Matthew 26:47-68

Christian Standard Bible

Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived.^(A) 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,”^(B) Jesus asked him, “why have you come?”^[a]

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.^(C)

⁵² Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.^{(D) 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?^{(E) 54} How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled^(F) 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,^[b] to capture me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me.^{(G) 56} But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets^(H) would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples^(I) deserted him and ran away.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

⁵⁷ Those^(J) who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas^(K) 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.^(L)

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death,^{(M) 60} but they could not find any, even though many false witnesses^(N) came forward.^[c] Finally, two^[d] who came forward ⁶¹ stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God^(O) 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^(P) Jesus kept silent.^(Q) The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath^(R) by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”^(S)

⁶⁴ “You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future^[e] you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^[f](T)

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed!^(U) Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you’ve heard the blasphemy.^{(V) 66} What is your decision?”

They answered, “He deserves death!” ^{(W) 67} Then they spat in his face^(X) and beat him; others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who was it that hit you?” ^(Y)