Matthew 26:3-57

3 ^aThen the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in ^bthe palace of the high priest, whose name was ^cCaiaphas, 4 ^dand plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5But they said, “Not during the feast, ^elest there be an uproar among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

6 ^fNow when Jesus was at ^gBethany in the house of Simon the leper, ▼

▼Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

7a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9For this could have been sold for a large sum and ⁱgiven to the poor.” 10But ^jJesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11For ^kyou always have the poor with you, but ^lyou will not always have me. 12In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it ^mto prepare me for burial. 13Truly, I say to you, wherever ⁿthis gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told ^oin memory of her.”

Judas to Betray Jesus

14 ^pThen one of the twelve, whose name was ^qJudas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they ^rpaid him ^sthirty pieces of silver. 16And from that moment he sought an opportunity ^tto betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples

17 ^uNow on ^vthe first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ^w‘The Teacher says, ^xMy time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

20 ^yWhen it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. ▼

▼Some manuscripts add disciples

21And as they were eating, ^aahe said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23He answered, ^ab“He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes ^acas it is written of him, but ^adwoe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ^aeIt would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, ^afRabbi?” He said to him, ^ag“You have said so.”

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

26 ^ahNow as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and ^aiafter blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; ^ajthis is my body.” 27And he took a cup, and when he ^akhad given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28for ^althis is my ^amblood of the ▼

▼Some manuscripts insert new

covenant, which is poured out for ^aomany ^apfor the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you ^aqin my Father’s kingdom.”

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial

30 ^arAnd when they had sung a hymn, ^asthey went out to ^atthe Mount of Olives. 31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will ^austrike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I am raised up, ^avI will go before you to Galilee.” 33 ^awPeter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 ^axJesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, ^aybefore the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 ^azPeter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

36 ^baThen Jesus went with them ^bbto a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37And taking with him ^bcPeter and ^bdthe two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, ^be“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and ^bfwatch ▼

▼Or keep awake; also verses 40, 41

with me.” 39And going a little farther he fell on his face ^bhand prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let ^bithis cup pass from me; ^bjnevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 ^bkWatch and ^blpray that you ^bmmay not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, ^bnyour will be done.” 43And again he came and found them sleeping, for ^botheir eyes were heavy. 44So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for ^bpthe third time, saying the same words again. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. ▼

▼Or Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?

See, ^brthe hour is at hand, and ^bsthe Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

47 ^btWhile he was still speaking, ^buJudas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, ^bvRabbi!” And he kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, ^bw“Friend, ^bxdo what you came to do.” ▼

▼Or  Friend, why are you here?

Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his ^bzsword and struck the servant ▼

▼Greek bondservant

of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For ^cball who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 ^ccDo you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me ^cdmore than twelve ^celegions of angels? 54 ^cfBut how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day ^cgI sat in the temple ^chteaching, and you did not seize me. 56But ^ciall this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” ^cjThen all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council

57 ^ckThen ^clthose who had seized Jesus led him to ^cmCaiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.