Betrayal at the Passover

¹⁷ On the first day of Unleavened Bread^(A) 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^[a] with my disciples.’”^{(B) 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.”^(C)

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,^(D) 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?” ^(E)

“You have said it,” he told him.

The First Lord’s Supper

²⁶ As they were eating,^(F) Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples,^(G) and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.”^{(H) 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,^[b] which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.^{(I) 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.”^{(J) 30} After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.^(K)

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.”^(M)

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.”^(N)

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,^(O) 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.^{(P) 38} He said to them, “I am deeply grieved^[d] to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”^{(Q) 39} Going a little farther,^[e] 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.”^(R)

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^[f] cannot pass^[g] unless I drink it, your will be done.”^{(S) 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.^{(T) 46} Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

The Prayer in the Garden

³⁹ He went out and made his way^(A) as usual^(B) to the Mount of Olives,^(C) and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When he reached the place,^(D) he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.”^{(E) 41} Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray,^{(F) 42} “Father, if you are willing, take this cup^(G) away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

⁴³ Then an angel from heaven^(H) appeared to him, strengthening him. ⁴⁴ Being in anguish,^(I) he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.^{[a] 45} When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”

Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus

⁴⁷ While^(J) he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” ⁵⁰ Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him. ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?^{[b] 53} Every day while I was with you in the temple,^(K) you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour^(L) —and the dominion of darkness.”^(M)

⁷ During his earthly life,^[a] he offered prayers and appeals^(A) with loud cries and tears^(B) to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. ⁸ Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.^(C)