Matthew 26
1 When Jesus had finished teaching all of that, he said to his disciples,
And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that 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.’
Ye know that after two days cometh the passover; and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified.
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 elders of the people assembled in the court of the palace of the high-priest, named Caiaphas;
4 and plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death;
and took counsel together that they might seize Jesus by craft, and put him to death.
5 but they said, ‘Not during the Festival, or the people may riot.’
But they said, Not at the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.
6 After Jesus had reached Bethany, and while he was in the house of Simon the leper,
Now when Jesus was at 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 an alabaster bottle of very costly ointment, and poured it on his head while he was reclining at table.
8 The disciples were indignant at seeing this. ‘What is this waste for?’ they exclaimed.
But the disciples seeing it, were much displeased, 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 this might have been sold for much, and given 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.
And Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, Why do ye trouble the woman? For she hath done a good deed to me.
11 You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.
12 In pouring this perfume on my body, she prepares me for my burial.
For she, in pouring this ointment on my body, hath done it to prepare me for burial.
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 do I say to you, Wherever these glad tidings shall be published in the whole world, this too which she hath done will be told for a memorial 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, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,
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.
and said, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him up to you? And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
16 So from that time Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
And from that time he sought an opportunity to deliver him up.
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?’
And on the first of the days of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where wilt thou that we make ready for thee to eat the passover?
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, Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, The Teacher saith, My time is at hand; I keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
19 The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and prepared the Passover.
And the disciples did as Jesus directed them, and made ready the passover.
20 In the evening Jesus took his place with the twelve disciples,
And when evening came, he took his place 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 as they were eating, he said, Truly do I say to you, that one of you will betray me.
22 In great grief they began to say to him, one by one, ‘Can it be I, Master?’
And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and began every one to say to him, 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 answering said, He that hath dipped his hand with me in the dish, he will betray 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 indeed goeth away, as it hath been written concerning him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! Well were it for that man if he had not been born.
25 Judas, who was betraying him, turned to him and said, ‘Can it be I, Rabbi?’ ‘It is,’ answered Jesus.
Then Judas, his betrayer, answering said, Is it I, Rabbi? He saith to him, It is.
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, as they were eating, Jesus took a loaf, and having blessed, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; 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 gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 for this is my covenant blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
for this is my blood of the covenant, which is shed for many for remission 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.’
And I say to you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.
30 They then sang a hymn, and went out to the Mount of Olives.
And having sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount 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 Jesus saith to them, This night will all of you fall away from me; for it is written, “I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”
32 But, after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee.’
But after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 ‘If everyone else falls away from you,’ Peter answered, ‘I will never fall away!’
Peter answering said to him, Though all should fall away from thee, yet will I never fall 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 do I say to thee, that this night, before a cock crows, thou wilt thrice deny 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 saith to him, Even if I must die with thee, I will not deny thee. And 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 Jesus cometh with them to a place called Gethsemane, and saith to the disciples, Sit here, while I go yonder and pray.
37 Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to show signs of sadness and deep distress of mind.
And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to he sorrowful and full of anguish.
38 ‘I am sad at heart,’ he said, ‘sad even to death; wait here and watch with me.’
Then he saith to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.
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 came a little nearer, and fell on his face, praying and saying, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me! nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.
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 cometh to the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith to Peter, Is it so that ye could not 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.’
Watch, and pray that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
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 he went away a second time, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this [[cup]] cannot pass away from me, but I must drink it, thy will be done!
43 And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy.
And coming again he found them sleeping; for their eyes were heavy.
44 So he left them, and went away again, and prayed a third time, again saying the same words.
And leaving them, he went away again, and prayed the third time, saying again the same words.
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 cometh to the disciples, and saith to them, Sleep on, and take your rest! Lo! the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is delivered up into the hands of sinners.
46 Up, and let us be going. Look! My betrayer is close at hand.’
Rise, let us be going; lo! he is at hand that delivereth me up.
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 yet speaking, lo! Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of 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.’
And his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, Whomever I shall kiss, he is the man; seize him.
49 So he went up to Jesus at once, and exclaimed, ‘Welcome, Rabbi!’ and kissed him;
And immediately going up to Jesus, he said, Hail, Rabbi! and kissed him.
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, for what hast thou come! Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and seized 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, lo! one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high-priest, and cut off his ear.
52 ‘Sheathe your sword,’ Jesus said, ‘for all who draw the sword will be put to the sword.
Then Jesus saith to him, Put back thy sword into its place; for all they that take the sword will perish 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?
Dost thou think that I cannot pray to my Father, and he will now give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But in that case how would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say that this must be?’
But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must 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 multitudes, Ye have come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me; I sat daily teaching in the temple, and ye did not lay hands on me.
56 The whole of this occurred in fulfilment of the prophetic scriptures. Then the disciples all forsook him and fled.
But all this hath been done, that the Scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the Law and elders had assembled.
And they who seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high-priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 Peter followed him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard, to see the outcome.
But Peter followed him at a distance, as far as to the court of the high-priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the officers 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,
And the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, to 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 found none, though many false witnesses came forward. But at last came two,
61 ‘This man said “I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three days.”’
and said, This man affirmed, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it within 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 arose, and said to him, Dost thou make no answer to what these men testify against thee?
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 was silent. And the high-priest answering said to him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art 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 saith to him, I am. Moreover I say to you, Henceforth ye will see the Son of man sitting on 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 rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? See! ye have now heard the blasphemy.
66 What is your decision?’ They answered, ‘He deserves death.’
What think ye? They answered and said, He should be punished with death.
67 Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so,
Then they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some smote him with the palms of their hands,
68 ‘Now play the prophet for us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you?’
saying, Prophesy to us, O Messiah! who it was that struck thee.
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 sitting outside in the court. And a maid-servant came to him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean.
70 But Peter denied it before them all. ‘I do not know what you mean,’ he replied.
But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
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 porch, another woman saw him, and said 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 denied with an oath; I do not know 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 shortly after, they who were standing by came and said to Peter, Surely thou too art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.
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 he began to curse and to swear, saying, I do not know the man. And immediately a cock crew.
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 Peter remembered the word of Jesus, who had said, Before a cock crows, thou wilt thrice deny me. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
