The Plot to Kill Jesus

22 The^(A) Festival of Unleavened Bread,^(B) which is called Passover,^(C) was drawing near. ² The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death,^(D) because they were afraid of the people.^(E)

³ Then^(F) Satan entered Judas,^(G) called Iscariot,^(H) who was numbered among the Twelve. ⁴ He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police^(I) how he could hand Him over^(J) to them. ⁵ They were glad and agreed to give him silver.^{[a] 6} So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them when the crowd was not present.

Preparation for Passover

⁷ Then^(K) the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.^{(L) 8} Jesus sent Peter and John,^(M) saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, so we can eat it.”

⁹ “Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked Him.

¹⁰ “Listen,” He said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. ¹¹ Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ ¹² Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs.^(N) Make the preparations there.”

¹³ So they went and found it just as He had told them,^(O) and they prepared the Passover.

The First Lord’s Supper

¹⁴ When^(P) the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. ¹⁵ Then He said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again^[b] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”^{(Q) 17} Then He took a cup,^(R) and after giving thanks,^(S) He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body,^(T) which is given for you. Do this in remembrance^(U) of Me.”

²⁰ In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant^(V) established by My blood;^(W) it is shed for you.^{[c] 21} But^(X) look, the hand of the one betraying Me is at the table with Me!^{(Y) 22} For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined,^(Z) but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

²³ So they began to argue^(AA) among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do this thing.

The Dispute over Greatness

²⁴ Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest.^{(AB) 25} But He said to them,^(AC) “The kings of the Gentiles dominate them, and those who have authority over them are called^[d] ‘Benefactors.’^{[e] 26} But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you must become like the youngest,^(AD) and whoever leads, like the one serving. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves.^{(AE) 28} You are the ones who stood by Me in My trials.^{(AF) 29} I bestow on you a kingdom,^(AG) just as My Father bestowed one on Me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom.^(AH) And you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.^(AI)

Peter’s Denial Predicted

³¹ “Simon, Simon,^[f] look out! Satan^(AJ) has asked to sift you^[g] like wheat.^{(AK) 32} But I have prayed^(AL) for you^[h] that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen^(AM) your brothers.”

³³ “Lord,”^(AN) he told Him, “I’m ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”

³⁴ “I tell you, Peter,” He said, “the rooster will not crow today until^[i] you deny three times that you know Me!”

Be Ready for Trouble

³⁵ He also said to them, “When I sent you out^(AO) without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Not a thing,” they said.

³⁶ Then He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in Me: And He was counted among the outlaws.^(AP)[j] Yes, what is written about Me is coming to its fulfillment.”^(AQ)

³⁸ “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.”

“Enough of that!”^[k] He told them.

The Prayer in the Garden

³⁹ He went out and made His way^(AR) as usual^(AS) to the Mount of Olives,^(AT) and the disciples followed Him. ⁴⁰ When He reached the place,^(AU) He told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”^{(AV) 41} Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray,^{(AW) 42} “Father, if You are willing, take this cup^(AX) away from Me—nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”

[⁴³ Then an angel from heaven^(AY) appeared to Him, strengthening Him. ⁴⁴ Being in anguish,^(AZ) He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.]^{[l] 45} When He got up from prayer and came to the disciples, He found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief.^{[m] 46} “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation.”

The Judas Kiss

⁴⁷ While^(BA) He was still speaking, suddenly a mob was there, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss Him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” ⁵⁰ Then one of them struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus responded, “No more of this!”^[n] And touching his ear, He healed him. ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?^{[o] 53} Every day while I was with you in the temple complex,^(BB) you never laid a hand on Me. But this is your hour^(BC)—and the dominion of darkness.”^(BD)

Peter Denies His Lord

⁵⁴ They seized Him, led Him away, and brought Him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter^(BE) was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ They^(BF) lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard^(BG) and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. ⁵⁶ When a servant saw him sitting in the firelight, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with Him too.”

⁵⁷ But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know Him!”

⁵⁸ After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too!”

“Man, I am not!” Peter said.

⁵⁹ About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with Him, since he’s also a Galilean.”

⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹ Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter.^(BH) So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”^{(BI) 62} And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Jesus Mocked and Beaten

⁶³ The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating Him.^{(BJ) 64} After blindfolding Him, they kept^[p] asking, “Prophesy! Who hit You?” ⁶⁵ And they were saying many other blasphemous^(BK) things against Him.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

⁶⁶ When daylight came,^(BL) the elders^[q] of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes,^(BM) convened and brought Him before their Sanhedrin.^{(BN) 67} They said,^(BO) “If You are the Messiah, tell us.”

But He said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe. ⁶⁸ And if I ask you, you will not answer. ⁶⁹ But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Power of God.”^(BP)

⁷⁰ They all asked, “Are You, then, the Son of God?”^(BQ)

And He said to them, “You say that I am.”^(BR)

⁷¹ “Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from His mouth?”