Matthew 26
1 When Jesus had finished [saying] all those things, he said to [us] disciples,
And it came to pass, when Jesus had concluded all these discourses, that he said to his disciples:
2 “You know that two days from now [we will celebrate] the Passover [festival]. [At that time] I, the one who came from heaven, will be handed over to {they will put me, the one who came from heaven, into the hands of} those who will nail me to a cross.”
Ye know that after two days is the Passover; and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
3 At the same time the chief priests and the Jewish elders gathered in the home of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas.
Then assembled the chief priests and the Scribes and the Elders of the people, at the hall of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
4 [There] they plotted how they could seize Jesus in some deceitful way so that they could have him executed.
And they held a counsel against Jesus, that they might take him by guile, and kill him.
5 But they said, “[We must] not [do it] during the [Passover] festival, because [if we do it then], the people might riot.”
But they said: Not on the festival, lest there be a commotion among the people.
6 While Jesus [and we] were in Bethany [village] in the home of Simon, whom [Jesus had healed of] leprosy,
And when Jesus was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
7 a woman came to him. She [was carrying] a stone jar [containing] very expensive perfume. [To show how much she appreciated] Jesus, she poured the perfume on his head as he was eating.
there came to him a woman having a vase of aromatic ointment very precious, and she poured it on the head of Jesus as he was reclining.
8 When [we] disciples saw that, [some of us] were angry. [One of us] said, “(It is terrible that this perfume was wasted!/Why was this perfume wasted?) [RHQ]
And when his disciples saw it they were displeased, and said: Why is this waste?
9 [We] could have sold it and gotten a lot of money for it! Then the money could have been given {[we] could have given the money} to poor people.”
For this ointment might have been sold for much, and have been given to the poor.
10 Jesus knew [what we were saying. So he] said to us, “(You should not be bothering this woman!/Why are you bothering this woman?) [RHQ] She has done a beautiful thing to me.
But Jesus knew their dissatisfaction, and said to them: Why trouble ye the woman? She hath performed a good deed towards me.
11 [Keep in mind that] you will always have poor people among you, [so you can help them whenever you want to]. But I will not always be with you, [so it is good for her to show now that she appreciates me!]
For the poor ye have at all times with you; but I am not with you always
12 When she poured this perfume on my body, [it was as if she knew that I am going to die soon. And it is as if she] has anointed my body for being buried.
And this her act, pouring the ointment on my body, she hath done as it were for my burial.
13 I will tell you this: Wherever this good message [about me] is preached {people preach this good message about me} throughout the world, those who preach it will tell what this woman has done, [and as a result] people will [always] remember her.”
Verily I say to you, That wherever this my gospel shall be proclaimed, in all the world, this thing that she hath done shall be told for a memorial of her.
14 Then Judas Iscariot (OR, Judas, the man from Kerioth [Town]), [even though he was] one of [us] twelve [disciples], went to the chief priests.
Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,
15 He asked them, “If I enable you to seize [Jesus], how much [money] are you willing to give me?” They [agreed to give him] 30 silver coins. So they counted out the coins and [gave them] to him.
and said to them: What will ye give me, if I will deliver him to you? And they promised him thirty pieces of silver.
16 From that time Judas watched for an opportunity to enable them to seize [Jesus].
And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
17 On the first day [of the week-long festival] (when [we Jews ate] bread which had no yeast in it/of Unleavened Bread), [we] disciples went to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare [the meal for] the Passover [celebration] so that [we can] eat [it with] you?”
And on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, and said to him: Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?
18 [In reply], he [gave instructions to two disciples about where they should go. He] said [to them], “Go into [the city] to a man [with whom I have previously arranged this]. Tell him that the teacher says, ‘The time [MTY] [that I told you about] is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover [meal] with my disciples at your house, [and I have sent these two to prepare the meal].’”
And he said to them: Go ye into the city, to such a man, and say to him: Our Rabbi saith, My time approaches: with thee will I keep the Passover with my disciples
19 So the [two] disciples did as Jesus told them. They [went and] prepared the Passover [meal in that man’s house].
And his disciples did as Jesus directed them, and made ready the Passover.
