Preparing the Passover

22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.^{(A) 2} The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people [who listened devotedly to His teaching, and who respected His spiritual wisdom].

³ Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve [disciples]. ⁴ And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him and hand Him over to them. ⁵ They were delighted and agreed with him to give him money. ⁶ So he consented, and began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them [at a time when He was] separated from the crowd [because the people might riot or stop them from seizing Him].

⁷ Then came the preparation day of ^[a]Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.^{(B) 8} So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, so that we may eat it.” ⁹ They asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” ¹⁰ He replied, “When you have entered the city, a ^[b]man carrying an earthen jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house that he enters. ¹¹ And say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ ¹² Then he will show you a large upstairs room, furnished [with carpets and dining couches]; prepare the meal there.” ¹³ They left and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁴ When the hour [for the meal] had come, Jesus reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. ¹⁵ He said to them, “I have earnestly wanted to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; ¹⁶ for I say to you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷ And when He had taken a cup and ^[c]given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;^{(C) 18} for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹⁹ And when He had taken bread and 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 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood. ²¹ But listen, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table.^{(D) 22} For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe (judgment is coming) to that man by whom He is betrayed and handed over!” ²³ And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this.

Who Is Greatest?

²⁴ Now a dispute also arose among them as to which of them was regarded to be the greatest. ²⁵ Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles have absolute power and lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’^{(E) 26} But it is not to be this way with you; on the contrary, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest [and least privileged], and the [one who is the] leader, like the servant. ²⁷ For who is the greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

²⁸ “You are those who have remained and have stood by Me in My trials; ²⁹ and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you [the privilege] ³⁰ that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

³¹ “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain;^{(F) 32} but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith].” ³³ And Peter said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”^{(G) 34} Jesus said, “I say to you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will [utterly] deny three times that you know Me.”

³⁵ And He said to them, “When I sent you out without a money belt and [provision] bag and [extra] sandals, did you lack anything?” They answered, “Nothing.” ³⁶ Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money belt is to take it along, and also his [provision] bag, and he who has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you that this [Scripture] which is written must be completed and fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was counted with the criminals’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment [and is settled].”^{(H) 38} They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

The Garden of Gethsemane

³⁹ And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him. ⁴⁰ When He arrived at the place [called Gethsemane], He said to them, “Pray continually that you may not fall into temptation.”^{(I) 41} And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ⁴² saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.” ^43 [d]Now an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. ⁴⁴ And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His ^[e]sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground.^{(J) 45} When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, ⁴⁶ and He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not fall into temptation.”

Judas Betrays Jesus

⁴⁷ While He was still speaking, a crowd came, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve [disciples], was leading the way for them. He approached Jesus to ^[f]kiss Him.^{(K) 48} And 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, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” ⁵⁰ And ^[g]one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.^{(L) 51} But Jesus replied, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched the ear and healed him. ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders [of the Sanhedrin] who had come out against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? ⁵³ Day after day when I was with you in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power and authority of darkness are yours.”

Peter’s Denials

⁵⁴ Then they seized Him, and led Him away and brought Him to the [elegant] house of the [Jewish] ^[h]high priest. And Peter was following at a [safe] distance. ⁵⁵ After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.^{(M) 56} And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” ⁵⁷ But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him!” ⁵⁸ A little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” ⁵⁹ After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, “This man was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” ⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” ⁶² And he went out and wept bitterly [deeply grieved and distressed].

⁶³ Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking and ridiculing Him [and treating Him with contempt] and beating Him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded Him and asked, “Prophesy, who is it that struck You?” ⁶⁵ And they were saying many other [evil and slanderous] things against Him, blaspheming [speaking sacrilegiously and abusively about] Him.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin

⁶⁶ When day came, the Council of the elders of the people (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) assembled, both chief priests and scribes; and they led Jesus away to the council chamber, saying, ⁶⁷ “If You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe [what I say], ⁶⁸ and if I ask a question, 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.”^{(N) 70} And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” He replied, “^[i]It is just as you say.” ⁷¹ Then they asked, “What further need of testimony do we have? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth.”