Matthew 26
1 And it came to pass, when Jesus finished all these words, He said to His disciples,
When Jesus had finished all this teaching, he said to his disciples:
2 “You have known that after two days the Passover comes, and the Son of Man is delivered up 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 were gathered together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, into the court of the chief priest who was called Caiaphas;
Then the Chief Priests and the Councillors of the Nation met in the house of the High Priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 and they consulted together that they might take Jesus by guile, and kill [Him],
and plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death;
5 and they said, “Not in the celebration, that there may not be a tumult among the people.”
but they said: “Not during the Festival, for fear of causing a riot.”
6 And Jesus having been in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
After Jesus had reached Bethany, and while he was in the house of Simon the leper,
7 there came to Him a woman having an alabaster box of ointment, very precious, and she poured on His head as He is reclining.
a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of very costly perfume, and poured the perfume upon his head as he was at table.
8 And having seen [it], His disciples were much displeased, saying, “To what purpose [is] this waste?
The disciples were indignant at seeing this. “What is this waste for?” they exclaimed.
9 For this ointment could have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”
“It could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to poor people.”
10 And Jesus having known, said to them, “Why do you give trouble to the woman? For a good work she worked 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 for you always have the poor with you, and you do not always have Me;
You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
12 for she having put this ointment on My body—for My burial she did [it].
In pouring this perfume on my body, she has done it for my burying.
13 Truly I say to you, wherever this good news may be proclaimed in the whole world, what this [one] did will also be spoken of—for a memorial 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 one of the Twelve, who is called Judas Iscariot, having gone to the chief priests, said,
It was then that one of the Twelve, named Judas Iscariot, made his way to the Chief Priests,
15 “What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver Him up to you?” And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver,
and said “What are you willing to give me, if I betray Jesus to you?” The Priests ‘weighed him out thirty pieces of silver’ as payment.
16 and from that time he was seeking a convenient season to deliver Him up.
So from that time Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
17 And on the first [day] of the Unleavened [Bread] the disciples came near to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where will You [that] we may prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
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 And He said, “Go away into the city, to such a one, and say to him, The Teacher says, My time is near; near you I keep the Passover with My disciples”;
“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 and the disciples did as Jesus appointed them, and prepared the Passover.
The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and prepared the Passover.
20 And evening having come, He was reclining with the Twelve,
In the evening Jesus took his place with the twelve disciples,
21 and while they are eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will deliver Me up.”
and, while they were eating, he said: “I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
22 And being grieved exceedingly, they began to say to Him, each of them, “Is it I, Lord?”
In great grief they began to say to him, one by one: “Can it be I, Master?”
23 And He answering said, “He who dipped with Me the hand in the dish, he will deliver Me up;
“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 indeed goes, as it has been written concerning Him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is delivered up! It were good for him if that man had not 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 And Judas—he who delivered Him up—answering said, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He says to him, “You have said.”
And Judas, who was betraying him, turned to him and said: “Can it be I, Rabbi?” “It is,” answered Jesus.
26 And while they were eating, Jesus having taken the bread, and having blessed, broke, and was giving [it] to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is My body”;
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 and having taken the cup, and having given thanks, He gave to them, saying, “Drink of it—all;
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 New Covenant, that is being poured out for many, for forgiveness of sins;
for this is my Covenant blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 and I say to you that I may not drink from now on this produce of the vine, until that day when I may drink it with you new in the kingdom of My Father.”
And I tell you that I shall never, after this, drink of this juice of the grape, until that day when I shall drink it new with you in the Kingdom of my Father.”
30 And having sung a hymn, they went forth to the Mount of Olives;
They then sang a hymn, and went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 then Jesus says to them, “All you will be stumbled at Me this night; for it has been written: I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered abroad;
Then Jesus said to them: “Even you will all fall away from me to-night. Scripture says — ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 but after My having risen, I will go before you to Galilee.”
But, after I have risen, I shall go before you into Galilee.”
33 And Peter answering said to Him, “Even if all will be stumbled at You, I will never be stumbled.”
“If every one else falls away from you,” Peter answered, “I shall never fall away!”
34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this night, before rooster-crowing, three times you will deny Me.”
“I tell you,” replied Jesus, “that this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times!”
35 Peter says to Him, “Even if it may be necessary for me to die with You, I will not deny You”; in like manner also said all the disciples.
“Even if I must die with you,” Peter exclaimed, “I shall never disown you!” All the disciples spoke in the same way.
36 Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He says to the disciples, “Sit here, until having gone away, I will pray over there.”
Then Jesus came with them to a garden called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples: “Sit down here while I go and pray yonder.”
37 And having taken Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful, and to be very heavy;
Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebediah, he began to show signs of sadness and deep distress of mind.
38 then He says to them, “Exceedingly sorrowful is My soul—to death; abide here, and watch with Me.”
“I am sad at heart,” he said, “sad even to death; wait here and watch with me.”
39 And having gone forward a little, He fell on His face, praying, and saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You.”
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 thou willest.”
