Matthew 26:17–56
17 On the first day of Unleavened Breadn the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18 “Go into the city to a certain man,” he said, “and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your placeD with my disciples.’ ”o 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”p
22 Deeply distressed, each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?”
23 He replied, “The one who dipped his hand with me in the bowl—he will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him,q but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Judas, his betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”r
“You have said it,” he told him.
26 As they were eating,s Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples,t and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.”u 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant,E which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.v 29 But 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.”w 30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.x
31 Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written:
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.F,y
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”z
33 Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”aa
35 “Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing.
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,ab and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.a 38 He said to them, “I am deeply grievedA to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”b 39 Going a little farther,B he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”c
40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if thisC cannot passD unless I drink it, your will be done.”d 43 And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.
44 After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.e 46 Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived.f A large mob with swords and clubs was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 His betrayer had given them a sign: “The one I kiss, he’s the one; arrest him.” 49 So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 “Friend,”g Jesus asked him, “why have you come?”E
Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. 51 At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear.h
52 Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.i 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels?j 54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilledk that say it must happen this way?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,F to capture me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me.l 56 But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophetsm would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciplesn deserted him and ran away.