Luke 22:39–53

Jesus Prays Alone

³⁹Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives, as he often did, and his followers went with him. ⁴⁰When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray for strength against temptation.”

⁴¹Then Jesus went about a stone’s throw away from them. He kneeled down and prayed, ⁴²“Father, if you are willing, take away this cup ⁿ of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want.” ⁴³Then an angel from heaven appeared to him to strengthen him. ⁴⁴Being full of pain, Jesus prayed even harder. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. ⁴⁵When he finished praying, he went to his followers and found them asleep because of their sadness. ⁴⁶Jesus said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray for strength against temptation.”

Jesus Is Arrested

⁴⁷While Jesus was speaking, a crowd came up, and Judas, one of the twelve apostles, was leading them. He came close to Jesus so he could kiss him.

⁴⁸But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you using the kiss to give the Son of Man to his enemies?”

⁴⁹When those who were standing around him saw what was happening, they said, “Lord, should we strike them with our swords?” ⁵⁰And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹Jesus said, “Stop! No more of this.” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him.

⁵²Those who came to arrest Jesus were the leading priests, the soldiers who guarded the Temple, and the elders. Jesus said to them, “You came out here with swords and clubs as though I were a criminal. ⁵³I was with you every day in the Temple, and you didn’t arrest me there. But this is your time—the time when darkness rules.”