Matthew 26:51-75

51And behold, 1one of those who were with Jesus 2reached and drew his 3sword, and struck the 4slave of the high priest and 5cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for 6all 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 78legions of 9angels? 54How then would 10the 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? 11Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me. 56But all this has taken place so that 12the Scriptures of the prophets will be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

5713Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to 14Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58But 15Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the 16courtyard of the high priest, and he came inside and sat down with the 1718officers to see the outcome.

59Now the chief priests and the entire 1920Council 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 21two came forward, 61and said, “This man stated, ‘22I am able to destroy the 23temple of God and to rebuild it 24in 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 25Jesus kept silent. 26And the high priest said to Him, “I 27place You under oath by 28the living God, to tell us whether You are the 29Christ, 30the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, “31You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see 32the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and 33coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65Then the high priest 34tore his 35robes 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, “36He deserves death!”

6737Then they 38spit in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others 39slapped Him, 68and said, “40Prophesy to us, You 41Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

6942Now Peter was sitting outside in the 43courtyard, 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, 44since even the way you talk 45gives 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 46made: “47Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.