Matthew 26
26
Plot to kill Jesus
1When Jesus finished speaking all these words, he said to his disciples, 2“You know that the Passover is two days from now. And the Human One#26.2 Or Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3Then the chief priests and elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of Caiaphas the high priest. 4They were plotting to arrest Jesus by cunning tricks and to kill him. 5But they agreed that it shouldn’t happen during the feast so there wouldn’t be an uproar among the people.
A woman pouring perfume on Jesus
6When Jesus was at Bethany visiting the house of Simon, who had a skin disease, 7a woman came to him with a vase made of alabaster containing very expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus’ head while he was sitting at dinner. 8Now when the disciples saw it they were angry and said, “Why this waste? 9This perfume could have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor.”
10But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said, “Why do you make trouble for the woman? She’s done a good thing for me. 11You always have the poor with you, but you won’t always have me. 12By pouring this perfume over my body she’s prepared me to be buried. 13I tell you the truth that wherever in the whole world this good news is announced, what she’s done will also be told in memory of her.”
Judas betrays Jesus
14Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What will you give me if I turn Jesus over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16From that time on he was looking for an opportunity to turn him in.
Passover with the disciples
17On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”
18He replied, “Go into the city, to a certain man, and say, ‘The teacher says,“My time is near. I’m going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’” 19The disciples did just as Jesus instructed them. They prepared the Passover.
20That evening he took his place at the table with the twelve disciples. 21As they were eating he said, “I assure you that one of you will betray me.”
22Deeply saddened, each one said to him, “I’m not the one, am I, Lord?”
23He replied, “The one who will betray me is the one who dips his hand with me into this bowl. 24The Human One#26.24 Or Son of Man goes to his death just as it is written about him. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays the Human One!#26.24 Or Son of Man It would have been better for him if he had never been born.”
25Now Judas, who would betray him, replied, “It’s not me, is it, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You said it.”
Last supper
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take and eat. This is my body.” 27He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. 28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many so that their sins may be forgiven. 29I tell you, I won’t drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30Then, after singing songs of praise, they went to the Mount of Olives.
Predictions about disciples leaving Jesus
31Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Tonight you will all fall away because of me. This is because it is written, I will hit the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will go off in all directions.#26.31 Zech 13:7 32But after I’m raised up, I’ll go before you to Galilee.”
33Peter replied, “If everyone else stumbles because of you, I’ll never stumble.”
34Jesus said to him, “I assure you that, before the rooster crows tonight, you will deny me three times.”
35Peter said, “Even if I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.” All the disciples said the same thing.
Jesus in prayer
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” 37When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. 38Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.” 39Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”
40He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me? 41Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.” 42A second time he went away and prayed, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this cup be taken away unless I drink it, then let it be what you want.”
43Again he came and found them sleeping. Their eyes were heavy with sleep. 44But he left them and again went and prayed the same words for the third time. 45Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night? Look, the time has come for the Human One#26.45 Or Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Get up. Let’s go. Look, here comes my betrayer.”
Arrest
47While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came. With him was a large crowd carrying swords and clubs. They had been sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. 48His betrayer had given them a sign: “Arrest the man I kiss.” 49Just then he came to Jesus and said, “Hello, Rabbi.” Then he kissed him.
50But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
51One of those with Jesus reached for his sword. Striking the high priest’s slave, he cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put the sword back into its place. All those who use the sword will die by the sword. 53Or do you think that I’m not able to ask my Father and he will send to me more than twelve battle groups#26.53 Or legions (of the Roman army, about five thousand soldiers each) of angels right away? 54But if I did that, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this must happen?” 55Then Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me, like a thief? Day after day, I sat in the temple teaching, but you didn’t arrest me. 56But all this has happened so that what the prophets said in the scriptures might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Jesus and ran away.
Jesus before the council
57Those who arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest. The legal experts and the elders had gathered there. 58Peter followed him from a distance until he came to the high priest’s courtyard. He entered that area and sat outside with the officers to see how it would turn out.
59The chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60They didn’t find anything they could use from the many false witnesses who were willing to come forward. But finally they found two 61who said, “This man said, ‘I can destroy God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’”
62Then the high priest stood and said to Jesus, “Aren’t you going to respond to the testimony these people have brought against you?”
63But Jesus was silent.
The high priest said, “By the living God, I demand that you tell us whether you are the Christ, God’s Son.”
64“You said it,” Jesus replied. “But I say to you that from now on you’ll see the Human One#26.64 Or Son of Man sitting on the right side of the Almighty#26.64 Or the Power and coming on the heavenly clouds.”#26.64 Dan 7:13
65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He’s insulting God! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, you’ve heard his insult against God. 66What do you think?”
And they answered, “He deserves to die!” 67Then they spit in his face and beat him. They hit him 68and said, “Prophesy for us, Christ! Who hit you?”
Peter’s denial
69Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant woman came and said to him, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.”
70But he denied it in front of all of them, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
71When he went over to the gate, another woman saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”
72With a solemn pledge, he denied it again, saying, “I don’t know the man.”
73A short time later those standing there came and said to Peter, “You must be one of them. The way you talk gives you away.”
