Matthew 26:26-75

261Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and 23after 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 4this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for 5many 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.”

306And after singing a 7hymn, they went out to 8the Mount of Olives.

31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all 910fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘11I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be 12scattered.’ 32But after I have been raised, 13I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all 14fall away because of You, I will never fall away!” 34Jesus said to him, “15Truly I say to you that 16this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35Peter said to Him, “17Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” All the disciples said the same thing as well.

3618Then Jesus came with them to a place called 1920Gethsemane, and told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37And He took 21Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38Then He said to them, “22My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and 23keep 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 24this cup pass from Me; 25yet 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 26keep watch with Me for one hour? 4127Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; 28the spirit is 29willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup 30cannot pass away unless I drink from it, 31Your 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, “32Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, 33the hour 34is 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!”

4735And while He was still speaking, behold, 36Judas, one of the twelve, came 37accompanied 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, 38Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50But Jesus said to him, “39Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.

51And behold, 40one of those who were with Jesus 41reached and drew his 42sword, and struck the 43slave of the high priest and 44cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for 45all 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 4647legions of 48angels? 54How then would 49the 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? 50Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me. 56But all this has taken place so that 51the Scriptures of the prophets will be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

5752Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to 53Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58But 54Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the 55courtyard of the high priest, and he came inside and sat down with the 5657officers to see the outcome.

59Now the chief priests and the entire 5859Council 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 60two came forward, 61and said, “This man stated, ‘61I am able to destroy the 62temple of God and to rebuild it 63in 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 64Jesus kept silent. 65And the high priest said to Him, “I 66place You under oath by 67the living God, to tell us whether You are the 68Christ, 69the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, “70You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see 71the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and 72coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65Then the high priest 73tore his 74robes 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, “75He deserves death!”

6776Then they 77spit in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others 78slapped Him, 68and said, “79Prophesy to us, You 80Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

6981Now Peter was sitting outside in the 82courtyard, 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, 83since even the way you talk 84gives 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 85made: “86Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.