The Passover

12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, ^2 (A)“This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. ³ Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb ^(B)according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. ⁴ And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. ⁵ Your lamb shall be ^(C)without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, ⁶ and you shall keep it until the ^(D)fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.^[a]

⁷ “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the ^(E)two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. ⁸ They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with ^(F)unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. ⁹ Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but ^(G)roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. ¹⁰ And ^(H)you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. ¹¹ In this manner you shall eat it: with ^(I)your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. ^(J)It is the Lord's Passover. ¹² For ^(K)I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on ^(L)all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: ^(M)I am the Lord. ^13 (N)The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

¹⁴ “This day shall be ^(O)for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a ^(P)statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. ^15 (Q)Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, ^(R)that person shall be cut off from Israel. ¹⁶ On the first day you shall hold a ^(S)holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. ¹⁷ And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for ^(T)on this very day I brought your ^(U)hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. ^18 (V)In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. ^19 (W)For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, ^(X)that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, ^(Y)whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. ²⁰ You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”

²¹ Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves ^(Z)according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. ²² Take a bunch of ^(AA)hyssop and ^(AB)dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch ^(AC)the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. ^(AD)None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. ^23 (AE)For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on ^(AF)the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and ^(AG)will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. ²⁴ You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. ²⁵ And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, ^(AH)as he has promised, you shall keep this service. ²⁶ And ^(AI)when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ ²⁷ you shall say, ^(AJ)‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people ^(AK)bowed their heads and worshiped.

²⁸ Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn

^29 (AL)At midnight the ^(AM)Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, ^(AN)from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. ³⁰ And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was ^(AO)a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. ³¹ Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, ^(AP)both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. ^32 (AQ)Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

The Exodus

^33 (AR)The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” ³⁴ So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. ³⁵ The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had ^(AS)asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. ^36 (AT)And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that ^(AU)they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

³⁷ And the ^(AV)people of Israel journeyed from ^(AW)Rameses to Succoth, ^(AX)about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. ³⁸ A ^(AY)mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. ³⁹ And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because ^(AZ)they were thrust out of Egypt and ^(BA)could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

⁴⁰ The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. ⁴¹ At the end of ^(BB)430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. ⁴² It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a ^(BC)night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.

Institution of the Passover

⁴³ And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, ⁴⁴ but every slave^[b] that is ^(BD)bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. ^45 (BE)No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. ⁴⁶ It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and ^(BF)you shall not break any of its bones. ^47 (BG)All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. ^48 (BH)If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he ^(BI)shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. ⁴⁹ There shall be ^(BJ)one law for the native and for the ^(BK)stranger who sojourns among you.”

⁵⁰ All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. ⁵¹ And on that very day the ^(BL)Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their ^(BM)hosts.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

26 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, ^2 (A)“You know that after two days ^(B)the Passover is coming, and ^(C)the Son of Man ^(D)will be delivered up to be crucified.”

^3 (E)Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in ^(F)the palace of the high priest, whose name was ^(G)Caiaphas, ^4 (H)and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. ⁵ But they said, “Not during the feast, ^(I)lest there be an uproar among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

^6 (J)Now when Jesus was at ^(K)Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,^{[a] 7} a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. ⁸ And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this could have been sold for a large sum and ^(L)given to the poor.” ¹⁰ But ^(M)Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. ¹¹ For ^(N)you always have the poor with you, but ^(O)you will not always have me. ¹² In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it ^(P)to prepare me for burial. ¹³ Truly, I say to you, wherever ^(Q)this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told ^(R)in memory of her.”

Judas to Betray Jesus

^14 (S)Then one of the twelve, whose name was ^(T)Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they ^(U)paid him ^(V)thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ And from that moment he sought an opportunity ^(W)to betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples

^17 (X)Now on ^(Y)the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹⁸ He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ^(Z)‘The Teacher says, ^(AA)My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” ¹⁹ And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

^20 (AB)When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.^{[b] 21} And as they were eating, ^(AC)he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” ²² And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” ²³ He answered, ^(AD)“He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man goes ^(AE)as it is written of him, but ^(AF)woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ^(AG)It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” ²⁵ Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, ^(AH)Rabbi?” He said to him, ^(AI)“You have said so.”

Institution of the Lord's Supper

^26 (AJ)Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and ^(AK)after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; ^(AL)this is my body.” ²⁷ And he took a cup, and when he ^(AM)had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, ²⁸ for ^(AN)this is my ^(AO)blood of the^[c] covenant, which is poured out for ^(AP)many ^(AQ)for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you ^(AR)in my Father's kingdom.”

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

^30 (AS)And when they had sung a hymn, ^(AT)they went out to ^(AU)the Mount of Olives. ³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will ^(AV)strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ³² But after I am raised up, ^(AW)I will go before you to Galilee.” ^33 (AX)Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” ^34 (AY)Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, ^(AZ)before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” ^35 (BA)Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

^36 (BB)Then Jesus went with them ^(BC)to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ And taking with him ^(BD)Peter and ^(BE)the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, ^(BF)“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and ^(BG)watch^[d] with me.” ³⁹ And going a little farther he fell on his face ^(BH)and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let ^(BI)this cup pass from me; ^(BJ)nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ⁴⁰ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? ^41 (BK)Watch and ^(BL)pray that you ^(BM)may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴² Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, ^(BN)your will be done.” ⁴³ And again he came and found them sleeping, for ^(BO)their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for ^(BP)the third time, saying the same words again. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.^[e] See, ^(BQ)the hour is at hand, and ^(BR)the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

^47 (BS)While he was still speaking, ^(BT)Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” ⁴⁹ And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, ^(BU)Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, ^(BV)“Friend, ^(BW)do what you came to do.”^[f] Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. ⁵¹ And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his ^(BX)sword and struck the servant^[g] of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For ^(BY)all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ^53 (BZ)Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me ^(CA)more than twelve ^(CB)legions of angels? ^54 (CC)But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” ⁵⁵ At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day ^(CD)I sat in the temple ^(CE)teaching, and you did not seize me. ⁵⁶ But ^(CF)all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” ^(CG)Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council

^57 (CH)Then ^(CI)those who had seized Jesus led him to ^(CJ)Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. ⁵⁸ And ^(CK)Peter was following him at a distance, as far as ^(CL)the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with ^(CM)the guards to see the end. ⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole council^{[h] (CN)}were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, ⁶⁰ but they found none, ^(CO)though many false witnesses came forward. At last ^(CP)two came forward ⁶¹ and said, “This man said, ^(CQ)‘I am able to ^(CR)destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” ⁶² And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”^{[i] 63 (CS)}But Jesus remained silent. ^(CT)And the high priest said to him, ^(CU)“I adjure you by ^(CV)the living God, ^(CW)tell us if you are ^(CX)the Christ, ^(CY)the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, ^(CZ)“You have said so. But I tell you, from now on ^(DA)you will see the Son of Man ^(DB)seated at the right hand of Power and ^(DC)coming on the clouds of heaven.” ⁶⁵ Then the high priest ^(DD)tore his robes and said, ^(DE)“He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What is your judgment?” They answered, ^(DF)“He deserves death.” ⁶⁷ Then ^(DG)they spit in his face ^(DH)and ^(DI)struck him. And some slapped him, ⁶⁸ saying, “Prophesy to us, you ^(DJ)Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

Peter Denies Jesus

^69 (DK)Now Peter was sitting outside ^(DL)in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” ⁷¹ And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus ^(DM)of Nazareth.” ⁷² And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” ⁷³ After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for ^(DN)your accent betrays you.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, ^(DO)“Before the rooster crows, you will ^(DP)deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.