Matthew 26
Christian Standard Bible
The Plot to Kill Jesus
26 When Jesus had finished saying all these things,(A) he told his disciples, 2 “You know[a] that the Passover takes place after two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”(B)
3 Then the chief priests[b] and the elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas,(C) 4 and they conspired to arrest Jesus in a treacherous way and kill him.(D) 5 “Not during the festival,” they said, “so there won’t be rioting among the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany
6 While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon(E) the leper,[c] 7 a woman approached him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples(F) saw it, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for me. 11 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.(G) 12 By pouring this perfume on my body, she has prepared me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel(H) is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
14 Then(I) one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests(J) 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him.(K) 16 And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.
Betrayal at the Passover
17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread(L) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18 “Go into the city to a certain man,” he said, “and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your place[d] with my disciples.’”(M) 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”(N)
22 Deeply distressed, each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?”
23 He replied, “The one who dipped his hand with me in the bowl—he will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him,(O) but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”
25 Judas, his betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” (P)
“You have said it,” he told him.
The First Lord’s Supper
26 As they were eating,(Q) Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples,(R) and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.”(S) 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant,[e] which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.(T) 29 But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”(U) 30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.(V)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written:
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”(X)
33 Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”(Y)
35 “Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing.
The Prayer in the Garden
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,(Z) and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.(AA) 38 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved[g] to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”(AB) 39 Going a little farther,[h] he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”(AC)
40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this[i] cannot pass[j] unless I drink it, your will be done.”(AD) 43 And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.
44 After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.(AE) 46 Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”
Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived.(AF) A large mob with swords and clubs was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 His betrayer had given them a sign: “The one I kiss, he’s the one; arrest him.” 49 So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 “Friend,”(AG) Jesus asked him, “why have you come?”[k]
Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. 51 At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear.(AH)
52 Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.(AI) 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels?(AJ) 54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled(AK) that say it must happen this way?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,[l] to capture me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me.(AL) 56 But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets(AM) would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples(AN) deserted him and ran away.
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
57 Those(AO) who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas(AP) the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened. 58 Peter was following him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the servants to see the outcome.(AQ)
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death,(AR) 60 but they could not find any, even though many false witnesses(AS) came forward.[m] Finally, two[n] who came forward 61 stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God(AT) and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 The high priest stood up and said to him, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 63 But(AU) Jesus kept silent.(AV) The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath(AW) by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”(AX)
64 “You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future[o] you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[p](AY)
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed!(AZ) Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you’ve heard the blasphemy.(BA) 66 What is your decision?”
They answered, “He deserves death!” (BB) 67 Then they spat in his face(BC) and beat him; others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who was it that hit you?” (BD)
Peter Denies His Lord
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.(BE) A servant girl approached him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”
70 But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!” (BF)
72 And again he denied it with an oath:(BG) “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You really are one of them, since even your accent[q] gives you away.”
74 Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, 75 and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”(BH) And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Footnotes
- 26:2 Or “Know (as a command)
- 26:3 Other mss add and the scribes
- 26:6 Gk lepros; a term for various skin diseases; see Lv 13–14
- 26:18 Lit Passover with you
- 26:28 Other mss read new covenant
- 26:31 Zch 13:7
- 26:38 Lit “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow
- 26:39 Other mss read Drawing nearer
- 26:42 Other mss add cup
- 26:42 Other mss add from me
- 26:50 Or Jesus told him, “do what you have come for.”
- 26:55 Lit as against a criminal
- 26:60 Other mss add they found none
- 26:60 Other mss add false witnesses
- 26:64 Lit you, from now
- 26:64 Ps 110:1; Dn 7:13
- 26:73 Or speech
Matthew 26
Lexham English Bible
The Chief Priests and Elders Plot to Kill Jesus
26 And it happened that when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man will be handed over[a] in order to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas, 4 and plotted in order that they could arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.[b] 5 But they were saying, “Not during the feast, so that there will not be an uproar among the people.”
Jesus’ Anointing at Bethany
6 Now while[c] Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him holding an alabaster flask of very expensive perfumed oil, and poured it[d] out on his head while he[e] was reclining at table. 8 And when[f] the disciples saw it[g] they were indignant, saying, “Why[h] this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor!” 10 But Jesus, knowing this,[i] said to them, “Why do you cause trouble for the woman? For she has done a good deed for me. 11 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me. 12 For when[j] this woman poured this ointment on my body, she did it[k] in order to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Judas Arranges to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and[l] said, “What are you willing to give me if I in turn deliver him to you?” So they set out for him thirty silver coins. 16 And from that time on, he began seeking a favorable opportunity in order that he could betray him.
Jesus’ Final Passover with the Disciples
17 Now on the first day[m] of the feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came up to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 And he said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near. I am celebrating the Passover with you with my disciples.”’ 19 And the disciples did as Jesus directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 And when it[n] was evening, he was reclining at table with the twelve disciples.[o] 21 And while[p] they were eating he said, “Truly I say to you, that one of you will betray me.” 22 And greatly distressed, each one began to say to him, “Surely I am not he, am I,[q] Lord?” 23 And he answered and[r] said, “The one who dips his[s] hand in the bowl with me—this one will betray me. 24 The Son of Man is going just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if that man had not been born.” 25 And Judas, the one who was betraying him, answered and[t] said, “Surely I am not he, am I,[u] Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said it.”[v]
The Lord’s Supper
26 Now while[w] they were eating Jesus took bread and, after[x] giving thanks, he broke it,[y] and giving it[z] to the disciples, he said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” 27 And after[aa] taking the cup and giving thanks he gave it[ab] to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 But I tell you, from now on I will never drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.” 30 And after they[ac] had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me during this night, for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[ad]
32 But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 But Peter answered and[ae] said to him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that during this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times!” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if it is necessary for me to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the disciples said the same thing.