20 When it was evening, Jesus was eating the meal with [us] twelve disciples.
And when it was evening, he reclined with his twelve disciples.
21 While we were eating, he said [to us], “Listen carefully to this: One of you is going to enable [my enemies] to seize me.”
And as they were eating, he said: Verily I say to you, That one of you will betray me.
22 [We] were very sad. We began to say to him, one after the other, “Lord, (it is surely not I!/I’m not the one, am I?) [RHQ]”
And it troubled them much. And they began each one of them to say to him; My Lord is it I?
23 He replied, “The one who will enable my enemies to seize me is one of you who is dipping bread [MTY] into [the sauce in] the dish along with me.
And he answered and said: One that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, he will betray me.
24 [It is certain that] I, the one who came from heaven, will [die], because that is what has been written {[the prophets] have written} about me. But there will be terrible punishment for the man who enables [my enemies] to seize me! It would be better for that man if he had never been born!”
And the Son of man goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man, by whom the Son of man is betrayed. It would have been better for that man, if he had not been born.
25 Then Judas, the one who was going to betray him, said, “Teacher, (surely it is not I!/I’m not the one, am I?) [RHQ]” Jesus replied, “Yes, you are the one.”
Judas the betrayer answered and said: Rabbi, is it I? Jesus said to him: Thou hast said.
26 While we were eating, Jesus took [a small loaf of] bread and thanked God for it. He broke it [into pieces] and gave it to [us] disciples, and said, “Take this [bread and] eat [it]. [It represents] my body.”
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake; and gave to his disciples, and said: Take, eat; this is my body.
27 Later he took a cup [of wine] and thanked [God for it]. Then he gave it to us, saying, “Drink some [of the wine in this cup], all of you.
And he took the cup, and offered thanks and gave it to them, saying: Take, drink of this all of you.
28 [The wine in] this cup [represents] my blood, which will soon flow [from my body. With] my blood I [will sign] the new agreement [that God is making] to forgive the sins of many [people].
This is my blood of the new testament, which, in behalf of many, is shed for the remission of sins.
29 Note this carefully: I will not drink wine in this way any more until the time when I drink it with you with a new [meaning. That will happen] when my Father [enables me to begin] to rule as king.”
But I say to you, that I will henceforth not drink of this product of the vine, until the day in which I shall drink it with you new in the kingdom of God.
30 After we sang a hymn, we started out towards Olive [Tree] Hill.
And they sang praises, and went forth to the mount of Olives.
31 [On the way], Jesus told us, “This night all of you will desert me because of [what will happen to] me! [This is certain to happen] because [these words that God said] are written [in the Scriptures: ] ‘I will [cause] the shepherd to be killed, and [all] the sheep will be scattered {scatter}.’
Then said Jesus to them: Ye will all be offended in me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of his flock will be dispersed.
32 But after I have [died and] become alive again, I will go ahead of you to Galilee [district and meet you there].”
But after I am arisen, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 Peter replied, “Perhaps all [the other disciples] will desert you [when they see what happens to you], but I [certainly] will never [leave you]!”
Cephas replied, and said to him: Though all men should be offended in thee, I will never be offended in thee.
34 Jesus replied to him, “The truth is that this very night, before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know me!”
Jesus said to him: Verily I say to thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou wilt thrice deny me.
35 Peter said to him, “Even if they kill me [while I am defending you], I will never say that I do not know you!” All [the rest of us] disciples also said the same [thing].
Cephas said to him: If I were to die with thee, I would not deny thee: and so also said all the disciples.
36 Then Jesus went with us to a place that is called {that people call} Gethsemane. There he said to [most of] us, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.”
Then came Jesus with them to a place called Gethsemane: and he said to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray.
37 He took Peter, James, and John with him. He became extremely distressed.
And he took Cephas and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be dejected and sorrowful.
38 Then he said to them, “I [SYN] am very sorrowful, so much so that I [feel as if I were] about to die! Remain here and stay awake with me!”
And he said to them: There is anguish in my soul, even unto death. Wait for me here; and watch with me.
39 After going a little further, he threw himself face down [on the ground]. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible [MTY], do not make me have to endure the suffering [that is coming] now. But do not do as I want. Instead, do as you want!”
