Matthew 26
1 After Jesus had said all this, he told his disciples,
When Jesus had finished teaching all of that, he said to his disciples,
2 “You know that it's Passover in two days time, and the Son of man will be handed over to be crucified.”
“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.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of Caiaphas, the high priest.
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met in the house of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 There they plotted to arrest Jesus on some deceitful pretext and kill him.
and plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death;
5 But they said, “Let's not do this during the festival so that the people don't riot.”
but they said, “Not during the Festival, or the people may riot.”
6 While Jesus was staying at Simon the leper's house in Bethany,
After Jesus had reached Bethany, and while he was in the house of Simon the leper,
7 a woman came over to him carrying an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus' head while he was sitting eating. But when the disciples saw what she did, they were upset.
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.
8 “What a terrible waste!” they objected.
The disciples were indignant at seeing this. “What is this waste for?” they exclaimed.
9 “This perfume could've been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor!”
“It could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to poor people.”
10 Jesus was aware of what was going on and told them, “Why are you upset with this woman? She's done something wonderful for me!
“Why are you troubling the woman?” Jesus said, when he noticed it. “For this is a beautiful deed that she has done to me.
11 You'll always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me.
You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
12 By pouring this perfume on my body she's prepared me for burial.
In pouring this perfume on my body, she prepares me for my burial.
13 I tell you the truth: wherever in the world this good news is spread, the story of what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
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.”
14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the chief priests
It was then that one of the Twelve, named Judas Iscariot, made his way to the chief priests,
15 and asked them, “How much will you pay me for betraying Jesus to you?” They paid him thirty silver coins.
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.
16 From then on he looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
So from that time Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
17 On the first day of the festival of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you to eat?”
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?”
18 Jesus told them, “Go into the city and find this particular man, and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is approaching. I'm coming to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”
“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.’”
19 The disciples did as Jesus told them, and prepared the Passover meal there.
The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came he sat down to eat with the Twelve.
In the evening Jesus took his place with the twelve disciples,
21 While they were eating he told them, “I tell you the truth: one of you is going to betray me.”
and, while they were eating, he said, “I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
22 They were extremely upset. One after the other they asked him, “Lord, it's not me, is it?”
In great grief they began to say to him, one by one, “Can it be I, Master?”
23 “The one who's dipped his hand into the dish with me will betray me,” Jesus replied.
“The one who dipped his bread beside me in the dish,” replied Jesus, “is the one who will betray me.
24 “The Son of man will die just as it was prophesied about him, but what a disaster it will be for the man who betrays the Son of man! It would be better for that man if he'd never been born!”
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!”
25 Judas, the one who would betray Jesus, asked “It's not me, is it, Rabbi?” “You said it,” Jesus replied.
Judas, who was betraying him, turned to him and said, “Can it be I, Rabbi?” “It is,” answered Jesus.
26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave pieces to the disciples. “Take and eat this for it is my body,” said Jesus.
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.”
27 Then he picked up the cup, blessed it, and gave it to them. “Drink from it, all of you,” he told them.
Then he took a cup, and, after saying the thanksgiving, gave it to them, with the words, “Drink from it, all of you;
28 “For this is my blood of the agreement, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
for this is my covenant blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 However, I tell you, I won't drink this fruit of the vine until the day I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.”
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.”
30 After they'd sung a song, they left for the Mount of Olives.
They then sang a hymn, and went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 “All of you will abandon me tonight,” Jesus told them. “As Scripture says, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the flock of sheep will be completely scattered.’
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.’
32 But after I have risen, I'll go ahead of you to Galilee.”
But, after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee.”
33 But Peter objected, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I'll never abandon you.”
“If everyone else falls away from you,” Peter answered, “I will never fall away!”
34 “I'm telling you the truth,” Jesus told him, “This very night, before the cock crows, you'll deny me three times.”
“I tell you,” replied Jesus, “that this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times!”
35 “Even if I have to die with you, I'll never deny you!” Peter insisted. And all the disciples said the same thing.
“Even if I must die with you,” Peter exclaimed, “I will never disown you!” All the disciples spoke in the same way.
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He told them, “Sit down here while I go over there and pray.”
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.”
37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and he began to suffer agonizing sorrow and distress.
Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to show signs of sadness and deep distress of mind.
38 Then he said to them, “I am so overwhelmed with sadness that it's killing me. Wait here and keep watch with me.”
“I am sad at heart,” he said, “sad even to death; wait here and watch with me.”
