Matthew 26

The Plot Against Jesus

1When Jesus finished all these words, he said to his disciples, 2“You know that after two days the Passover comes, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 3Then the chief priests and elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas, 4and they plotted to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5But they said, “Not during the festival, so that there will not be a riot among the people.”

A Woman Anoints Jesus

6While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume and poured it on his head while he was reclining at the table. 8When the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, “Why this waste? 9This could have been sold for a great deal and the money given to the poor.” 10But Jesus knew what they were saying and told them, “Why are you troubling the woman? She has done a beautiful work for me. 11You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. 12When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas Agrees to Hand Jesus Over

14Then one of the twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty silver coins. 16From then on he began looking for an opportunity to hand Jesus over.

Passover with the Disciples

17On the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19The disciples did as Jesus directed them and prepared the Passover. 20When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the twelve. 21While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will hand me over.” 22They became deeply grieved and began asking him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23He answered, “The one who dipped his hand with me in the bowl will hand me over. 24The Son of Man goes just as it is written about him, but woe to the person through whom the Son of Man is handed over. It would have been better for that person not to have been born.” 25Judas, the one handing him over, answered, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus told him, “You said it.”

Bread and Cup

26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat. This is my body.” 27Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 28because this is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will certainly not drink again from this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” 30After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Peter's Denial Foretold

31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night, because it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33Peter answered him, “Even if everyone else falls away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34Jesus told him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35Peter said to him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” All the disciples said the same.

Gethsemane

36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him and began to be grieved and deeply distressed. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.” 39Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I want, but as you want.” 40He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me for one hour? 41Watch and pray so that you do not enter into testing. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43He came again and found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44Leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same words. 45Then he came to the disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has drawn near, and the Son of Man is being handed over into sinners' hands. 46Get up; let us go. Look, the one handing me over has drawn near.”

Jesus Is Arrested

47While he was still speaking, look—Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48The one handing Jesus over had given them a sign: “The one I kiss is he. Arrest him.” 49He immediately came to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then they came, laid hands on Jesus, and arrested him. 51And look—one of those with Jesus reached out his hand, drew his sword, struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place, because all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53Or do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he would at once provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” 55At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a robber? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus Before the Council

57Those who arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered. 58Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the high priest's courtyard. He went inside and sat with the guards to see how it would end. 59The chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put him to death, 60but they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy God's temple and rebuild it in three days.’” 62The high priest stood and said to Jesus, “Do you answer nothing? What are these people testifying against you?” 63But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God: tell us if you are the Christ, God's Son.” 64Jesus said to him, “You said it. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?”

Peter Denies Jesus

69Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70But he denied it before everyone: “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71When he went out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to those there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72Again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73After a little while, those standing there came to Peter and said, “Surely you also are one of them, because your accent gives you away.” 74Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went outside and wept bitterly.