Judas Agrees to Hand Jesus Over

22 The Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was near. ² The chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus. They were afraid of the people. ³ Then Satan entered Judas, who was called Iscariot. Judas was one of the 12 disciples. ⁴ He went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard. He talked with them about how he could hand Jesus over to them. ⁵ They were delighted and agreed to give him money. ⁶ Judas accepted their offer. He watched for the right time to hand Jesus over to them. He wanted to do it when no crowd was around.

The Last Supper

⁷ Then the day of Unleavened Bread came. That was the time the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John on ahead. “Go,” he told them. “Prepare for us to eat the Passover meal.”

⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

¹⁰ Jesus replied, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters. ¹¹ Then say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the guest room? Where can I eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’ ¹² He will show you a large upstairs room with furniture already in it. Prepare for us to eat there.”

¹³ Peter and John left. They found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal.

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles took their places at the table. ¹⁵ He said to them, “I have really looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you. I wanted to do this before I suffer. ¹⁶ I tell you, I will not eat the Passover meal again until it is celebrated in God’s kingdom.”

¹⁷ After Jesus took the cup, he gave thanks. He said, “Take this cup and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ I tell you, I will not drink wine with you again until God’s kingdom comes.”

¹⁹ Then Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to them and said, “This is my body. It is given for you. Every time you eat it, do this in memory of me.”

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup. He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. It is poured out for you. ²¹ But someone here is going to hand me over to my enemies. His hand is with mine on the table. ²² The Son of Man will go to his death, just as God has already decided. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands him over!” ²³ The apostles began to ask one another about this. They wondered which one of them would do it.

²⁴ They also started to argue. They disagreed about which of them was thought to be the most important person. ²⁵ Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles hold power over their people. And those who order them around call themselves Protectors. ²⁶ But you must not be like that. Instead, the most important among you should be like the youngest. The one who rules should be like the one who serves. ²⁷ Who is more important? Is it the one at the table, or the one who serves? Isn’t it the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ²⁸ You have stood by me during my troubles. ²⁹ And I give you a kingdom, just as my Father gave me a kingdom. ³⁰ Then you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

³¹ “Simon, Simon! Satan has asked to sift all of you disciples like wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon. I have prayed that your faith will not fail. When you have turned back, help your brothers to be strong.”

³³ But Simon replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, you will say three times that you don’t know me. And you will do it before the rooster crows today.”

³⁵ Then Jesus asked the disciples, “Did you need anything when I sent you without a purse, bag or sandals?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

³⁶ He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it. And also take a bag. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one. ³⁷ It is written, ‘He was counted among those who had committed crimes.’ (Isaiah 53:12) I tell you that what is written about me must come true. Yes, it is already coming true.”

³⁸ The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“Two swords are enough!” he replied.

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives. His disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When they reached the place, Jesus spoke. “Pray that you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted,” he said to them. ⁴¹ Then he went a short distance away from them. There he got down on his knees and prayed. ⁴² He said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup of suffering away from me. But do what you want, not what I want.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to Jesus and gave him strength. ⁴⁴ Because he was very sad and troubled, he prayed even harder. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

⁴⁵ After that, he got up from prayer and went back to the disciples. He found them sleeping. They were worn out because they were very sad. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up! Pray that you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted.”

Jesus Is Arrested

⁴⁷ While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd came up. The man named Judas was leading them. He was one of the 12 disciples. Judas approached Jesus to kiss him. ⁴⁸ But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you handing over the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen. So they said, “Lord, should we use our swords against them?” ⁵⁰ One of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, “Stop this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

⁵² Then Jesus spoke to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders. They had all come for him. “Am I leading a band of armed men against you?” he asked. “Do you have to come with swords and clubs? ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courtyard. And you didn’t lay a hand on me. But this is your hour. This is when darkness rules.”

Peter Says He Does Not Know Jesus

⁵⁴ Then the men arrested Jesus and led him away. They took him into the high priest’s house. Peter followed from far away. ⁵⁵ Some people there started a fire in the middle of the courtyard. Then they sat down together. Peter sat down with them. ⁵⁶ A female servant saw him sitting there in the firelight. She looked closely at him. Then she said, “This man was with Jesus.”

⁵⁷ But Peter said he had not been with him. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

⁵⁸ A little later someone else saw Peter. “You also are one of them,” he said.

“No,” Peter replied. “I’m not!”

⁵⁹ About an hour later, another person spoke up. “This fellow must have been with Jesus,” he said. “He is from Galilee.”

⁶⁰ Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked right at Peter. Then Peter remembered what the Lord had spoken to him. “The rooster will crow today,” Jesus had said. “Before it does, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” ⁶² Peter went outside. He broke down and cried.

The Guards Make Fun of Jesus

⁶³ There were men guarding Jesus. They began laughing at him and beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him. They said, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵ They also said many other things to make fun of him.

