Luke 22:31-71

Common English Bible

Peter’s denial predicted

³¹ “Simon, Simon, look! Satan has asserted the right to sift you all like wheat. ³² However, I have prayed for you that your faith won’t fail. When you have returned, strengthen your brothers and sisters.”

³³ Peter responded, “Lord, I’m ready to go with you, both to prison and to death!”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster won’t crow today before you have denied three times that you know me.”

Call for preparedness

³⁵ Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out without a wallet, bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?”

They said, “Nothing.”

³⁶ Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a wallet must take it, and likewise a bag. And those who don’t own a sword must sell their clothes and buy one. ³⁷  I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in relation to me: And he was counted among criminals.^[a]Indeed, what’s written about me is nearing completion.”

³⁸ They said to him, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”

He replied, “Enough of that!”

Jesus in prayer

³⁹ Jesus left and made his way to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom, and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t give in to temptation.” ⁴¹ He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed. ⁴² He said, “Father, if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.” ⁴³ Then a heavenly angel appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ He was in anguish and prayed even more earnestly. His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. ⁴⁵ When he got up from praying, he went to the disciples. He found them asleep, overcome by grief. ⁴⁶ He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation.”

Jesus’ arrest

⁴⁷ While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd appeared, and the one called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him.

⁴⁸ Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Human One^[b] with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ When those around him recognized what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we fight with our swords?” ⁵⁰ One of them struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear.

⁵¹ Jesus responded, “Stop! No more of this!” He touched the slave’s ear and healed him.

⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders who had come to get him, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a thief? ⁵³ Day after day I was with you in the temple, but you didn’t arrest me. But this is your time, when darkness rules.”

Peter denies knowing Jesus

⁵⁴ After they arrested Jesus, they led him away and brought him to the high priest’s house. Peter followed from a distance. ⁵⁵ When they lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.

⁵⁶ Then a servant woman saw him sitting in the firelight. She stared at him and said, “This man was with him too.”

⁵⁷ But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him!”

⁵⁸ A little while later, someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.”

But Peter said, “Man, I’m not!”

⁵⁹ An hour or so later, someone else insisted, “This man must have been with him, because he is a Galilean too.”

⁶⁰ Peter responded, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At that very moment, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the Lord’s words: “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” ⁶² And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably.

Jesus taunted

⁶³ The men who were holding Jesus in custody taunted him while they beat him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and asked him repeatedly, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵ Insulting him, they said many other horrible things against him.

Jesus before the Jerusalem leadership

⁶⁶ As morning came, the elders of the people, both chief priests and legal experts, came together, and Jesus was brought before their council.

⁶⁷ They said, “If you are the Christ, tell us!”

He answered, “If I tell you, you won’t believe. ⁶⁸ And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. ⁶⁹ But from now on, the Human One^[c] will be seated on the right side of the power of God.”^[d]

⁷⁰ They all said, “Are you God’s Son, then?”

He replied, “You say that I am.”

⁷¹ Then they said, “Why do we need further testimony? We’ve heard it from his own lips.”