Matthew 26
1 When Jesus had finished teaching all of that, he said to his disciples,
And when Jesus had come to the end of all these words, he said to his disciples,
2 ‘You know that in two days time the Festival of the Passover will be here; and that the Son of Man is to be given up to be crucified.’
After two days is the Passover, and the Son of man will be given up to the death of the cross.
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met in the house of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
Then the chief priests and the rulers of the people came together in the house of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.
4 and plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death;
And they made designs together to take Jesus by some trick, and put him to death.
5 but they said, ‘Not during the Festival, or the people may riot.’
But they said, Not while the feast is going on, for fear of trouble among the people.
6 After Jesus had reached Bethany, and while he was in the house of Simon the leper,
Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,
7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of very costly perfume, and poured the perfume on his head as he sat at the table.
There came to him a woman having a bottle of perfume of great price, and she put the perfume on his head when he was seated at table.
8 The disciples were indignant at seeing this. ‘What is this waste for?’ they exclaimed.
But when the disciples saw it they were angry, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
9 ‘It could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to poor people.’
For we might have got much money for this and given it to the poor.
10 ‘Why are you troubling the woman?’ Jesus said, when he noticed it. ‘For this is a beautiful deed that she has done to me.
But Jesus, seeing it, said to them, Why are you troubling the woman? she has done a kind act to me.
11 You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
For the poor you have ever with you, but me you have not for ever.
12 In pouring this perfume on my body, she prepares me for my burial.
For in putting this perfume on my body, she did it to make me ready for my last resting-place.
13 I tell you, wherever, in the whole world, this good news is proclaimed, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her.’
Truly I say to you, Wherever this good news goes out in all the world, what this woman has done will be talked of in memory of her.
14 It was then that one of the Twelve, named Judas Iscariot, made his way to the chief priests,
Then one of the twelve, who was named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,
15 and said ‘What are you willing to give me, if I betray Jesus to you?’ The Priests counted him out thirty pieces of silver as payment.
What will you give me, if I give him up to you? And the price was fixed at thirty bits of silver.
16 So from that time Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
And from that time he was watching for a chance to give him into their hands.
17 On the first day of the Festival of the unleavened bread, the disciples came up to Jesus, and said, ‘Where do you wish us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?’
Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where are we to make ready for you to take the Passover meal?
18 ‘Go into the city to a certain man,’ he answered, ‘and say to him “The teacher says – My time is near. I will keep the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’
And he said to them, Go into the town to such a man, and say to him, The Master says, My time is near: I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.
19 The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and prepared the Passover.
And the disciples did as Jesus had said to them; and they made ready the Passover.
20 In the evening Jesus took his place with the twelve disciples,
Now when evening was come, he was seated at table with the twelve disciples;
21 and, while they were eating, he said, ‘I tell you that one of you will betray me.’
And while they were taking food, he said, Truly I say to you that one of you will be false to me.
22 In great grief they began to say to him, one by one, ‘Can it be I, Master?’
And they were very said, and said to him, one by one, Is it I, Lord?
23 ‘The one who dipped his bread beside me in the dish,’ replied Jesus, ‘is the one who will betray me.
And he made answer and said, He who puts his hand into the plate with me, the same will be false to me.
24 True, the Son of Man must go, as scripture says of him, yet alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is being betrayed! For that man it would be better never to have been born!’
The Son of man goes, even as the Writings say of him: but a curse is on that man through whom the Son of man is given up; it would have been well for that man if he had never come into the world.
25 Judas, who was betraying him, turned to him and said, ‘Can it be I, Rabbi?’ ‘It is,’ answered Jesus.
And Judas, who was false to him, made answer and said, Is it I, Master? He says to him, Yes.
26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and, after saying the blessing, broke it and, as he gave it to his disciples, said, ‘Take it and eat it; this is my body.’
And when they were taking food, Jesus took bread and, after blessing it, he gave the broken bread to the disciples and said, Take it; this is my body.
