Matthew 26:45-75

45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. A large mob with swords and clubs was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48His betrayer had given them a sign: “The one I kiss, he’s the one; arrest him.”

49So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

50“Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?” Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.

51At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear.

52Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.

53Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels?

54How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

55At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me.

56But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away.

57Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened.

58Peter was following him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the servants to see the outcome.

59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death,

60but they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two who came forward

61stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

62The high priest stood up and said to him, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?”

63But Jesus kept silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64“You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you’ve heard the blasphemy.

66What is your decision?” They answered, “He deserves death!”

67Then they spat in his face and beat him; others slapped him

68and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who was it that hit you?”

69Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl approached him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”

70But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

71When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!”

72And again he denied it with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

73After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You really are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.”

74Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed,

75and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.