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The Plot to Kill Jesus

14 It(A) was two days before the Passover(B) and the Festival(C) of Unleavened Bread.(D) The chief priests and the scribes(E) were looking for a cunning(F) way to arrest Jesus and kill him.(G) ‘Not during the festival,’ they said, ‘so that there won’t be a riot among the people.’

The Anointing at Bethany

While(H) he was in Bethany(I) at the house of Simon the leper,[a](J) as he was reclining at the table,(K) a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head.(L) But some were expressing indignation to one another: ‘Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii[b](M) and given to the poor.’(N) And they began to scold her.

Jesus replied, ‘Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing(O) for me. You always have the poor(P) with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me.(Q) She has done what she could; she has anointed my body(R) in advance for burial.(S) Truly I tell you,(T) wherever the gospel(U) is proclaimed in the whole world,(V) what she has done will also be told in memory of her.’

10 Then(W) Judas Iscariot,(X) one of the Twelve,(Y) went to the chief priests(Z) to betray Jesus(AA) to them. 11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money.(AB) So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray(AC) him.

Preparation for Passover

12 On(AD) the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb,(AE) his disciples(AF) asked him, ‘Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it? ’

13 So he sent two of his disciples and told them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, “The Teacher(AG) says, ‘Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? ’ ” 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.’ 16 So the disciples(AH) went out, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Betrayal at the Passover

17 When(AI) evening came, he arrived with the Twelve.(AJ) 18 While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me – one who is eating with me.’

19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, ‘Surely not I? ’

20 He said to them, ‘It is one of the Twelve – the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man(AK) will go just as it is written(AL) about him,(AM) but woe(AN) to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.’

The First Lord’s Supper

22 As(AO) they were eating, he took bread,(AP) blessed and broke(AQ) it, gave it to them,(AR) and said, ‘Take it; this is my body.’(AS) 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks,(AT) he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant,[c](AU) which is poured out(AV) for many.(AW) 25 Truly I tell you,(AX) I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine(AY) until that day when I drink it new[d](AZ) in the kingdom of God.’(BA)

26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.(BB)

Peter’s Denial Predicted

27 Then(BC) Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will fall away,[e] because it is written:(BD)

I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep(BE) will be scattered.[f](BF)

28 But after I have risen,(BG) I will go ahead of you to Galilee.’(BH)

29 Peter(BI) told him, ‘Even if everyone falls away, I will not.’

30 ‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus said to him, ‘today, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’(BJ)

31 But he kept insisting, ‘If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.’ And they all said the same thing.

The Prayer in the Garden

32 Then(BK) they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples,(BL) ‘Sit here while I pray.’(BM) 33 He took Peter,(BN) James,(BO) and John(BP) with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 He said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved[g] to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.’(BQ) 35 He went a little further, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour(BR) might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba,[h] Father!(BS) All things are possible(BT) for you. Take this cup(BU) away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.’ 37 Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, ‘Simon,(BV) are you sleeping?(BW) Couldn’t you stay awake for one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray(BX) so that you won’t enter into temptation.[i](BY) The spirit(BZ) is willing, but the flesh(CA) is weak.’ 39 Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him.(CB) 41 Then he came a third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man(CC) is betrayed into the hands of sinners.(CD) 42 Get up;(CE) let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.’

Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus

43 While(CF) he was still speaking, Judas,(CG) one of the Twelve,(CH) suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes,(CI) and the elders.(CJ) 44 His betrayer had given them a signal. ‘The one I kiss,’ he said, ‘he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.’ 45 So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Rabbi! ’(CK) and kissed him. 46 They took hold of him and arrested him. 47 One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.

48 Jesus said to them, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,[j] to capture me? 49 Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple,(CL) and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures(CM) must be fulfilled.’(CN)

50 Then they all deserted him and ran away.(CO) 51 Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.(CP)

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

53 They(CQ) led Jesus away to the high priest,(CR) and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes(CS) assembled.(CT) 54 Peter(CU) followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants,[k](CV) warming himself by the fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin(CW) were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death,(CX) but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimony(CY) against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58 ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple made with human hands,(CZ) and in three days I will build another not made by hands.” ’ 59 Yet their testimony did not agree(DA) even on this.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, ‘Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you? ’ 61 But he kept silent and did not answer.(DB) Again the high priest questioned him, ‘Are you the Messiah,(DC) the Son(DD) of the Blessed(DE) One? ’

62 ‘I am,’(DF) said Jesus, ‘and you will see the Son of Man(DG) seated at the right hand(DH) of Power and coming with the clouds(DI) of heaven.’[l](DJ)

63 Then the high priest(DK) tore his robes(DL) and said, ‘Why do we still need witnesses?(DM) 64 You have heard the blasphemy.(DN) What is your decision? ’ They all condemned him as deserving death.(DO)

65 Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, ‘Prophesy! ’(DP) The temple servants(DQ) also took him and slapped him.