27 Then he took a cup, and, after saying the thanksgiving, gave it to them, with the words, ‘Drink from it, all of you;
And he took a cup and, having given praise, he gave it to them, saying,
28 for this is my covenant blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Take of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the testament, which is given for men for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you that I will never, after this, drink of this juice of the grape, until that day when I will drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.’
But I say to you that from now I will not take of this fruit of the vine, till that day when I take it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
30 They then sang a hymn, and went out to the Mount of Olives.
And after a song of praise to God, they went out to the Mountain of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Even you will all fall away from me tonight. Scripture says – “I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”
Then said Jesus to them, All of you will be turned away from me this night: for it is said in the Writings, I will put to death the keeper of the sheep, and the sheep of the flock will be put to flight.
32 But, after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee.’
But after I am come back from the dead, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 ‘If everyone else falls away from you,’ Peter answered, ‘I will never fall away!’
But Peter made answer and said to him, Though all may be turned away from you, I will never be turned away.
34 ‘I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘that this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times!’
Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you that this night, before the hour of the cock's cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of me.
35 ‘Even if I must die with you,’ Peter exclaimed, ‘I will never disown you!’ All the disciples spoke in the same way.
Peter says to him, Even if I am put to death with you, I will not be false to you. So said all the disciples.
36 Then Jesus came with them to a garden called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit down here while I go and pray over there.’
Then comes Jesus with them to a place named Gethsemane, and says to his disciples, Be seated here, while I go over there for prayer.
37 Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to show signs of sadness and deep distress of mind.
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became sad and very troubled.
38 ‘I am sad at heart,’ he said, ‘sad even to death; wait here and watch with me.’
Then says he to them, My soul is very sad, even to death: keep watch with me here.
39 Going on a little further, he threw himself on his face in prayer. ‘My Father,’ he said, ‘if it is possible, let me be spared this cup; only, not as I will, but as you will.’
And he went forward a little, and falling down on his face in prayer, he said, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup go from me; but let not my pleasure, but yours be done.
40 Then he came to his disciples, and found them asleep. ‘What!’ he said to Peter, ‘could none of you watch with me for one hour?
And he comes to the disciples, and sees that they are sleeping, and says to Peter, What, were you not able to keep watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray so that you don’t fall into temptation. True, the spirit is eager, but human nature is weak.’
Keep watch with prayer, so that you may not be put to the test: the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is feeble.
42 Again, a second time, he went away, and prayed. ‘My Father,’ he said, ‘if I cannot be spared this cup, but must drink it, your will be done!’
Again, a second time he went away, and said in prayer, O my Father, if this may not go from me without my taking it, let your pleasure be done.
43 And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy.
And he came again and saw them sleeping, for their eyes were tired.
44 So he left them, and went away again, and prayed a third time, again saying the same words.
And he went away from them again, and a third time said the same prayer.
45 Then he came to the disciples, and said, ‘Sleep on now, and rest yourselves. Look – my time is close at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of wicked people.
Then he comes to the disciples; and says to them, Go on sleeping now, and take your rest: for the hour is come, and the Son of man is given into the hands of evil men.
46 Up, and let us be going. Look! My betrayer is close at hand.’
Up, let us be going: see, he who gives me up is near.
47 And, while he was still speaking, Judas, who was one of the Twelve, came in sight; and with him was a great crowd of people, with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.
And while he was still talking, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a band armed with swords and sticks, from the chief priests and those in authority over the people.
48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. ‘The man whom I kiss,’ he had said, ‘will be the one; arrest him.’
Now the false one had given them a sign saying, The one to whom I give a kiss, that is he: take him.
49 So he went up to Jesus at once, and exclaimed, ‘Welcome, Rabbi!’ and kissed him;
And straight away he came to Jesus and said, Master! and gave him a kiss.
50 at which Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, do what you have come for.’ The men went up, seized Jesus, and arrested him.
And Jesus said to him, Friend, do that for which you have come. Then they came and put hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 Suddenly one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and striking the high priest’s servant, cut off his ear.
And one of those who were with Jesus put out his hand, and took out his sword and gave the servant of the high priest a blow, cutting off his ear.
