The Plot to Kill Jesus
1 When Jesus had finished speaking all these words, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas. 4 They schemed together that they might arrest Jesus by deceit and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive fragrant oil, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8 But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
10 However, Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Most certainly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial to her.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?” They weighed out for him 30 pieces of silver. 16 From that time he sought the opportunity to betray Jesus.
The Last Supper
17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain person and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ”
19 The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
22 They were exceedingly sorrowful and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it Lord?”
23 He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go, just as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”
25 Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it Rabbi?”
He said to him, “You said it.”
The Lord’s Supper Instituted
26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “All of you, drink of it, 28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to fall away because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”
33 But Peter answered him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall.”
34 Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise.
Jesus Prays at Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.”
37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and became sorrowful and severely troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”
39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup be taken from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
40 He came to the disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter, “What, could you not watch with me for one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass from me unless I drink it, then your will be done.” 43 He came back and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44 He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Sleep on now and take your rest. The hour is at hand and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up. Let us be going. He who betrays me is at hand.”
Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest
47 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve came, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now the one who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.” 49 Immediately he came to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came, grabbed Jesus, and took him. 51 One of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I could not ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to seize me, like I were a robber? I sat daily in the temple teaching and you did not arrest me. 56 But all this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples ran away and left him.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
57 Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the outcome.
59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”
62 The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Now you have heard his blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”
They answered, “He is worthy of death!”
67 Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?”
Peter Denies Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a servant girl came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!” 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”
71 When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.”
73 After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man!”
Immediately the rooster crowed. 75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
Then he went out and wept bitterly.