Matthew 26:17–56

Betrayal at the Passover

¹⁷On the first day of Unleavened Bread ^rthe disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare the Passover so You may eat it?”

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 ^swith My disciples.’ ” ^t19So 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, “I assure you: One of you will betray Me.” ^u

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, ^vbut woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

²⁵Then Judas, His betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” ^w

“You have said it,” He told him.

The First Lord’s Supper

²⁶As they were eating, ^xJesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, ^yand said, “Take and eat it; this is My body.” ^z27Then 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 that establishes the covenant; ^ait is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. ^b29But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way ^cin My Father’s kingdom ^dwith you.” ³⁰After singing psalms, ^ethey went out to the Mount of Olives. ^f

Peter’s Denial Predicted

³¹Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will run away ^gbecause of Me, for it is written:

I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. ^hi

³²But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” ^j

³³Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away!”

³⁴“I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!” ^k

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.

The Prayer in the Garden

³⁶Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, ^lmand He told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. ⁿ³⁸Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow ^o—to the point of death. ^pRemain here and stay awake with Me.” ^q39Going a little farther, ^rHe 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.” ^s

⁴⁰Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you ^tstay awake with Me one hour? ⁴¹Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴²Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this ^ucannot pass ^vunless I drink it, Your will be done.” ^w43And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. ^x

⁴⁴After leaving them, He went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. ⁴⁵Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? ^yLook, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ^z46Get up; let’s go! See, My betrayer is near.”

The Judas Kiss

⁴⁷While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. ^aA large mob, with swords and clubs, was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. ⁴⁸His betrayer had given them a sign: “The One I kiss, He’s the One; arrest Him!” ⁴⁹So he went right up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

⁵⁰“Friend,” ^bJesus asked him, “why have you come?” ^c

Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him. ⁵¹At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his ear. ^d

⁵²Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword. ^e53Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions ^fof angels? ^g54How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled ^hthat say it must happen this way?”

⁵⁵At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, ⁱto capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the ^•temple complex, and you didn’t arrest Me. ^j56But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures ^klwould be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples ^mdeserted Him and ran away.