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Matthew 26

New International Version



1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away – and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’ 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 ‘But not during the festival,’ they said, ‘or there may be a riot among the people.’ 



6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. 9 ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’ 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[1] but you will not always have me. (De 15:11) 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’ 



14 Then one of the Twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests 15 and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. 



17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ 18 He replied, ‘Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, “The Teacher says: my appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.” ’ 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?’ 23 Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.’ 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?’ Jesus answered, ‘You have said so.’ 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[2] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’ 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 



31 Then Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘ “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” (Zec 13:7) 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’ 33 Peter replied, ‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.’ 34 ‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.’ 35 But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same. 



36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’ 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter. 41 ‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ 42 He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’ 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!’ 



47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.’ 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, ‘Do what you came for, friend.’[3] Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’ 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. 



57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, ‘This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.” ’ 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ 64 ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied. ‘But I say to all of you: from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’[4] (Ps 110:1; Da 7:13) 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?’ ‘He is worthy of death,’ they answered. 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, ‘Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?’ 



69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him. ‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee,’ she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant-girl saw him and said to the people there, ‘This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ 72 He denied it again, with an oath: ‘I don’t know the man!’ 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, ‘Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.’ 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know the man!’ Immediately a cock crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly. 

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Matthew 26

English Standard Version



1 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, 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.” (Mt 20:18; Mt 26:24; Mr 14:1; Lu 22:1; Joh 6:4) 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, (Ps 2:2; Mt 26:57; Mt 26:58; Mt 26:69; Lu 3:2; Lu 11:21; Joh 11:47; Joh 11:49; Joh 18:13; Joh 18:15; Ac 4:6; Ac 4:27; Re 11:2) 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. (Mt 21:46; Joh 11:53) 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” (Mt 27:24) 



6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,[1] (Mt 21:17; Mr 14:3; Lu 7:37; Joh 11:18; Joh 12:1) 7 a 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. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” (Joh 13:29) 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. (Mt 16:8) 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. (De 15:11; Mt 9:15; Joh 7:33) 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. (Joh 19:40) 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” (Mt 24:14; Ac 10:4) 



14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests (Mt 10:4; Mt 27:3; Mr 14:10; Lu 22:3; Joh 6:71; Joh 12:4; Joh 13:2; Joh 13:27; Joh 13:30; Ac 1:16) 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. (Ge 23:16; Ex 21:32; Jer 32:9; Zec 11:12; Mt 27:3; Mt 27:9) 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. (Mt 20:18) 



17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” (Ex 12:18; Mr 14:12; Lu 22:7) 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” (Mt 26:45; Joh 7:6; Joh 7:8; Joh 7:30; Joh 8:20; Joh 11:28; Joh 13:1; Joh 17:1) 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.[2] (Mr 14:17; Lu 22:14; Lu 22:21; Joh 13:21) 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (Joh 6:70) 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. (Joh 13:18) 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (Mt 18:7; Mt 26:54; Mt 26:56; Mr 9:12; Lu 18:31; Lu 24:25; Lu 24:46; Joh 17:12; Ac 17:2; Ac 26:22; 1Co 15:3; 1Pe 1:10) 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” (Mt 26:49; Mt 26:64; Lu 22:70; Joh 1:38) 



26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” (Mt 14:19; Mr 14:22; Lu 22:18; Joh 6:53; 1Co 10:16; 1Co 11:23) 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, (Mt 15:36) 28 for this is my blood of the[3] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Ex 24:8; Zec 9:11; Mt 20:28; Mt 26:26; Mr 1:4; Lu 1:77; Heb 13:20) 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Mt 13:43) 



30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mt 21:1; Mr 14:26; Lu 22:39; Joh 18:1) 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (Zec 13:7; Joh 16:32) 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” (Mt 28:7; Mt 28:10; Mt 28:16; Mr 16:7) 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” (Lu 22:31; Lu 22:33) 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” (Mt 26:75; Lu 22:34; Joh 13:38) 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. (Lu 22:33; Joh 13:37) 



36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” (Mt 26:30; Mr 14:32; Lu 22:40) 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. (Mt 4:21; Mt 17:1) 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch[4] with me.” (Ps 42:5; Mt 24:42; Joh 12:27) 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Mt 20:22; Mt 26:42; Joh 5:30; Joh 6:38; Php 2:8; Heb 5:7) 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mt 6:13; Mt 26:38; 1Pe 4:7) 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Mt 6:10; Mt 26:39) 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. (Lu 9:32) 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. (2Co 12:8) 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.[5] See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Mt 17:22; Mt 20:18; Mt 26:18; Lu 22:53; Joh 12:23; Joh 12:27; Joh 13:1; Joh 17:1) 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” 



47 While he was still speaking, Judas 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. (Mt 26:14; Mr 14:43; Lu 22:47; Joh 18:3; Ac 1:16) 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. (Mt 26:25) 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.”[6] Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. (Mt 20:13; Mt 22:12; Joh 13:27) 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant[7] of the high priest and cut off his ear. (Lu 22:38) 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. (Ge 9:6; Eze 35:6; Re 13:10) 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? (2Ki 6:17; Da 7:10; Mt 4:11; Lu 8:30; Lu 22:43; Joh 10:18; Joh 18:36) 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Mt 1:22; Mt 26:24) 55 At 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 I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. (Mt 4:23; Mt 21:23; Lu 2:46; Joh 8:2; Joh 18:20) 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. (Ps 88:8; Ps 88:18; Mt 26:31; Mt 26:54; Joh 16:32) 



57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. (Mt 26:3; Mr 14:53; Lu 22:54; Joh 18:12; Joh 18:19) 58 And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. (Mt 26:57; Joh 7:32; Joh 18:3; Joh 18:15) 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council[8] were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, (Ac 6:11) 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward (De 19:15; Ps 27:12; Ps 35:11) 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” (Mt 27:40; Joh 2:19; Ac 6:14) 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”[9] 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Le 5:1; 1Sa 14:24; 1Sa 14:26; Isa 53:7; Mt 1:17; Mt 14:33; Mt 16:16; Mt 22:42; Mt 27:12; Mt 27:14; Mr 5:7; Lu 22:67; Joh 10:24; Joh 19:9) 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Ps 110:1; Mt 16:27; Mt 24:30; Mt 26:25; Mr 16:19; Heb 1:3) 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. (Nu 14:6; Mt 9:3; Joh 10:36; Ac 14:14) 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” (Le 24:16) 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, (Isa 50:6; Mt 5:39; Mt 27:30; Mr 10:34; Lu 22:63; Joh 18:22; Ac 23:2) 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” (Mt 26:63) 



69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” (Mt 26:3; Mr 14:66; Lu 22:55; Joh 18:16; Joh 18:25) 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” (Mt 2:23) 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” (Jud 12:6) 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Mt 26:34; Ac 3:13) 

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The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.