The Prayer in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and[af] pray.” 37 And taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be distressed and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 39 And going forward a little he fell down on his face, praying and saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”[ag] 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, were you not able to stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!” 42 Again for the second time he went away and[ah] prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will must be done.” 43 And he came again and[ai] found them sleeping, for they could not keep their eyes open.[aj] 44 And leaving them again, he went away and[ak] prayed for the third time, saying the same thing again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us go! Behold, the one who is betraying me is approaching!”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 And while[al] he was still speaking, behold, Judas—one of the twelve—arrived, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now the one who was betraying him had given them a sign, saying, “The one whom I kiss—he is the one.[am] Arrest him!” 49 And he came up to Jesus immediately and[an] said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do that[ao] for which you have come.”[ap] Then they came up and[aq] laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
51 And behold, one of those with Jesus extended his[ar] hand and[as] drew his sword, and striking the slave of the high priest, cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place! For all who take up the sword will die by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot call upon my Father, and he would put at my disposal at once more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen in this way?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to arrest me? Every day in the temple courts[at] I sat teaching, and you did not arrest me! 56 But all this has happened in order that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then the disciples all abandoned him and[au] fled.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
57 Now those who had arrested Jesus led him[av] away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. And he went inside and[aw] was sitting with the officers to see the outcome. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order that they could put him to death. 60 And they did not find it,[ax] although[ay] many false witnesses came forward. And finally two came forward 61 and[az] said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it[ba] within three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and[bb] said to him, “Do you reply nothing? What are these people testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God, that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it.[bc] But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power[bd] and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes, saying, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have just now heard the blasphemy! 66 What do you think?” And they answered and[be] said, “He deserves death!”[bf] 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists, and they slapped him,[bg] 68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who is it who hit you?”
Peter Denies Jesus Three Times
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a female slave came up to him and[bh] said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it[bi] in the presence of them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean!” 71 And when he[bj] went out to the gateway, another female slave[bk] saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72 And again he denied it[bl] with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 73 And after a little while those who were standing there came up and[bm] said to Peter, “You really are one of them also, because even your accent reveals who you are.”[bn] 74 Then he began to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the statement Jesus had said, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times,” and he went outside and[bo] wept bitterly.
Footnotes
- Matthew 26:2 Or “will be delivered up”
- Matthew 26:4 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:6 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
- Matthew 26:7 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:7 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was reclining at table”)
- Matthew 26:8 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 26:8 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:8 Literally “for what” reason
- Matthew 26:10 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:12 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“poured”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 26:12 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:15 Here “and” is supplied because the participle in the previous verse (“went”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:17 Here the word “day” is not in the Greek text but is implied
- Matthew 26:20 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
- Matthew 26:20 Some manuscripts omit “disciples”
- Matthew 26:21 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were eating”)
- Matthew 26:22 Literally “surely I am not”; the negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated in the translation by “am I”
- Matthew 26:23 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:23 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Matthew 26:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:25 Literally “surely I am not”; the negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated in the translation by “am I”
- Matthew 26:25 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:26 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were eating”)
- Matthew 26:26 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“giving thanks”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 26:26 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:26 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:27 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“taking”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 26:27 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:30 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had sung the hymn”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 26:31 A quotation from Zech 13:7
- Matthew 26:33 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:36 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“go”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:39 *Here the verb “will” is an understood repetition of the verb earlier in this verse
- Matthew 26:42 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went away”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:43 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came again”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:43 Literally “for their eyes were weighed down”
- Matthew 26:44 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went away”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:47 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was … speaking”)
- Matthew 26:48 *Here the predicate nominative (“the one”) is implied
- Matthew 26:49 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:50 The words “do that” are not in the Greek text but are implied
- Matthew 26:50 The meaning of this phrase is disputed: (1) some take it as a declarative (as in the translation); (2) others understand it as some form of a question, often with supplied words: (a) “Friend, are you misusing the kiss for that purpose for which you are here?” (b) “Friend, in connection with that for which you have appeared do you kiss me?” (c) “Friend, are you here for this purpose?” (d) “Friend, what are you here for?”; this last option, though often suggested, is doubtful because of lack of evidence for the relative pronoun used as an interrogative in direct questions
- Matthew 26:50 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:51 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Matthew 26:51 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“extended”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:55 Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
- Matthew 26:56 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“abandoned”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:57 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:58 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:60 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:60 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came forward”) which is understood as concessive
- Matthew 26:61 Here “and” is supplied because the participle in the previous verse (“came forward”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:61 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:62 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:64 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:64 An indirect way of referring to God
- Matthew 26:66 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:66 Literally “he is deserving of death”
- Matthew 26:67 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:69 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:70 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:71 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“went out”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 26:71 The words “female slave” are not in the Greek text but are implied by the feminine singular form
- Matthew 26:72 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 26:73 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 26:73 Literally “makes you evident”
- Matthew 26:75 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went”) has been translated as a finite verb
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software