Peter Denies His Lord

66 While(DR) Peter(DS) was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.’(DT)

68 But he denied it: ‘I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.’ Then he went out to the entrance,[m] and a cock crowed.[n]

69 When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, ‘This man is one of them.’

70 But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, ‘You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.’[o](DU)

71 Then he started to curse and swear,(DV) ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about! ’

72 Immediately a cock crowed a second time,(DW) and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.

Footnotes

  1. 14:3 Gk lepros; a term for various skin diseases; see Lv 13–14
  2. 14:5 A denarius = one day’s wage
  3. 14:24 Other mss read the new covenant
  4. 14:25 Or drink new wine; lit drink it new
  5. 14:27 Other mss add because of me this night
  6. 14:27 Zch 13:7
  7. 14:34 Or ‘My soul is swallowed up in sorrow
  8. 14:36 Aramaic for father
  9. 14:38 Or won’t be put to the test
  10. 14:48 Or insurrectionist
  11. 14:54 Or temple police, or officers, also in v. 65
  12. 14:62 Ps 110:1; Dn 7:13
  13. 14:68 Or forecourt
  14. 14:68 Other mss omit and a cock crowed
  15. 14:70 Other mss add and your speech shows it

The Plan to Kill Jesus

14 It was now only two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and teachers of the law were trying to find a trick to arrest Jesus and kill him. But they said, “We must not do it during the feast, because the people might cause a riot.”

A Woman with Perfume for Jesus

Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, who had a skin disease. While Jesus was eating there, a woman approached him with an alabaster jar filled with very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She opened the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head.

Some who were there became upset and said to each other, “Why waste that perfume? It was worth a full year’s work. It could have been sold and the money given to the poor.” And they got very angry with the woman.

Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you troubling her? She did an excellent thing for me. You will always have the poor with you, and you can help them anytime you want. But you will not always have me. This woman did the only thing she could do for me; she poured perfume on my body to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached in all the world, what this woman has done will be told, and people will remember her.”

Judas Becomes an Enemy of Jesus

10 One of the twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot, went to talk to the leading priests to offer to hand Jesus over to them. 11 These priests were pleased about this and promised to pay Judas money. So he watched for the best time to turn Jesus in.

Jesus Eats the Passover Meal

12 It was now the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread when the Passover lamb was sacrificed. Jesus’ followers said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”

13 Jesus sent two of his followers and said to them, “Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 When he goes into a house, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says: “Where is my guest room in which I can eat the Passover meal with my followers?”’ 15 The owner will show you a large room upstairs that is furnished and ready. Prepare the food for us there.”

16 So the followers left and went into the city. Everything happened as Jesus had said, so they prepared the Passover meal.

17 In the evening, Jesus went to that house with the twelve. 18 While they were all eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will turn against me—one of you eating with me now.”

19 The followers were very sad to hear this. Each one began to say to Jesus, “I am not the one, am I?”

20 Jesus answered, “It is one of the twelve—the one who dips his bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will die, just as the Scriptures say. But how terrible it will be for the person who hands the Son of Man over to be killed. It would be better for him if he had never been born.”

The Lord’s Supper

22 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and thanked God for it and broke it. Then he gave it to his followers and said, “Take it; this is my body.”

23 Then Jesus took a cup and thanked God for it and gave it to the followers, and they all drank from the cup.

24 Then Jesus said, “This is my blood which is the new[a] agreement that God makes with his people. This blood is poured out for many. 25 I tell you the truth, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine[b] again until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus’ Followers Will Leave Him

27 Then Jesus told the followers, “You will all stumble in your faith, because it is written in the Scriptures:

‘I will kill the shepherd,
    and the sheep will scatter.’ Zechariah 13:7

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

29 Peter said, “Everyone else may stumble in their faith, but I will not.”

30 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, tonight before the rooster crows twice you will say three times you don’t know me.”