52 ‘Sheathe your sword,’ Jesus said, ‘for all who draw the sword will be put to the sword.
Then says Jesus to him, Put up your sword again into its place: for all those who take the sword will come to death by the sword.
53 Do you think that I cannot ask my Father for help, when he would at once send to my aid more than twelve legions of angels?
Does it not seem possible to you that if I make request to my Father he will even now send me an army of angels?
54 But in that case how would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say that this must be?’
But how then would the Writings come true, which say that so it has to be?
55 Jesus at the same time said to the crowds, ‘Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs, to take me? I have sat teaching day after day in the Temple Courts, and yet you did not arrest me.’
In that hour Jesus said to the people, Have you come out as against a thief with swords and sticks to take me? I was teaching every day in the Temple and you took me not.
56 The whole of this occurred in fulfilment of the prophetic scriptures. Then the disciples all forsook him and fled.
But all this has taken place so that the writings of the prophets might come true. Then all his disciples went from him in flight.
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the Law and elders had assembled.
And those who had made Jesus prisoner took him away to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and those in authority over the people had come together.
58 Peter followed him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard, to see the outcome.
But Peter went after him at a distance, to the house of the high priest, and went in and took his seat with the servants, to see the end.
59 Meanwhile the chief priests and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such false evidence against Jesus, as would warrant putting him to death,
Now the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false witness against Jesus, so that they might put him to death;
60 but they did not find any, although many came forward with false evidence. Later on, however, two men came forward and said,
And they were not able to get it, though a number of false witnesses came.
61 ‘This man said “I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three days.”’
But later there came two who said, This man said, I am able to give the Temple of God to destruction, and to put it up again in three days.
62 Then the high priest stood up, and said to Jesus, ‘Have you no answer? What is this evidence which these men are giving against you?’
And the high priest got up and said to him, Have you no answer? what is it which these say against you?
63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, ‘I order you, by the living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.’
But Jesus said not a word. And the high priest said to him, I put you on oath, by the living God, that you will say to us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.
64 ‘It is true,’ Jesus answered, ‘Moreover I tell you all that hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the heavens.’
Jesus says to him, You say so: but I say to you, From now 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 robes. ‘This is blasphemy!’ he exclaimed. ‘Why do we want any more witnesses? You have just heard his blasphemy!
Then the high priest, violently parting his robes, said, He has said evil against God: what more need have we of witnesses? for now his words against God have come to your ears:
66 What is your decision?’ They answered, ‘He deserves death.’
What is your opinion? They made answer and said, It is right for him to be put to death.
67 Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so,
Then they put shame on him, and were cruel to him: and some gave him blows, saying,
68 ‘Now play the prophet for us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you?’
Be a prophet, O Christ, and say who gave you a blow!
69 Peter, meanwhile, was sitting outside in the courtyard; and a maidservant came up to him, and exclaimed, ‘Why, you were with Jesus the Galilean!’
Now Peter was seated in the open square outside the house: and a servant-girl came to him, saying, You were with Jesus the Galilaean.
70 But Peter denied it before them all. ‘I do not know what you mean,’ he replied.
But he said before them all that it was false, saying, I have no knowledge of what you say.
71 When he had gone out into the gateway, another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth!’
And when he had gone out into the doorway, another saw him and says to those who were there, This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.
72 Again he denied it with an oath, ‘I do not know the man!’
And again he said with an oath, I have no knowledge of the man.
73 But soon afterwards those who were standing by came up and said to Peter, ‘You also are certainly one of them; why, even your way of speaking proves it!’
And after a little time those who were near came and said to Peter, Truly you are one of them; because your talk is witness against you.
74 Then Peter said, ‘I swear that I do not know the man! May God punish me if I am lying!’ At that moment a cock crowed;
Then with curses and oaths he said, I have no knowledge of the man. And straight away there came the cry of a cock.
75 and Peter remembered the words which Jesus had said – “Before a cock has crowed, you will disown me three times”; and he went outside, and wept bitterly.
And the word of Jesus came back to Peter, when he said, Before the hour of the cock's cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of me. And he went out, weeping bitterly.