40 And He comes to the disciples, and finds them sleeping, and He says to Peter, “So! You were not able to watch with Me 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 Watch, and pray, that you may not enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is forward, but the flesh weak.”
Watch and pray, that you may not fall into temptation. True, the spirit is eager, but human nature is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, having gone away, He prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me except I drink it, Your will be done”;
Again, a second time, he went away, and prayed. “My Father,” he said, “if I cannot be spared this cup, but must drink it, thy will be done!”
43 and having come, He finds them again sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy.
44 And having left them, having gone away again, He prayed a third time, saying the same word;
So he left them, and went away again, and prayed a third time, again saying the same words.
45 then He comes to His disciples and says to them, “Sleep on from now on, and rest! Behold, the hour has come near, and the Son of Man is delivered up into the hands of sinners.
Then he came to the disciples, and said: “Sleep on now, and rest yourselves. Hark! my time is close at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of wicked men.
46 Rise, let us go; behold, he who is delivering Me up has come near.”
Up, and let us be going. Look! my betrayer is close at hand.”
47 And while He is yet speaking, behold, Judas, one of the Twelve came, and with him a great multitude, with swords and sticks, from 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 Councillors of the Nation.
48 And he who delivered Him up gave them a sign, saying, “Whomsoever I will kiss, it is He, lay hold on Him”;
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. “The man whom I kiss,” he had said, “will be the one; arrest him.”
49 and immediately, having come to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed Him;
So he went up to Jesus at once, and exclaimed: “Welcome, Rabbi!” and kissed him;
50 and Jesus said to him, “Friend, for what are you present?” Then having come near, they laid hands on Jesus, and took hold on Him.
on which Jesus said to him: “Friend, do what you have come for.” Thereupon the men went up, seized Jesus, and arrested him.
51 And behold, one of those with Jesus, having stretched forth the hand, drew his sword, and having struck the servant of the chief priest, he took 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 Then Jesus says to him, “Turn back your sword to its place; for all who took the sword will perish by the sword;
“Sheathe your sword,” Jesus said, “for all who draw the sword will be put to the sword.
53 do you think that I am not able now to call on My Father, and He will place beside Me more than twelve legions of messengers?
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 How then may the Writings be fulfilled, that thus it must happen?”
But in that case how would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that this must be?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Did you come forth as against a robber, with swords and sticks, to take Me? Daily I was with you sitting, teaching in the temple, and you did not lay hold on Me;
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 has come to pass, that the Writings of the prophets may be fulfilled”; then all the disciples, having left Him, fled.
The whole of this occurred in fulfilment of the Prophetic Scriptures. Then the disciples all forsook him and fled.
57 And those laying hold on Jesus led [Him] away to Caiaphas the chief priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together,
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the Teachers of the Law and the Councillors had assembled.
58 and Peter was following Him far off, to the court of the chief priest, and having gone in within, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end.
Peter followed him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the offices, to see the end.
59 And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, were seeking false witness against Jesus, that they might 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 and they did not find; and many false witnesses having come near, they did not find; and at last two false witnesses having come near,
but they did not find any, although many came forward with false evidence. Later on, however, two men came forward and said:
61 said, “This One said, I am able to throw down the temple of God, and after three days to build it.”
“This man said ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”
62 And the chief priest having stood up, said to Him, “Nothing You answer? What do these witness against You?”
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 And Jesus was silent. And the chief priest answering said to Him, “I adjure You, by the living God, that You may say to us if You are the Christ—the Son of God.”
But Jesus remained silent. On this the High Priest said to him: “I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64 Jesus says to him, “You have said; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of Heaven.”
“It is true,” Jesus answered; “Moreover I tell you all that hereafter you shall ‘see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the heavens.’”
65 Then the chief priest tore his garments, saying, “He has slandered; what need have we yet of witnesses? Behold, now you heard His slander;
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 do you think?” And they answering said, “He is worthy of death.”
What is your decision?” They answered: “He deserves death.”
67 Then they spit in His face and punched Him, and others slapped,
Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so:
68 saying, “Declare to us, O Christ, who he is that struck You?”
“Now play the Prophet for us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you?”
69 And Peter was sitting in the court outside, and there came near to him a certain maid, saying, “And you were with Jesus of Galilee!”
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 And he denied before all, saying, “I have not known what you say.”
But Peter denied it before them all. “I do not know what you mean,” he replied.
71 And he having gone forth to the porch, another female saw him, and says to those there, “And this one 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 and again he denied with an oath, “I have not known the Man.”
Again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!”
73 And after a while those standing near having come, said to Peter, “Truly you also are of them, for even your speech makes you evident.”
But soon afterwards those who were standing by came up and said to Peter: “You also are certainly one of them; why, your very way of speaking proves it!”
74 Then he began to curse, and to swear, “I have not known the Man”; and immediately a rooster crowed,
Then Peter began to swear, with most solemn imprecations: “I do not know the man.” At that moment a cock crowed;
75 and Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, He having said to him, “Before rooster-crowing, you will deny Me three times”; and having gone outside, he 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.