74Then he cursed and swore, “I don’t know the man!” At that very moment the rooster crowed. 75Peter remembered Jesus’ words, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.”And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably.
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Matthew 26: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Matthew 26
26
The Plan to Kill Jesus
1Jesus finished saying all these things. Then he said to his disciples, 2“As you know, the Passover Feast is two days away. The Son of Man will be handed over to be nailed to a cross.”
3Then the chief priests met with the elders of the people. They met in the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest. 4They made plans to arrest Jesus secretly. They wanted to kill him. 5“But not during the feast,” they said. “The people may stir up trouble.”
A Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus
6Jesus was in Bethany. He was in the home of Simon, who had a skin disease. 7A woman came to Jesus with a special sealed jar of very expensive perfume. She poured the perfume on his head while he was at the table.
8When the disciples saw this, they became angry. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9“The perfume could have been sold at a high price. The money could have been given to poor people.”
10Jesus was aware of this. So he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11You will always have poor people with you. But you will not always have me. 12She poured the perfume on my body to prepare me to be buried. 13What I’m about to tell you is true. What she has done will be told anywhere this good news is preached all over the world. It will be told in memory of her.”
Judas Agrees to Hand Jesus Over
14One of the 12 disciples went to the chief priests. His name was Judas Iscariot. 15He asked, “What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” So they counted out 30 silver coins for him. 16From then on, Judas watched for the right time to hand Jesus over to them.
The Lord’s Supper
17It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The disciples came to Jesus. They asked, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”
18He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ ” 19So the disciples did what Jesus had told them to do. They prepared the Passover meal.
20When evening came, Jesus was at the table with his 12 disciples. 21While they were eating, he said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. One of you will hand me over to my enemies.”
22The disciples became very sad. One after the other, they began to say to him, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord, do you?”
23Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will hand me over. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
25Judas was the one who was going to hand him over. He said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Teacher, do you?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.”
27Then he took a cup. He gave thanks and handed it to them. He said, “All of you drink from it. 28This is my blood of the covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many people. 29Here is what I tell you. From now on, I won’t drink wine with you again until the day I drink it with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Says That the Disciples Will Turn Away
31Jesus told them, “This very night you will all turn away because of me. It is written that the Lord said,
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd down.
Then the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (Zechariah 13:7)
32But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33Peter replied, “All the others may turn away because of you. But I never will.”
34“What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered. “It will happen tonight. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”
35But Peter said, “I may have to die with you. But I will never say I don’t know you.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him. He began to be sad and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is very sad. I feel close to death. Stay here. Keep watch with me.”
39He went a little farther. Then he fell with his face to the ground. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.”
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray. Then you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
42Jesus went away a second time. He prayed, “My Father, is it possible for this cup to be taken away? But if I must drink it, may what you want be done.”
43Then he came back. Again he found them sleeping. They couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44So he left them and went away once more. For the third time he prayed the same thing.
45Then he returned to the disciples. He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look! The hour has come. The Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners. 46Get up! Let us go! Here comes the one who is handing me over to them!”
Jesus Is Arrested
47While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived. He was one of the 12 disciples. A large crowd was with him. They were carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests and the elders of the people had sent them. 48Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, had arranged a signal with them. “The one I kiss is the man,” he said. “Arrest him.” 49So Judas went to Jesus at once. He said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
50Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came to do.”
Then the men stepped forward. They grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51At that moment, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword. He pulled it out and struck the slave of the high priest with it. He cut off the slave’s ear.
52“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “All who use the sword will die by the sword. 53Do you think I can’t ask my Father for help? He would send an army of more than 70,000 angels right away. 54But then how would the Scriptures come true? They say it must happen in this way.”
55At that time Jesus spoke to the crowd. “Am I leading a band of armed men against you?” he asked. “Do you have to come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courtyard teaching. And you didn’t arrest me. 56But all this has happened so that the words of the prophets would come true.” Then all the disciples left him and ran away.
Jesus Is Taken to the Sanhedrin
57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest. The teachers of the law and the elders had come together there. 58Not too far away, Peter followed Jesus. He went right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see what would happen.
59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for something to use against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. 60But they did not find any proof, even though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally, two other witnesses came forward. 61They said, “This fellow claimed, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God. I can build it again in three days.’ ”
62Then the high priest stood up. He asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? What are these charges that these men are bringing against you?” 63But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I am commanding you in the name of the living God. May he judge you if you don’t tell the truth. Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But here is what I say to all of you. From now on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65Then the high priest tore his clothes. He said, “He has spoken a very evil thing against God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard him say this evil thing. 66What do you think?”
“He must die!” they answered.
67Then they spit in his face. They hit him with their fists. Others slapped him. 68They said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit you?”
Peter Says He Does Not Know Jesus
69Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. A female servant came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70But in front of all of them, Peter said he was not. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71Then he went out to the gate leading into the courtyard. There another servant saw him. She said to the people, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72Again he said he was not. With a curse he said, “I don’t know the man!”
73After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter. “You must be one of them,” they said. “The way you talk gives you away.”
74Then Peter began to curse and said to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Right away a rooster crowed. 75Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said. “The rooster will crow,” Jesus had told him. “Before it does, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Peter went outside. He broke down and cried.
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