Matthew 26:47–56

The Arrest of Jesus

⁴⁷Jesus was still speaking when Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs and sent by the chief priests and the elders. ⁴⁸The traitor had given the crowd a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want. Arrest him!”

⁴⁹Judas went straight to Jesus and said, “Peace be with you, Teacher,” and kissed him.

⁵⁰Jesus answered, “Be quick about it, friend!”^a

Then they came up, arrested Jesus, and held him tight. ⁵¹One of those who were with Jesus drew his sword and struck at the High Priest’s slave, cutting off his ear. ⁵²“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “All who take the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³Don’t you know that I could call on my Father for help, and at once he would send me more than twelve armies of angels? ⁵⁴But in that case, how could the Scriptures come true which say that this is what must happen?”

^55*Then Jesus spoke to the crowd, “Did you have to come with swords and clubs to capture me, as though I were an outlaw? Every day I sat down and taught in the Temple, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶But all this has happened in order to make what the prophets wrote in the Scriptures come true.”

Then all the disciples left him and ran away.