And retiring a little, he fell on his face, and prayed, and said: My Father, if it can be so, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I choose, but as thou.
40 Then he returned to the [three] disciples and saw that they were sleeping. He [woke] Peter and said to him, “(I am disappointed that you [men fell asleep and] were not able to stay awake with me for just a short time!/Why were you men not able to stay awake with me for just one hour?) [RHQ]
And he came to his disciples, and found them asleep: and he said to Cephas: So! could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 You must keep alert and pray so that you can resist when you are tempted {something tempts you}. You want [to do what I tell you], but you [SYN] are not strong enough [to actually do it].”
Wake ye, and pray, lest ye fall into temptation. The mind is prepared, but the body is infirm.
42 He went away a second time. He prayed, “My Father, if it is necessary for me to suffer [LIT], may what you want happen!”
Again he went away the second time, and prayed, and said: My Father, if it cannot be that this cup pass, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 When he returned to the [three disciples], he saw that they were asleep [again]. They could not keep their eyes open [IDM].
And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So he left them and went away again. He prayed the third time, saying the same thing [that he had prayed before].
And he left them, and went again and prayed the third time, and used the same language.
45 Then he returned to us disciples. He [woke] us [up and] said to us, “(I am disappointed that you are still sleeping and resting!/Why are you still sleeping and resting?) [RHQ] [Look] Someone is about to enable sinful [men] to seize [me], the one who came from heaven!
Then he came to his disciples, and said to them: Sleep on now, and take rest. Behold, the hour is come: and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Get up! Let’s go [to meet them] Here comes the one who is enabling them to seize me!”
Arise, let us go. Behold, he that betrayeth me hath come.
47 While [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas [arrived. Even though he was] one of [us] twelve [disciples], he came [to enable Jesus’ enemies to seize him]. A large crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and elders {the chief priests and [Jewish] elders had sent them}.
And while he was yet speaking, lo, Judas the betrayer, one of the twelve, arrived; and a great multitude with him, with swords and clubs, from the presence of the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Judas had [previously] arranged to give them a signal, saying, “The man whom I will kiss is the one [you want]. Seize him!”
And Judas the betrayer had given them a sign, saying: He it is, whom I shall kiss: him seize ye.
49 He immediately went to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Teacher!” Then he kissed Jesus [on the neck/cheek].
And forthwith he approached Jesus, and said: Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Friend, is it [to kiss me] that you are here?” (OR, “Do what you have come for!”) Then [the men who came with Judas] stepped forward and seized Jesus.
And Jesus said to him: My friend, is it for this thou hast come? Then they came up, and laid their hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 Suddenly, one of the men who was with Jesus pulled his sword out [of its sheath]. He struck the servant of the high priest [to kill him], [but only] cut off his ear.
And lo, one of them with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
52 Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its sheath! All those who try to kill others with a sword will themselves be killed with a sword!
Then Jesus said to him: Return the sword to its place; for all they that take swords, shall die by swords.
53 Do you think that [RHQ] if I asked my Father, he would not immediately send more than (twelve armies of/72,000) angels to help me?
Supposest thou that I cannot ask of my Father, and he now assign me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 [But if I did that, what the prophets] have written in the Scriptures [about what will happen to the Messiah] would not be fulfilled {happen} [RHQ].”
But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd [that was seizing him], “(It is ridiculous that you have come [here] to seize me with swords and clubs, as [if I were] a bandit!/Have you come here to seize me with swords and clubs, as if I were a bandit?) [RHQ] Day after day I sat in the Temple [courtyard], teaching [the people]. Why did you not arrest me [then]?
At that time Jesus said to the multitude: Have ye come out, as against a cut-throat, with swords and clubs, to take me? I daily sat with you, and taught in the temple, and ye did not apprehend me.
56 But all this is happening to fulfill what the prophets [have written in] the Scriptures [about me].” Then all of us disciples deserted Jesus and ran away.
And this occurred, that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all forsook him and fled.
57 The men who had seized Jesus took him [to the house where] Caiaphas, the high priest, [lived]. The men who taught the [Jewish] laws and the [Jewish] elders had already gathered [there].