Jesus Is Brought to Pilate and Herod

⁶⁶ At dawn the elders of the people met together. These included the chief priests and the teachers of the law. Jesus was led to them. ⁶⁷ “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me. ⁶⁸ And if I asked you, you would not answer. ⁶⁹ But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

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

He replied, “You say that I am.”

⁷¹ Then they said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? We have heard it from his own lips.”

A Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus at Bethany

14 The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were plotting to arrest Jesus secretly. They wanted to kill him. ² “But not during the feast,” they said. “The people may stir up trouble.”

³ Jesus was in Bethany. He was at the table in the home of Simon, who had a skin disease. A woman came with a special sealed jar. It contained very expensive perfume made out of pure nard. She broke the jar open and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head.

⁴ Some of the people there became angry. They said to one another, “Why waste this perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s pay. The money could have been given to poor people.” So they found fault with the woman.

⁶ “Leave her alone,” Jesus said. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ You will always have poor people with you. You can help them any time you want to. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body to prepare me to be buried. ⁹ What I’m about to tell you is true. What she has done will be told anywhere the good news is preached all over the world. It will be told in memory of her.”

¹⁰ Judas Iscariot was one of the 12 disciples. He went to the chief priests to hand Jesus over to them. ¹¹ They were delighted to hear that he would do this. They promised to give Judas money. So he watched for the right time to hand Jesus over to them.

The Last Supper

¹² It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. That was the time to sacrifice the Passover lamb. Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”

¹³ So he sent out two of his disciples. He told them, “Go into the city. A man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ He will enter a house. Say to its owner, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is my guest room? Where can I eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’ ¹⁵ He will show you a large upstairs room. It will have furniture and will be ready. Prepare for us to eat there.”

¹⁶ The disciples left and went into the city. They found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal.

¹⁷ When evening came, Jesus arrived with the 12 disciples. ¹⁸ While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. One of you who is eating with me will hand me over to my enemies.”

¹⁹ The disciples became sad. One by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”

²⁰ “It is one of you,” Jesus replied. “It is the one who dips bread into the bowl with me. ²¹ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to his disciples and said, “Take it. This is my body.”

²³ Then he took a cup. He gave thanks and handed it to them. All of them drank from it.

²⁴ “This is my blood of the covenant,” he said to them. “It is poured out for many. ²⁵ What I’m about to tell you is true. I won’t drink wine with you again until the day I drink it in God’s kingdom.”

²⁶ Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Says That the Disciples Will Turn Away

²⁷ “You will all turn away,” Jesus told the disciples. “It is written,

²⁸ But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

²⁹ Peter said, “All the others may turn away. But I will not.”

³⁰ “What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered. “It will happen today, in fact tonight. Before the rooster crows twice, you yourself will say three times that you don’t know me.”

³¹ But Peter would not give in. He said, “I may have to die with you. But I will never say I don’t know you.” And all the others said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

³² Jesus and his disciples went to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him. He began to be very upset and troubled. ³⁴ “My soul is very sad. I feel close to death,” he said to them. “Stay here. Keep watch.”

³⁵ He went a little farther. Then he fell to the ground. He prayed that, if possible, the hour might pass by him. ³⁶ “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.”

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray. Then you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

³⁹ Once more Jesus went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ Then he came back. Again he found them sleeping. They couldn’t keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him.

⁴¹ Jesus returned the third time. He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look! The Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners. ⁴² Get up! Let us go! Here comes the one who is handing me over to them!”

Jesus Is Arrested

⁴³ Just as Jesus was speaking, Judas appeared. He was one of the 12 disciples. A crowd was with him. They were carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders had sent them.

⁴⁴ Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, had arranged a signal with them. “The one I kiss is the man,” he said. “Arrest him and have the guards lead him away.” ⁴⁵ So Judas went to Jesus at once. Judas said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed Jesus. ⁴⁶ The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷ Then one of those standing nearby pulled his sword out. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ “Am I leading a band of armed men against you?” asked Jesus. “Do you have to come out with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you. I taught in the temple courtyard, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must come true.” ⁵⁰ Then everyone left him and ran away.

⁵¹ A young man was following Jesus. The man was wearing nothing but a piece of linen cloth. When the crowd grabbed him, ⁵² he ran away naked. He left his clothing behind.

Jesus Is Taken to the Sanhedrin

⁵³ The crowd took Jesus to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the teachers of the law came together. ⁵⁴ Not too far away, Peter followed Jesus. He went right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards. He warmed himself at the fire.

⁵⁵ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for something to use against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. But they did not find any proof. ⁵⁶ Many witnesses lied about him. But their stories did not agree.

⁵⁷ Then some of them stood up. Here is what those false witnesses said about him. ⁵⁸ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made by human hands. In three days I will build another temple, not made by human hands.’ ” ⁵⁹ But what they said did not agree.

