51 With 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 fulfillede that say it must happen in this way?”

55 In 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. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”g Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

26:57–68pp—Mk 14:53–65; Jn 18:12,13,19–24

57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphash the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest.i He entered and sat down with the guardsj to see the outcome.

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrink were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnessesl came forward.

Finally twom came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”n

62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.o

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oathp by the living God:q Tell us if you are the Messiah,r the Son of God.”s

64 “You have said so,”t Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty Oneu and coming on the clouds of heaven.”e v

65 Then the high priest tore his clothesw and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,”x they answered.

67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.y Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”z

Peter Disowns Jesus

26:69–75pp—Mk 14:66–72; Lk 22:55–62; Jn 18:16–18,25–27

69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”a And he went outside and wept bitterly.