Matthew 26:47-68

English Standard Version

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

^47 (A)While he was still speaking, ^(B)Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” ⁴⁹ And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, ^(C)Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, ^(D)“Friend, ^(E)do what you came to do.”^[a] Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. ⁵¹ And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his ^(F)sword and struck the servant^[b] of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For ^(G)all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ^53 (H)Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me ^(I)more than twelve ^(J)legions of angels? ^54 (K)But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” ⁵⁵ At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day ^(L)I sat in the temple ^(M)teaching, and you did not seize me. ⁵⁶ But ^(N)all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” ^(O)Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council

^57 (P)Then ^(Q)those who had seized Jesus led him to ^(R)Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. ⁵⁸ And ^(S)Peter was following him at a distance, as far as ^(T)the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with ^(U)the guards to see the end. ⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole council^{[c] (V)}were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, ⁶⁰ but they found none, ^(W)though many false witnesses came forward. At last ^(X)two came forward ⁶¹ and said, “This man said, ^(Y)‘I am able to ^(Z)destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” ⁶² And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”^{[d] 63 (AA)}But Jesus remained silent. ^(AB)And the high priest said to him, ^(AC)“I adjure you by ^(AD)the living God, ^(AE)tell us if you are ^(AF)the Christ, ^(AG)the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, ^(AH)“You have said so. But I tell you, from now on ^(AI)you will see the Son of Man ^(AJ)seated at the right hand of Power and ^(AK)coming on the clouds of heaven.” ⁶⁵ Then the high priest ^(AL)tore his robes and said, ^(AM)“He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What is your judgment?” They answered, ^(AN)“He deserves death.” ⁶⁷ Then ^(AO)they spit in his face ^(AP)and ^(AQ)struck him. And some slapped him, ⁶⁸ saying, “Prophesy to us, you ^(AR)Christ! Who is it that struck you?”