Matthew 26
21st Century King James Version
26 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, He said unto His disciples,
2 “Ye know that after two days is the Feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people assembled together unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 and consulted that they might take Jesus by stealth and kill Him.
5 But they said, “Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,
7 there came unto Him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on His head as He sat at meat.
8 But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “To what purpose is this waste?
9 For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
10 When Jesus perceived this, He said unto them, “Why trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon Me.
11 For ye have the poor always with you, but Me ye have not always.
12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on My body, she did it for My burial.
13 Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, which this woman hath done, be told as a memorial of her.”
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests
15 and said unto them, “What will ye give me if I will deliver Him unto you?” And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.
17 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, “Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the Passover?”
18 And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say unto him, ‘The Master saith, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with My disciples.”’”
19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them, and they made ready the Passover.
20 Now when the evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.
21 And as they ate, He said, “Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.”
22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto Him, “Lord, is it I?”
23 And He answered and said, “He that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me.
24 The Son of Man goeth as it is written of Him, but woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, who betrayed Him, answered and said, “Master, is it I?” He said unto him, “Thou hast said.”
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 And He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink ye all of it;
28 for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said unto them, “All ye shall be offended because of Me this night; for it is written: ‘I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.’
32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.”
33 Peter answered and said unto Him, “Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet I will never be offended.”
34 Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, that this night before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice.”
35 Peter said unto Him, “Though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee.” Likewise also said all the disciples.
36 Then Jesus came with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and said unto the disciples, “Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder.”
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then He said unto them, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here and watch with Me.”
39 And He went a little farther, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”
40 And He came unto the disciples and found them asleep, and said unto Peter, “What, could ye not watch with Me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, unless I drink it, Thy will be done.”
43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 And He left them and went away again, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.
45 Then came He to His disciples and said unto them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going. Behold, he is at hand that doth betray Me.”
47 And while He yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He; hold Him fast.”
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus and said, “Hail, Master!” and kissed Him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, “Friend, why art thou come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
51 And behold, one of those who was with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, “Put up again thy sword into his place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall at once give Me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?”
55 In that same hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves to take Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on Me.
56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
57 And those who had laid hold on Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 But Peter followed Him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests and elders and all the council sought false witness against Jesus to put Him to death,
60 but found none. Yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’”
62 And the high priest arose and said unto Him, “Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witnesses say against thee?”
63 But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest answered and said unto Him, “I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.”
64 Jesus said unto him, “Thou hast said; nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, “He hath spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy!
66 What think ye?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death!”
67 Then they spit in His face and buffeted Him, and others smote Him with the palms of their hands,
68 saying, “Prophesy unto us, thou Christ! Who is he that smote thee?”
69 Now Peter sat outside in the palace, and a damsel came unto him, saying, “Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.”
70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I know not what thou sayest.”
71 And when he had gone out onto the porch, another maid saw him and said unto those who were there, “This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 And again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the man!”
73 And after a while came unto him those who stood by, and said to Peter, “Surely thou also art one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee.”
74 Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, “I know not the man!” And immediately the cock crowed.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, when He said unto him, “Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26
New Living Translation
The Plot to Kill Jesus
26 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man[a] will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 At that same time the leading priests and elders were meeting at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, 4 plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While he was eating,[b] a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
The Last Supper
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
18 “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.
20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table[c] with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”
22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”
23 He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. 24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
25 Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”
And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”
26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”
27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant[d] between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. 29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,
‘God will strike[e] the Shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”
33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away[f] unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.
44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”
Jesus Is Betrayed and Arrested
47 And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” 49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.
50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”
Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.
52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands[g] of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Jesus before the Council
57 Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. 58 Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.
59 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council[h] were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. 60 But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward 61 who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand[i] and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[j]
65 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?”
“Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!”
67 Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”
Peter Denies Jesus
69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”
70 But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71 Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.[k]”
72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.
73 A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”
74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.
75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.
Footnotes
- 26:2 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
- 26:7 Or reclining.
- 26:20 Or Jesus reclined.
- 26:28 Some manuscripts read the new covenant.
- 26:31 Greek I will strike. Zech 13:7.
- 26:42 Greek If this cannot pass.
- 26:53 Greek twelve legions.
- 26:59 Greek the Sanhedrin.
- 26:64a Greek seated at the right hand of the power. See Ps 110:1.
- 26:64b See Dan 7:13.
- 26:71 Or Jesus the Nazarene.
Matthew 26
Darby Translation
26 And it came to pass when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,
2 Ye know that after two days the passover takes place, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified.
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together to the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas,
4 and took counsel together in order that they might seize Jesus by subtlety and kill him;
5 but they said, Not in the feast, that there be not a tumult among the people.
6 But Jesus being in Bethany, in Simon the leper's house,
7 a woman, having an alabaster flask of very precious ointment, came to him and poured it out upon his head as he lay at table.
8 But the disciples seeing it became indignant, saying, To what end [was] this waste?
9 for this might have been sold for much and been given to the poor.
