謀害耶穌

26 耶穌講完了這番話後,對門徒說: 「你們知道,兩天後就是逾越節,到時人子會被出賣,被釘在十字架上。」 那時,祭司長和民間的長老正聚集在大祭司該亞法的府裡, 密謀逮捕、殺害耶穌。 但他們認為在節日期間不宜下手,因為可能會在百姓中引起騷亂。

耶穌受膏

當耶穌在伯大尼患過痲瘋病的西門家裡時, 有個女子趁著祂坐席的時候,把一瓶珍貴的香膏倒在祂頭上。

門徒看見後,生氣地說:「真浪費, 這瓶香膏值不少錢,用來賙濟窮人多好!」

10 耶穌看出他們的心思,便說:「何必為難這女子?她在我身上做的是一件美事。 11 因為你們身邊總會有窮人,可是你們身邊不會總有我。 12 她把香膏澆在我身上是為我的安葬做準備。 13 我實在告訴你們,無論福音傳到世界哪個角落,人們都會傳揚這女人的事蹟,紀念她。」

猶大出賣耶穌

14 後來,十二門徒中的加略人猶大去見祭司長,說: 15 「如果我把耶穌交給你們,你們肯出多少錢?」他們就給了他三十塊銀子。 16 從那時起,猶大就尋找機會出賣耶穌。

最後的晚餐

17 除酵節的第一天,門徒來問耶穌說:「我們該在什麼地方為你準備逾越節的晚餐呢?」

18 耶穌說:「你們進城去,到某人那裡對他說,『老師說祂的時候到了,祂要與門徒在你家中過逾越節。』」 19 門徒照耶穌的吩咐準備了逾越節的晚餐。

20 傍晚,耶穌和十二個門徒吃晚餐。 21 席間,耶穌說:「我實在告訴你們,你們中間有一個人要出賣我。」

22 他們都非常憂愁,相繼追問耶穌,說:「主啊,肯定不是我吧?」

23 祂說:「那和我一同在盤子裡蘸餅吃的就是要出賣我的人。 24 人子一定會受害,正如聖經上有關祂的記載,但出賣人子的人有禍了,他還不如不生在這世上!」

25 出賣耶穌的猶大問祂:「老師,是我嗎?」

耶穌說:「你自己說了。」

26 他們吃的時候,耶穌拿起餅來,祝謝後掰開分給門徒,說:「拿去吃吧,這是我的身體。」

27 接著又拿起杯來,祝謝後遞給門徒,說:「你們都喝吧, 28 這是我為萬人所流的立約之血,為了使罪得到赦免。 29 我告訴你們,從今天起,一直到我在我父的國與你們共飲新酒的那一天之前,我不會再喝這葡萄酒。」 30 他們唱完詩歌,就出門去了橄欖山。

預言彼得不認主

31 耶穌對門徒說:「今天晚上,你們都要離棄我。因為聖經上說,『我要擊打牧人,羊群將四散。』 32 但我復活後,要先你們一步去加利利。」

33 彼得說:「即使所有的人都離棄你,我也永遠不會離棄你!」

34 耶穌說:「我實在告訴你,今夜雞叫以前,你會三次不認我。」

35 彼得說:「就算要我跟你一起死,我也不會不認你!」其餘的門徒也都這樣說。

在客西馬尼禱告

36 耶穌和門徒到了一個叫客西馬尼的地方,祂對門徒說:「你們坐在這裡,我到那邊去禱告。」 37 祂帶了彼得和西庇太的兩個兒子一起去。祂心裡非常憂傷痛苦, 38 就對他們說:「我心裡非常憂傷,幾乎要死,你們留在這裡跟我一起警醒。」

39 祂稍往前走,俯伏在地上禱告:「我父啊!如果可以,求你撤去此杯。然而,願你的旨意成就,而非我的意願。」

40 耶穌回到三個門徒那裡,見他們都睡著了,就對彼得說:「難道你們不能跟我一同警醒一時嗎? 41 你們要警醒禱告,免得陷入誘惑。你們的心靈雖然願意,肉體卻很軟弱。」

42 祂第二次去禱告說:「我父啊!如果我非喝此杯不可,願你的旨意成就。」 43 祂回來時見他們又睡著了,因為他們睏得眼皮發沉。 44 耶穌再次離開他們,第三次去禱告,說的是同樣的話。

45 然後,祂回到門徒那裡,對他們說:「你們還在睡覺,還在休息嗎?看啊!時候到了,人子要被出賣,交在罪人手裡了。 46 起來,我們走吧。看,出賣我的人已經來了!」

