Matthew 26:36–56

Gethsemane

26:36–46pp—Mk 14:32–42; Lk 22:40–46

³⁶Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee^o along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow^p to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”^q

³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup^r be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”^s

⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me^t for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.^u The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴²He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”^v

⁴³When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour^w has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Jesus Arrested

26:47–56pp—Mk 14:43–50; Lk 22:47–53

⁴⁷While he was still speaking, Judas,^x one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!”^y and kissed him.

⁵⁰Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”^dz

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword,^a drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.^b

⁵²“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.^{c 53}Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?^{d 54}But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled^e that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching,^f and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”^g Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.