Matthew 26:36-75

Common English Bible

Jesus in prayer

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.” ³⁹ Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”

⁴⁰ He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me? ⁴¹ Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴² A second time he went away and prayed, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this cup be taken away unless I drink it, then let it be what you want.”

⁴³ Again he came and found them sleeping. Their eyes were heavy with sleep. ⁴⁴ But he left them and again went and prayed the same words for the third time. ⁴⁵ Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night? Look, the time has come for the Human One^[a] to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Get up. Let’s go. Look, here comes my betrayer.”

Arrest

⁴⁷ While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came. With him was a large crowd carrying swords and clubs. They had been sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. ⁴⁸ His betrayer had given them a sign: “Arrest the man I kiss.” ⁴⁹ Just then he came to Jesus and said, “Hello, Rabbi.” Then he kissed him.

⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

⁵¹ One of those with Jesus reached for his sword. Striking the high priest’s slave, he cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Put the sword back into its place. All those who use the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I’m not able to ask my Father and he will send to me more than twelve battle groups^[b] of angels right away? ⁵⁴ But if I did that, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this must happen?” ⁵⁵ Then Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me, like a thief? Day after day, I sat in the temple teaching, but you didn’t arrest me. ⁵⁶ But all this has happened so that what the prophets said in the scriptures might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Jesus and ran away.

Jesus before the council

⁵⁷ Those who arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest. The legal experts and the elders had gathered there. ⁵⁸ Peter followed him from a distance until he came to the high priest’s courtyard. He entered that area and sat outside with the officers to see how it would turn out.

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ They didn’t find anything they could use from the many false witnesses who were willing to come forward. But finally they found two ⁶¹ who said, “This man said, ‘I can destroy God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’”

⁶² Then the high priest stood and said to Jesus, “Aren’t you going to respond to the testimony these people have brought against you?”

⁶³ But Jesus was silent.

The high priest said, “By the living God, I demand that you tell us whether you are the Christ, God’s Son.”

⁶⁴ “You said it,” Jesus replied. “But I say to you that from now on you’ll see the Human One^[c] sitting on the right side of the Almighty^[d] and coming on the heavenly clouds.”^[e]

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He’s insulting God! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, you’ve heard his insult against God. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

And they answered, “He deserves to die!” ⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and beat him. They hit him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy for us, Christ! Who hit you?”

Peter’s denial

⁶⁹ Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant woman came and said to him, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.”

⁷⁰ But he denied it in front of all of them, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

⁷¹ When he went over to the gate, another woman saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”

⁷² With a solemn pledge, he denied it again, saying, “I don’t know the man.”

⁷³ A short time later those standing there came and said to Peter, “You must be one of them. The way you talk gives you away.”

⁷⁴ Then he cursed and swore, “I don’t know the man!” At that very moment the rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Peter remembered Jesus’ words, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.”And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably.