Matthew 26:47–67

Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest

Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–11

⁴⁷And ^twhile He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

⁴⁸Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” ⁴⁹Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” ^uand kissed Him.

⁵⁰But Jesus said to him, ^v“Friend, why have you come?”

Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. ⁵¹And suddenly, ^wone of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

⁵²But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, ^xfor all who take the sword will ¹perish by the sword. ⁵³Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with ^ymore than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, ^zthat it must happen thus?”

⁵⁵In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. ⁵⁶But all this was done that the ^aScriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

Then ^ball the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Two False Witnesses

Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:54, 55, 63–65; John 18:12, 18, 24

^57cAnd those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. ⁵⁸But ^dPeter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

⁵⁹Now the chief priests, ²the elders, and all the council sought ^efalse testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, ⁶⁰³but found none. Even though ^fmany false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last ^gtwo ⁴false witnesses came forward ⁶¹and said, “This fellow said, ^h‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”

⁶²ⁱAnd the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” ⁶³But ^jJesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, ^k“I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”

⁶⁴Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, ^lhereafter you will see the Son of Man ^msitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵ⁿThen the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His ^oblasphemy! ⁶⁶What do you think?”

They answered and said, ^p“He is deserving of death.”

^67qThen they spat in His face and beat Him; and ^rothers struck Him with ⁵the palms of their hands,