10 But Jesus knowing [it] said to them, Why do ye trouble the woman? for she has wrought a good work toward me.
11 For ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always.
12 For in pouring out this ointment on my body, she has done it for my burying.
13 Verily I say to you, Wheresoever these glad tidings may be preached in the whole world, that also which this [woman] has done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
14 Then one of the twelve, he who was called Judas Iscariote, went to the chief priests
15 and said, What are ye willing to give me, and *I* will deliver him up to you? And they appointed to him thirty pieces of silver.
16 And from that time he sought a good opportunity that he might deliver him up.
17 Now on the first [day] of [the feast of] unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
18 And he said, Go into the city unto such a one, and say to him, The Teacher says, My time is near, I will keep the passover in thy house with my disciples.
19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the passover.
20 And when the evening was come he lay down at table with the twelve.
21 And as they were eating he said, Verily I say to you, that one of you shall deliver me up.
22 And being exceedingly grieved they began to say to him, each of them, Is it *I*, Lord?
23 But he answering said, He that dips his hand with me in the dish, *he* it is who shall deliver me up.
24 The Son of man goes indeed, according as it is written concerning him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is delivered up; it were good for that man if he had not been born.
25 And Judas, who delivered him up, answering said, Is it *I*, Rabbi? He says to him, *Thou* hast said.
26 And as they were eating, Jesus, having taken [the] bread and blessed, broke [it] and gave [it] to the disciples, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
27 And having taken [the] cup and given thanks, he gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it.
28 For this is my blood, that of the [new] covenant, that shed for many for remission of sins.
29 But I say to you, that I will not at all drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.
30 And having sung a hymn, they went out to the mount of Olives.
31 Then saith Jesus to them, All *ye* shall be offended in me during this night. For it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 But after that I shall be risen, I will go before you to Galilee.
33 And Peter answering said to him, If all shall be offended in thee, *I* will never be offended.
34 Jesus said to him, Verily I say to thee, that during this night, before [the] cock shall crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter says to him, If I should needs die with thee, I will in no wise deny thee. Likewise said all the disciples also.
36 Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and says to the disciples, Sit here until I go away and pray yonder.
37 And taking with [him] Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and deeply depressed.
38 Then he says to them, My soul is very sorrowful even unto death; remain here and watch with me.
39 And going forward a little he fell upon his face, praying and saying, My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me; but not as *I* will, but as *thou* [wilt].
40 And he comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, Thus ye have not been able to watch one hour with me?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] ready, but the flesh weak.
42 Again going away a second time he prayed saying, My Father, if this cannot pass [from me] unless I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And coming he found them again sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44 And leaving them, he went away again and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he comes to the disciples and says to them, Sleep on now and take your rest; behold, the hour has drawn nigh, and the Son of man is delivered up into the hands of sinners.
46 Arise, let us go; behold, he that delivers me up has drawn nigh.
47 And while he was yet speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great crowd with swords and sticks from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that delivered him up had given them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, he it is: seize him.
49 And immediately coming up to Jesus he said, Hail, Rabbi, and covered him with kisses.
50 But Jesus said to him, [My] friend, for what purpose art thou come? Then coming up they laid hands upon Jesus and seized him.
51 And behold, one of those with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and smiting the bondman of the high priest took off his ear.
52 Then saith Jesus to him, Return thy sword to its place; for all who take the sword shall perish by the sword.
53 Or thinkest thou that I cannot now call upon my Father, and he will furnish me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 How then should the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, Are ye come out as against a robber with swords and sticks to take me? I sat daily [with you] teaching in the temple, and ye did not seize me.
56 But all this is come to pass that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him and fled.
57 Now they that had seized Jesus led [him] away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 And Peter followed him at a distance, even to the palace of the high priest, and entering in sat with the officers to see the end.
59 And the chief priests and the elders and the whole sanhedrim sought false witness against Jesus, so that they might put him to death.
60 And they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. But at the last two false witnesses came forward
61 and said, *He* said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and in three days build it.
62 And the high priest standing up said to him, Answerest thou nothing? What do these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus was silent. And the high priest answering said to him, I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us if *thou* art the Christ the Son of God.
64 Jesus says to him, *Thou* hast said. Moreover, I say to you, From henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He has blasphemed: what need have we any more of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy.
66 What think ye? And they answering said, He is liable to the penalty of death.
67 Then they spit in his face, and buffeted him, and some struck him with the palms of their hand,
68 saying, Prophesy to us, Christ, Who is it who struck thee?
69 But Peter sat without in the palace-court; and a maid came to him, saying, And *thou* wast with Jesus the Galilaean.
70 But he denied before all, saying, I do not know what thou sayest.
71 And when he had gone out into the entrance, another [maid] saw him, and says to those there, This [man] also was with Jesus the Nazaraean.
72 And again he denied with an oath: I do not know the man.
73 And after a little, those who stood [there], coming to [him], said to Peter, Truly *thou* too art of them, for also thy speech makes thee manifest.
74 Then he began to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And immediately [the] cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, who had said [to him], Before [the] cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went forth without, and wept bitterly.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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