JUDAS’S BETRAYAL OF JESUS

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.

JESUS FACES THE SANHEDRIN

57 Thoseo who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphasp the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened. 58 Peter was following him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the servants to see the outcome.q

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death,r 60 but they could not find any, even though many false witnessess came forward.G Finally, twoH who came forward 61 stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of Godt and rebuild it in three days.’ ”

62 The high priest stood up and said to him, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 63 Butu Jesus kept silent.v The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oathw by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”x

64 “You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the futureI you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”J,y

65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed!z Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you’ve heard the blasphemy.aa 66 What is your decision?”

They answered, “He deserves death!”ab 67 Then they spat in his faceac and beat him; others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who was it that hit you?”ad