Matthew 26:21-75

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

269Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and 1011after 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 12this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for 13many 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 with you, new, in My Father’s kingdom.”

3014And after singing a 15hymn, 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 the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be 20scattered.’ 32But after I have been raised, 21I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all 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 as well.

3626Then Jesus came with them to a place called 2728Gethsemane, and told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37And He took 29Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38Then He said to them, “30My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and 31keep 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 32this cup pass from Me; 33yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “So, you men could not 34keep watch with Me for one hour? 4135Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; 36the spirit is 37willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup 38cannot pass away unless I drink from it, 39Your 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, “40Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, 41the hour 42is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!”

4743And while He was still speaking, behold, 44Judas, one of the twelve, came 45accompanied 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 previously, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; arrest Him.” 49And immediately Judas went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, 46Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50But Jesus said to him, “47Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.

51And behold, 48one of those who were with Jesus 49reached and drew his 50sword, and struck the 51slave of the high priest and 52cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for 53all those who take up the sword will 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 5455legions of 56angels? 54How then would 57the 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 man inciting a revolt? 58Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me. 56But all this has taken place so that 59the Scriptures of the prophets will be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

5760Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to 61Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58But 62Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the 63courtyard of the high priest, and he came inside and sat down with the 6465officers to see the outcome.

59Now the chief priests and the entire 6667Council 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 68two came forward, 61and said, “This man stated, ‘69I am able to destroy the 70temple of God and to rebuild it 71in three days.’” 62The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You offer no answer for what these men are testifying against You?” 63But 72Jesus kept silent. 73And the high priest said to Him, “I 74place You under oath by 75the living God, to tell us whether You are the 76Christ, 77the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, “78You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see 79the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and 80coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65Then the high priest 81tore his 82robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See, you have now heard the blasphemy; 66what do you think?” They answered, “83He deserves death!”

6784Then they 85spit in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others 86slapped Him, 68and said, “87Prophesy to us, You 88Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

6989Now Peter was sitting outside in the 90courtyard, and a slave woman 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 slave woman 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, “You really are one of them as well, 91since even the way you talk 92gives you away.” 74Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the Man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75And Peter remembered the statement that Jesus had 93made: “94Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.