31 But Peter insisted, “I will never say that I don’t know you! I will even die with you!” And all the other followers said the same thing.

Jesus Prays Alone

32 Jesus and his followers went to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be very sad and troubled. 34 He said to them, “My heart is full of sorrow, to the point of death. Stay here and watch.”

35 After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed that, if possible, he would not have this time of suffering. 36 He prayed, “Abba,[c] Father! You can do all things. Take away this cup[d] of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want.”

37 Then Jesus went back to his followers and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. The spirit wants to do what is right, but the body is weak.”

39 Again Jesus went away and prayed the same thing. 40 Then he went back to his followers, and again he found them asleep, because their eyes were very heavy. And they did not know what to say to him.

41 After Jesus prayed a third time, he went back to his followers and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? That’s enough. The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinful people. 42 Get up, we must go. Look, here comes the man who has turned against me.”

Jesus Is Arrested

43 At once, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, came up. With him were many people carrying swords and clubs who had been sent from the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the Jewish elders.

44 Judas had planned a signal for them, saying, “The man I kiss is Jesus. Arrest him and guard him while you lead him away.” 45 So Judas went straight to Jesus and said, “Teacher!” and kissed him. 46 Then the people grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 47 One of his followers standing nearby pulled out his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

48 Then Jesus said, “You came to get me with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal. 49 Every day I was with you teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me there. But all these things have happened to make the Scriptures come true.” 50 Then all of Jesus’ followers left him and ran away.

51 A young man, wearing only a linen cloth, was following Jesus, and the people also grabbed him. 52 But the cloth he was wearing came off, and he ran away naked.

Jesus Before the Leaders

53 The people who arrested Jesus led him to the house of the high priest, where all the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of the law were gathered. 54 Peter followed far behind and entered the courtyard of the high priest’s house. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire.

55 The leading priests and the whole Jewish council tried to find something that Jesus had done wrong so they could kill him. But the council could find no proof of anything. 56 Many people came and told false things about him, but all said different things—none of them agreed.

57 Then some people stood up and lied about Jesus, saying, 58 “We heard this man say, ‘I will destroy this Temple that people made. And three days later, I will build another Temple not made by people.’” 59 But even the things these people said did not agree.

60 Then the high priest stood before them and asked Jesus, “Aren’t you going to answer? Don’t you have something to say about their charges against you?” 61 But Jesus said nothing; he did not answer.

The high priest asked Jesus another question: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the blessed God?”

62 Jesus answered, “I am. And in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God, the Powerful One, and coming on clouds in the sky.”

63 When the high priest heard this, he tore his clothes and said, “We don’t need any more witnesses! 64 You all heard him say these things against God. What do you think?”

They all said that Jesus was guilty and should die. 65 Some of the people there began to spit at Jesus. They blindfolded him and beat him with their fists and said, “Prove you are a prophet!” Then the guards led Jesus away and beat him.

Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus

66 While Peter was in the courtyard, a servant girl of the high priest came there. 67 She saw Peter warming himself at the fire and looked closely at him.

Then she said, “You also were with Jesus, that man from Nazareth.”

68 But Peter said that he was never with Jesus. He said, “I don’t know or understand what you are talking about.” Then Peter left and went toward the entrance of the courtyard. And the rooster crowed.[e]

69 The servant girl saw Peter there, and again she said to the people who were standing nearby, “This man is one of those who followed Jesus.” 70 Again Peter said that it was not true.

A short time later, some people were standing near Peter saying, “Surely you are one of those who followed Jesus, because you are from Galilee, too.”

71 Then Peter began to place a curse on himself and swear, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

72 At once, the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter lost control of himself and began to cry.

Footnotes

  1. 14:24 new Some Greek copies do not have this word. Compare Luke 22:20.
  2. 14:25 fruit of the vine Product of the grapevine; this may also be translated “wine.”
  3. 14:36 Abba Name that a Jewish child called his father.
  4. 14:36 cup Jesus is talking about the terrible things that will happen to him. Accepting these things will be very hard, like drinking a cup of something bitter.
  5. 14:68 And the rooster crowed. Some Greek copies do not have this phrase.