39 He went a little farther forward, fell face down, and prayed. “My Father, please, if it's possible, let this cup of suffering be taken from me,” Jesus asked. “Even so, may it not be what I want but what you want.”
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.”
40 He went back to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “What, you couldn't stay awake with me for just one hour?
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?
41 Stay awake and pray, so that you don't fall into temptation. Yes, the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Watch and pray so that you don’t fall into temptation. True, the spirit is eager, but human nature is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed. “My Father, if this cup cannot be taken from me without me drinking from it, then your will be done,” he said.
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!”
43 He went back and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't stay awake.
And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So he left them once more, and went off and prayed a third time, repeating the same things.
So he left them, and went away again, and prayed a third time, again saying the same words.
45 Then he returned to the disciples, and told them, “How can you still be sleeping and resting? Look, the time has come. The Son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of sinners!
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.
46 Get up, let's go! See, the one who's betraying me has arrived.”
Up, and let us be going. Look! My betrayer is close at hand.”
47 As he said this, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived with a large mob armed with swords and clubs sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.
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.
48 The betrayer had arranged to give them a signal: “The one that I kiss, that's him—arrest him,” he'd told them.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. “The man whom I kiss,” he had said, “will be the one; arrest him.”
49 Judas came up to Jesus immediately, and said, “Hello, Rabbi,” and kissed him.
So he went up to Jesus at once, and exclaimed, “Welcome, Rabbi!” and kissed him;
50 “My friend, do what you came to do,” Jesus said to Judas. So they came and grabbed hold of Jesus, and arrested him.
at which Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” The men went up, seized Jesus, and arrested him.
51 One of those who was with Jesus reached for his sword and pulled it out. He struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear.
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.
52 But Jesus told him, “Put your sword away. Everyone who fights with the sword will die by the sword.
“Sheathe your sword,” Jesus said, “for all who draw the sword will be put to the sword.
53 Don't you think I could ask my Father, and he'd immediately send more than twelve legions of angels?
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?
54 But then how could the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must be like this?”
But in that case how would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say that this must be?”
55 Then Jesus told the mob, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I was some kind of dangerous criminal? Every day I sat in the Temple teaching and you didn't arrest me then.
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.”
56 But all this is happening to fulfill what the prophets wrote.” Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away.
The whole of this occurred in fulfillment of the prophetic scriptures. Then the disciples all forsook him and fled.
57 Those who'd arrested Jesus took him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the religious teachers and elders had gathered.
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the Law and elders had assembled.
58 Peter followed him at a distance, and went into the high priest's courtyard. He sat there with the guards to see how things would end.
Peter followed him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard, to see the outcome.
59 The chief priests and the whole council were trying to find some false evidence against Jesus so they could put him to death.
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,
60 But they couldn't find anything, even though many false witnesses came forward. Eventually two came forward
but they did not find any, although many came forward with false evidence. Later on, however, two men came forward and said,
61 and reported, “This man said, ‘I can destroy God's Temple, and rebuild it in three days.’”
“This man said ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”
62 The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What do you have to say in your defense?”
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?”
63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to Jesus, “In the name of the living God I place you under oath. Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
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.”
64 “You said it,” Jesus replied. “And I also tell you that in the future you'll see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
“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.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, “He's speaking blasphemy! Why do we need any witnesses? Look, now you've heard for yourselves his blasphemy!
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!
66 What's your verdict?” “Guilty! He deserves to die!” they answered.
What is your decision?” They answered, “He deserves death.”
67 Then they spat in his face and beat him. Some of them slapped him with their hands,
Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so,
68 and said, “Prophesy to us, you ‘Messiah’! Who just hit you?”
“Now play the prophet for us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you?”
69 Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came up to him, and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too!”
Peter, meanwhile, was sitting outside in the courtyard; and a maidservant came up to him, and exclaimed, “Why, you were with Jesus the Galilean!”
70 But he denied it in front of everyone. “I don't know what you're talking about,” he said.
But Peter denied it before them all. “I do not know what you mean,” he replied.
71 When he went back to the courtyard entrance another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
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!”
72 Once again he denied it, saying with an oath, “I don't know him.”
Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!”
73 A little while later the people standing there came up to Peter and said, “You definitely are one of them. Your accent gives you away.”
But soon afterward 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!”
74 Then he started to swear: “Curses on me if I'm a liar! I don't know the man!” Immediately the cock crowed.
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;
75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the cock crows, three times you will deny knowing me.” He went outside and wept bitterly.
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.