耶穌被捕

47 耶穌還在說話的時候,十二門徒中的猶大來了,隨行的還有祭司長和民間長老派來的一大群拿著刀棍的人。 48 出賣耶穌的猶大預先和他們定了暗號,說:「我親吻誰,誰就是耶穌,你們把祂抓起來。」 49 猶大隨即走到耶穌跟前,說:「老師,你好。」然後親吻耶穌。

50 耶穌對他說:「朋友,你要做的事,快動手吧。」於是那些人上前,下手捉拿耶穌。 51 耶穌的跟隨者中有人伸手拔出佩刀朝大祭司的奴僕砍去,削掉了他一隻耳朵。

52 耶穌對他說:「收刀入鞘吧!因為動刀的必死在刀下。 53 難道你不知道,我可以請求我父馬上派十二營以上的天使來保護我嗎? 54 我若這樣做,聖經上有關這事必如此發生的話又怎能應驗呢?」

55 那時,耶穌對眾人說:「你們像對付強盜一樣拿著刀棍來抓我嗎?我天天在聖殿裡教導人,你們並沒有來抓我。 56 不過這一切事的發生,是要應驗先知書上的話。」那時,門徒都丟下祂逃走了。

大祭司審問耶穌

57 捉拿耶穌的人把祂押到大祭司該亞法那裡。律法教師和長老已聚集在那裡。 58 彼得遠遠地跟著耶穌,一直跟到大祭司的院子裡。他坐在衛兵當中,想知道事情的結果。

59 祭司長和全公會的人正在尋找假證據來控告耶穌,好定祂死罪。 60 雖然有很多假證人誣告祂,但都找不到真憑實據。最後有兩個人上前高聲說:

61 「這個人曾經說過,『我能拆毀聖殿,三天內把它重建起來。』」

62 大祭司站起來質問耶穌:「你不回答嗎?這些人作證控告你的是什麼呢?」 63 耶穌還是沉默不語。

大祭司又對祂說:「我奉永活上帝的名命令你起誓告訴我們,你是不是上帝的兒子基督?」

64 耶穌說:「如你所言。但我告訴你們,將來你們要看見人子坐在大能者的右邊,駕著天上的雲降臨。」

65 大祭司撕裂衣服,說:「祂褻瀆了上帝!我們還需要什麼證人呢?你們現在親耳聽見了祂說褻瀆的話, 66 你們看怎麼辦?」

他們回應說:「祂該死!」

67 他們就吐唾沫在祂臉上,揮拳打祂。還有人一邊打祂耳光,一邊說: 68 「基督啊!給我們說預言吧,是誰在打你?」

彼得三次不認主

69 當時,彼得還坐在外面的院子裡,有一個婢女走過來對他說:「你也是跟那個加利利人耶穌一夥的。」

70 彼得卻當眾否認:「我不知道你在說什麼。」

71 正當他走到門口要離開時,另一個婢女看見他,就對旁邊的人說:「這個人是跟拿撒勒人耶穌一夥的!」

72 彼得再次否認,並發誓說:「我不認識那個人。」 73 過了一會兒,旁邊站著的人過來對彼得說:「你肯定也是他們一夥的,聽你的口音就知道了。」

74 彼得又賭咒又發誓,說:「我不認識那個人!」就在這時候,雞叫了。 75 彼得想起耶穌說的話:「在雞叫以前,你會三次不認我。」他就跑出去,失聲痛哭。

26 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

63 But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

26 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man[a] will be handed over to be crucified.”

At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating,[b] a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

The Last Supper

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”

18 “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.

20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table[c] with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”

23 He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. 24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”

25 Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”

And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”

26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”

27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant[d] between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. 29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

31 On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,

‘God will strike[e] the Shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away[f] unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested

47 And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” 49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.

50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”

Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.

52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands[g] of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”

55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Jesus before the Council

57 Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.

59 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council[h] were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. 60 But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward 61 who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand[i] and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[j]

65 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?”

“Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!”

67 Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”

Peter Denies Jesus

69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”

70 But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

71 Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.[k]

72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.

73 A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”

74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.

75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

Footnotes

  1. 26:2 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
  2. 26:7 Or reclining.
  3. 26:20 Or Jesus reclined.
  4. 26:28 Some manuscripts read the new covenant.
  5. 26:31 Greek I will strike. Zech 13:7.
  6. 26:42 Greek If this cannot pass.
  7. 26:53 Greek twelve legions.
  8. 26:59 Greek the Sanhedrin.
  9. 26:64a Greek seated at the right hand of the power. See Ps 110:1.
  10. 26:64b See Dan 7:13.
  11. 26:71 Or Jesus the Nazarene.