch more than twelve ci legions of angels? 54  cj But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day ck I sat in the temple cl teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But cm all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” cn Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council

57  co Then cp those who had seized Jesus led him to cq Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And cr Peter was following him at a distance, as far as cs the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with ct the guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council ▼
▼ Greek Sanhedrin
 cv were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none cw though many false witnesses came forward. At last cx two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, cy ‘I am able to cz destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” ▼
▼ Or Have you no answer to what these men testify against you?
 63  db But Jesus remained silent. dc And the high priest said to him dd “I adjure you by de the living God df tell us if you are dg the Christ dh the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, di “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on dj you will see the Son of Man dk seated at the right hand of Power and dl coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest dm tore his robes and said dn “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered do “He deserves death.” 67 Then dp they spit in his face dq and dr struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you ds Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

Peter Denies Jesus

69  dt Now Peter was sitting outside du in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus dv of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for dw your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, dx “Before the rooster crows, you will dy deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

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