Matthew 26:17–29

BETRAYAL AT THE PASSOVER

¹⁷On 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 place^A with my disciples.’ ”^{o 19}So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. ²⁰When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”^p

²²Deeply distressed, each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?”

²³He replied, “The one who dipped his hand with me in the bowl—he will betray me. ²⁴The 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.”

²⁵Judas, his betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”^r

“You have said it,” he told him.

THE FIRST LORD’S SUPPER

²⁶As 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. ²⁸For this is my blood of the covenant,^B 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