Matthew 26:47–67

Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest

^47aWhile He was still speaking, behold, ^bJudas, one of the twelve, came up ¹accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

⁴⁸Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.”

⁴⁹Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, ^aRabbi!” and kissed Him.

⁵⁰And Jesus said to him, “^aFriend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

⁵¹And behold, ^aone of those who were with Jesus ¹reached and drew out his ^bsword, and struck the slave of the high priest and ²cut off his ear.

⁵²Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for ^aall those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.

⁵³“Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve ^1alegions of ^bangels?

⁵⁴“How then will ^athe Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

⁵⁵At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? ^aEvery day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me.

⁵⁶“But all this has taken place to fulfill ^athe Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

Jesus before Caiaphas

^57aThose who had seized Jesus led Him away to ^bCaiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

⁵⁸But ^aPeter was following Him at a distance as far as the ^bcourtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the ^1cofficers to see the outcome.

⁵⁹Now the chief priests and the whole ^1aCouncil kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

⁶⁰They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on ^atwo came forward,

⁶¹and said, “This man stated, ‘^aI am able to destroy the ¹temple of God and to rebuild it ²in three days.’ ”

⁶²The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?”

⁶³But ^aJesus kept silent. ^bAnd the high priest said to Him, “I ^1cadjure You by ^dthe living God, that You tell us whether You are ²the Christ, ^ethe Son of God.”

⁶⁴Jesus said to him, “^aYou have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, ¹hereafter you will see ^bthe Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and ^ccoming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵Then the high priest ^atore his ¹robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;

⁶⁶what do you think?” They answered, “^aHe deserves death!”

^67aThen they ^bspat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others ¹slapped Him,