⁶⁰ Then the high priest stood up in front of them. He asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? What are these charges these men are bringing against you?” ⁶¹ But Jesus remained silent. He gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah? Are you the Son of the Blessed One?”

⁶² “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶³ The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. ⁶⁴ “You have heard him say a very evil thing against God. What do you think?”

They all found him guilty and said he must die. ⁶⁵ Then some began to spit at him. They blindfolded him. They hit him with their fists. They said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

Peter Says He Does Not Know Jesus

⁶⁶ Peter was below in the courtyard. One of the high priest’s female servants came by. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

“You also were with Jesus, that Nazarene,” she said.

⁶⁸ But Peter said he had not been with him. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said. He went out to the entrance to the courtyard.

⁶⁹ The servant saw him there. She said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” ⁷⁰ Again he said he was not.

After a little while, those standing nearby said to Peter, “You must be one of them. You are from Galilee.”

⁷¹ Then Peter began to curse. He said to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

⁷² Right away the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had spoken to him. “The rooster will crow twice,” he had said. “Before it does, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Peter broke down and cried.

Jesus Is Arrested

18 When Jesus had finished praying, he left with his disciples. They crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden. Jesus and his disciples went into it.

² Judas knew the place. He was going to hand Jesus over to his enemies. Jesus had often met in that place with his disciples. ³ So Judas came to the garden. He was guiding a group of soldiers and some officials. The chief priests and the Pharisees had sent them. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

⁴ Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he went out and asked them, “Who do you want?”

⁵ “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, was standing there with them. ⁶ When Jesus said, “I am he,” they moved back. Then they fell to the ground.

⁷ He asked them again, “Who do you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

⁸ Jesus answered, “I told you I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” ⁹ This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken would come true. He had said, “I have not lost anyone God has given me.” (John 6:39)

¹⁰ Simon Peter had a sword and pulled it out. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus.

¹¹ Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shouldn’t I drink the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”

¹² Then the group of soldiers, their commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They tied him up ¹³ and brought him first to Annas. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. ¹⁴ Caiaphas had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Peter Says He Is Not Jesus’ Disciple

¹⁵ Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. The high priest knew the other disciple. So that disciple went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. ¹⁶ But Peter had to wait outside by the door. The other disciple came back. He was the one the high priest knew. He spoke to the servant woman who was on duty there. Then he brought Peter in.

¹⁷ She asked Peter, “You aren’t one of Jesus’ disciples too, are you?”

“I am not,” he replied.

¹⁸ It was cold. The slaves and officials stood around a fire. They had made it to keep warm. Peter was also standing with them. He was warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

¹⁹ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus. He asked him about his disciples and his teaching.

²⁰ “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I didn’t say anything in secret. ²¹ Why question me? Ask the people who heard me. They certainly know what I said.”

²² When Jesus said that, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this any way to answer the high priest?” he asked.

²³ “Have I said something wrong?” Jesus replied. “If I have, then tell everyone what it was. But if I spoke the truth, why did you hit me?” ²⁴ Annas sent him, tied up, to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Peter Again Says He Is Not Jesus’ Disciple

²⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself by the fire. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of Jesus’ disciples too, are you?”

He said, “I am not.”

²⁶ One of the high priest’s slaves was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off. He said to Peter, “Didn’t I see you with Jesus in the garden?” ²⁷ Again Peter said no. At that exact moment a rooster began to crow.

Jesus Is Brought to Pilate

²⁸ Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning. The Jewish leaders did not want to be made “unclean.” They wanted to be able to eat the Passover meal. So they did not enter the palace. ²⁹ Pilate came out to them. He asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

³⁰ “He has committed crimes,” they replied. “If he hadn’t, we would not have handed him over to you.”

³¹ Pilate said, “Take him yourselves. Judge him by your own law.”

“But we don’t have the right to put anyone to death,” they complained. ³² This happened so that what Jesus said about how he was going to die would come true.

³³ Then Pilate went back inside the palace. He ordered Jesus to be brought to him. Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

³⁴ “Is that your own idea?” Jesus asked. “Or did others talk to you about me?”

³⁵ “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”

³⁶ Jesus said, “My kingdom is not from this world. If it were, those who serve me would fight. They would try to keep the Jewish leaders from arresting me. My kingdom is from another place.”

³⁷ “So you are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, that’s the reason I was born. I was born and came into the world to be a witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.”

³⁸ “What is truth?” Pilate replied. Then Pilate went out again to the Jews gathered there. He said, “I find no basis for any charge against him. ³⁹ But you have a practice at Passover time. At that time, you ask me to set one prisoner free for you. Do you want me to set ‘the king of the Jews’ free?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “No! Not him! Give us Barabbas!” Barabbas had taken part in an armed struggle against the country’s rulers.