Mark 14:43-72

43While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders.

44Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him and lead Him away securely.” 45Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

46Then the men seized Jesus and arrested Him. 47And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48Jesus asked the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? 49Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts,1 and you did not arrest Me. But this has happened that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.”

50Then everyone deserted Him and fled. 51One young man who had been following Jesus was wearing a linen cloth around his body. They caught hold of him, 52but he pulled free of the linen cloth and ran away naked.

53They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and scribes assembled. 54Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the officers and warmed himself by the fire.

55Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin2 were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any. 56For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent.

57Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him: 58“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’” 59But even their testimony was inconsistent.

60So the high priest stood up before them and questioned Jesus, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

61But Jesus remained silent and made no reply.

Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power3 and coming with the clouds of heaven.”4

63At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?”

And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.

65Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.

66While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came down 67and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”

68But he denied it. “I do not know or even understand what you are talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, and the rooster crowed.5

69There the servant girl saw him and again said to those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

70But he denied it again.

After a little while, those standing nearby said once more to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you too are a Galilean.”6

71But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!” 72And immediately the rooster crowed a second time.

Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.