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, 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 is the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed 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 assembled the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 and plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death;
And consulted that they might take Jesus by guile, and kill him.
5 but they said, ‘Not during the Festival, or the people may riot.’
But they said, Not on the feast day, 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 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 an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he was eating.
8 The disciples were indignant at seeing this. ‘What is this waste for?’ they exclaimed.
But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, 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 ointment 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.
When Jesus understood it, he said to them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
11 You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
12 In pouring this perfume on my body, she prepares me for my burial.
For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my 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.’
Verily I say to you, Wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, what this woman hath done, 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 to you? And they agreed with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16 So from that time Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
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 the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, Where wilt thou that we prepare 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 Master saith, My time is at hand; I will 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 had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
20 In the evening Jesus took his place with the twelve disciples,
Now when the evening was come, he sat down with the twelve.
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, Verily I say to you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 In great grief they began to say to him, one by one, ‘Can it be I, Master?’
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say to him, Lord, is it I?
23 ‘The one who dipped his bread beside me in the dish,’ replied Jesus, ‘is the one who will betray me.
And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall 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 goeth as it is written concerning him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good 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, who betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said to him, Thou hast said.
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 bread, and blessed it, and 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 the 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 new testament, which is shed for many for the 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.’
But I say to you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
30 They then sang a hymn, and went out to the Mount of Olives.
And when they had sung an 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 saith Jesus to them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 But, after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee.’
But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 ‘If everyone else falls away from you,’ Peter answered, ‘I will never fall away!’
Peter answered and said to him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34 ‘I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘that this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times!’
Jesus said to him, Verily I say to thee, That this night, before the cock shall crow, thou shalt deny me three times.
35 ‘Even if I must die with you,’ Peter exclaimed, ‘I will never disown you!’ All the disciples spoke in the same way.
Peter said to him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also 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 cometh Jesus with them to a place called Gethsemane, and saith to the disciples, Sit ye 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 he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 ‘I am sad at heart,’ he said, ‘sad even to death; wait here and watch with me.’
Then saith he to them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death: tarry ye 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 went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it is 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 asleep, and saith to Peter, What, could ye 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!’
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy.
And he came and found them asleep again: 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 he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying 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 his disciples, and saith to them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Up, and let us be going. Look! My betrayer is close at hand.’
Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
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 staffs, 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.’
Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 So he went up to Jesus at once, and exclaimed, ‘Welcome, Rabbi!’ and kissed him;
And immediately he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; 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, why art thou come? Then they came, and laid 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, behold, one of them who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
52 ‘Sheathe your sword,’ Jesus said, ‘for all who draw the sword will be put to the sword.
Then said Jesus to him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall 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?
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently 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 same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staffs to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold 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 was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might 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 that had laid hold on 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 from afar off to the high priest’s courtyard, and went in, and sat 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 elders, and all the council, sought false testimony 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,
But found none: and, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61 ‘This man said “I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three days.”’
And said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it 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 arose, and said to him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these 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 held his peace. And the high priest answered and 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, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say to you, After this shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in 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 tore his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66 What is your decision?’ They answered, ‘He deserves death.’
What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
67 Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so,
Then they spat in his face, and buffeted him; and others 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, thou Christ, Who is he that smote 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 sat outside in the courtyard: and a maid came to him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
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 maid saw him, and said to them that were there, This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
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 after a while came to him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also 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 began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crowed.
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 said to him, Before the cock shall crow, thou shalt deny me three times. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
