Matthew 26:21-75

21As they were eating, He said, “1Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22Being deeply grieved, they 2each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23And He answered, “3He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24The Son of Man is to go, 4just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! 5It would have been good 6for that man if he had not been born.” 25And 7Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, 8Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “9You have said it yourself.”

2610While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and 1112after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for 13this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for 14many for forgiveness of sins. 29But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

3015After singing a hymn, they went out to 16the Mount of Olives.

31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all 1718fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘19I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be 20scattered.’ 32But after I have been raised, 21I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may 22fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34Jesus said to him, “23Truly I say to you that 24this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35Peter said to Him, “25Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

3626Then Jesus came with them to a place called 27Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37And He took with Him 28Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38Then He said to them, “29My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and 30keep watch with Me.”

39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let 31this cup pass from Me; 32yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not 33keep watch with Me for one hour? 4134Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; 35the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this 36cannot pass away unless I drink it, 37Your will be done.” 43Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “38Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, 39the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

4740While He was still speaking, behold, 41Judas, one of the twelve, came up 42accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, 43Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50And Jesus said to him, “44Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

51And behold, 45one of those who were with Jesus 46reached and drew out his 47sword, and struck the 48slave of the high priest and 49cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for 50all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve 5152legions of 53angels? 54How then will 54the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

55At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? 55Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. 56But all this has taken place to fulfill 56the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

5757Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to 58Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58But 59Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the 60courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the 6162officers to see the outcome.

59Now the chief priests and the whole 6364Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. 60They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on 65two came forward, 61and said, “This man stated, ‘66I am able to destroy the 67temple of God and to rebuild it 68in three days.’” 62The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” 63But 69Jesus kept silent. 70And the high priest said to Him, “I 7172adjure You by 73the living God, that You tell us whether You are 74the Christ, 75the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, “76You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, 77hereafter you will see 78the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and 79coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65Then the high priest 80tore his 81robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; 66what do you think?” They answered, “82He deserves death!”

6783Then they 84spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others 85slapped Him, 68and said, “86Prophesy to us, You 87Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

6988Now Peter was sitting outside in the 89courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; 90for even the way you talk 91gives you away.” 74Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “92Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.