And they who apprehended Jesus carried him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the Scribes and Elders were assembled.
58 Peter followed [Jesus] at a distance. He came to the high priest’s courtyard. He entered [the courtyard] and sat down with the guards to see what would happen.
And Simon Cephas followed after him at a distance, unto the high priest's hall, and entered, and sat with the servants within, that he might see the issue.
59 The chief priests and the rest of the [Jewish] Council were trying to find people who would tell lies about Jesus so that they could [convince the Roman authorities to] execute him.
And the chief priests and the Elders and the whole assembly sought for witnesses against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
60 But even though many people spoke lies about him, they did not find anyone [who said anything that was useful]. Finally two men came forward
and found them not. And many false witnesses came; and at last, two came forward,
61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy God’s Temple and to rebuild it within three days.’”
and said: This man said, I can destroy the temple of God, and in three days rebuild it.
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to reply? What [do you say about] these things that they are saying [to accuse] you?”
And the high priest rose up and said to him: Respondest thou nothing? What do these testify against thee?
63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I command you to tell us [the truth], knowing that the all-powerful God [is listening to you]: Are you the Messiah, (the Son of God/the man who is also God)?”
And Jesus was silent. And the high priest answered, and said to him: I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Messiah, the Son of God.
64 Jesus replied, “Yes, [it is as] you say. But I will also say this to all of you: Some day you will see [me], the one who came from heaven, sitting beside [MTY] Almighty [God], and ruling. You will also see me coming on the clouds [from] heaven!”
Jesus saith to him: Thou hast said. And I say to you, That hereafter 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 outer garment. [That was the custom to show that he was shocked to hear Jesus say that he was equal to God]. Then he said, “This man has insulted God! He claims to be equal with God! (We certainly do not need anyone else to testify [against this man]!/Why should we seek any more people who will testify [against this man]?) [RHQ] You heard what he said!
Then the high priest rent his clothes, and said: Behold, he hath blasphemed! Why therefore should we seek for witnesses? Behold, ye have now heard his blasphemy.
66 What have you decided?” [The Jewish leaders] replied, “[According to our laws], he [is guilty and] deserves to be executed!”
What is your pleasure? They answered and said: He is liable to death.
67 Then [some of them] spat in his face. [Others] struck him with their fists. Others, [after they blindfolded him], slapped him
Then they spit in his face, and buffeted him, and others smote him,
68 and said, “[Since you claim that] [IRO] [you are] the Messiah, tell us who hit you!”
and said to him: Prophesy to us, thou Messiah, who is it smote thee?
69 Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came up to him [and looked at him]. She said, “You also were with Jesus, [that man] from Galilee [district]!”
And Cephas was sitting without in the hall, and a certain maid approached him, and said to him: Thou also wast with Jesus the Nazarean.
70 But while everyone there was listening, he denied it. He said, “I do not know what you are talking about!”
But he denied it before them all, and said: I know not what thou sayest.
71 Then he went out to the gateway of the courtyard. Another servant girl saw him and said to the people who were standing nearby, “This man was with Jesus, [the man] from Nazareth.”
And as he went out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said to them: This man was also there with Jesus the Nazarean.
72 But [Peter] again denied it. He said, “May God punish me [if I am lying]! I [tell you], I do not even know that man!”
And again he denied, with oaths: I know not that man.
73 After a little while, one of the people who were standing there approached Peter and said to him, “It is certain that you are one of those [who were with that man]. We can tell from your accent that you [are from Galilee.”]
And a little after, those standing there came up and said to Cephas: Certainly, thou too art one of them; and thy speech maketh thee manifest.
74 Then Peter began to proclaim loudly that God should curse him [if he was lying]. He asked God in heaven to witness [that he was telling the truth] and said, “I do not know that man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.
Then he began to imprecate and to swear, I know not that man. And in that hour the cock crew.
75 Then Peter remembered the words that Jesus had spoken [to him], “Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know me.” And Peter went [out of the courtyard], crying because he was very sad [about what he had done].
And Cephas remembered the declaration of Jesus, who said to him: Before the cock croweth, thou wilt three times deny me. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
