Matthew 26:20–35

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 30}After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.^x

PETER’S DENIAL PREDICTED

³¹Then 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.^Cy

³²But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”^z

³³Peter 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.