The Plot to Kill Jesus

22 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. ² The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to put Jesus to death, because they were afraid of the people. ³ Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. ⁴ He went away and spoke with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them. ⁵ They were glad and agreed to give him money. ⁶ He promised to do it and was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them away from the crowd.

Jesus Celebrates the Passover

⁷ The day of Unleavened Bread arrived, when it was necessary to sacrifice the Passover lamb. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.”

⁹ They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”

¹⁰ He told them, “Just as you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters. ¹¹ Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ ¹² He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.” ¹³ They went and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

¹⁴ When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with the twelve apostles. ¹⁵ He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, ¹⁶ for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide 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.”

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁹ He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰ In the same way, he took the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament^[a] in my blood, which is being poured out for you.

One Will Betray Jesus

²¹ “But look, the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. ²² The Son of Man is going to go as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

²³ They began to discuss with one another which of them it was who was going to do this.

Who Is Greatest?

²⁴ A dispute arose among the disciples about which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵ But he told them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called Benefactors. ²⁶ But it is not to be that way with you. Instead, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, one who reclines at the table or one who serves? Isn’t it the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ²⁸ You are those who have remained with me in my trials. ²⁹ I am going to grant a kingdom to you, just as my Father granted to me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³¹ The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, pay attention: Satan has asked to have you all, so that he may sift you as wheat. ³² But I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brothers.”

³³ He said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”

³⁴ But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”

³⁵ He said to them, “When I sent you out without money bag, traveler’s bag, and sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they said.

³⁶ Then he told them, “But now, let the one who has a money bag take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’^[b] Indeed, what is written about me is going to have its fulfillment.”

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

He said to them, “That is enough.”

Gethsemane

³⁹ Jesus left and went out to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom. His disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When he reached the place, he told them, “Keep praying that you may not enter into temptation.”

⁴¹ He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”

⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ As he was in agony, he prayed more fervently. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.^[c]

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them sleeping as a result of sorrow. ⁴⁶ He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and keep praying so that you may not enter into temptation.”

Jesus’ Arrest

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. ⁴⁸ But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, should we strike with a sword?” ⁵⁰ Then one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus responded, “Stop! No more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. ⁵² Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as you would against a robber, with swords and clubs? ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour—when darkness rules.”

⁵⁴ Then they seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house.

Peter Denies Jesus

Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵ When they had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. ⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him sitting near the light. She looked closely at him and said, “This man also was with him.”

⁵⁷ But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”

⁵⁸ After a little while someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them!”

But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”

⁵⁹ After about one hour had passed, someone else was firmly insisting, “Truly this man was with him too, because he is a Galilean!”

⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At that very moment, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the Lord’s word, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today you will deny me three times.” ⁶² He went outside and wept bitterly.

The Guards Mock Jesus

⁶³ The men who were holding Jesus in custody mocked him while they were beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵ And they went on saying many other blasphemous things against him.

Jewish Court

⁶⁶ As soon as it was day, the council of the elders of the people met together, both the chief priests and experts in the law. They brought him into their Sanhedrin and said, ⁶⁷ “If you are the Christ, tell us.”

But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, ⁶⁸ and if I ask you, you will not answer me or release me.^{[d] 69} But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”^[e]

⁷⁰ They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?”

He said to them, “I am what you are saying.”

⁷¹ Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth!”