Matthew 26:47–27:26

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

47 And while* he was still speaking, behold, Judas—one of the twelve—arrived, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now the one who was betraying him had given them a sign, saying, “The one whom I kiss—he is the one.* Arrest him!” 49 And he came up to Jesus immediately and* said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do that* for which you have come.”i Then they came up and* laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.

51 And behold, one of those with Jesus extended his* hand and* drew his sword, and striking the slave of the high priest, cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place! For all who take up the sword will die by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot call upon my Father, and he would put at my disposal at once more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen in this way?”

55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to arrest me? Every day in the temple courts* I sat teaching, and you did not arrest me! 56 But all this has happened in order that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then the disciples all abandoned him and* fled.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

57 Now those who had arrested Jesus led him* away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. And he went inside and* was sitting with the officers to see the outcome. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order that they could put him to death. 60 And they did not find it,* although* many false witnesses came forward. And finally two came forward 61 and* said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it* within three days.’ ” 62 And the high priest stood up and* said to him, “Do you reply nothing? What are these people testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God, that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it.* But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Powerj and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes, saying, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have just now heard the blasphemy! 66 What do you think?” And they answered and* said, “⌊He deserves death⌋!”k 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists, and they slapped him,* 68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who is it who hit you?”

Peter Denies Jesus Three Times

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a female slave came up to him and* said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it* in the presence of them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean!” 71 And when he* went out to the gateway, another female slavel saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72 And again he denied it* with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 73 And after a little while those who were standing there came up and* said to Peter, “You really are one of them also, because even your accent ⌊reveals who you are⌋.”m 74 Then he began to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the statement Jesus had said, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times,” and he went outside and* wept bitterly.

Jesus Taken to Pilate

27 Now when it* was early morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus in order to put him to death. 2 And after* tying him up, they led him* away and handed him* over to Pilate the governor.

The Suicide of Judas Iscariot

3 Then when* Judas, the one who had betrayed him, saw that he had been condemned, he regretted what he had done* and* returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by* betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”* 5 And throwing the silver coins into the temple he departed. And he went away and* hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver coins and* said, “It is not permitted to put them into the temple treasury, because it is ⌊blood money⌋.”a 7 And after* taking counsel, they purchased ⌊with⌋b them the Potter’s Field, for a burial place for strangers. 8 (For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood until today.) 9 Then what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled, who said, “And they took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one who had been priced, on whom a price had been set by the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord directed me.”c

Jesus Before Pilate

11 So Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And Jesus said, “You say so.” 12 And ⌊when he was being accused⌋d by the chief priests and elders he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” 14 And he did not reply to him, not even with reference to one statement, so that the governor was very astonished.

Pilate Releases Barabbas

15 Now at each feast, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd—the one whom they wanted. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner named Jesuse Barabbas.f 17 So after* they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you—Jesusg Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy. 19 And while* he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message* to him, saying, “⌊Have nothing to do with that righteous man⌋,h for I have suffered much as a result of a dream today because of him.”) 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas and put Jesus to death. 21 So the governor answered and* said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “What then should I do with Jesus, the one who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they began to shout* even louder, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

24 So Pilate, when he* saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but instead an uproar was developing, took water and* washed hisi hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this man. You see to it!”* 25 And all the people answered and* said, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them, but after* he had Jesus flogged, he handed him* over so that he could be crucified.