Matthew 26:17-46

New King James Version

Jesus Celebrates Passover with His Disciples^(A)

^17 (B)Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “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 say to him, ‘The Teacher says, ^(C)“My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ’ ”

¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

^20 (D)When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. ²¹ Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will ^(E)betray Me.”

²² And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”

²³ He answered and said, ^(F)“He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. ²⁴ The Son of Man indeed goes just ^(G)as it is written of Him, but ^(H)woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ^(I)It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

²⁵ Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?”

He said to him, “You have said it.”

Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper^(J)

^26 (K)And as they were eating, ^(L)Jesus took bread, ^[a]blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; ^(M)this is My body.”

²⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ^(N)“Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For ^(O)this is My blood ^(P)of the ^[b]new covenant, which is shed ^(Q)for many for the ^[c]remission of sins. ²⁹ But ^(R)I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on ^(S)until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

^30 (T)And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial^(U)

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, ^(V)“All of you will ^(W)be ^[d]made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

³² But after I have been raised, ^(Y)I will go before you to Galilee.”

³³ Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are ^[e]made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

³⁴ Jesus said to him, ^(Z)“Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

³⁵ Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

And so said all the disciples.

The Prayer in the Garden^(AA)

^36 (AB)Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and ^(AC)the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. ³⁸ Then He said to them, ^(AD)“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and ^(AE)prayed, saying, ^(AF)“O My Father, if it is possible, ^(AG)let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, ^(AH)not as I will, but as You will.”

⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ^41 (AI)Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. ^(AJ)The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, ^[f]if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” ⁴³ And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

⁴⁴ So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. ⁴⁵ Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour ^[g]is at hand, and the Son of Man is being ^(AK)betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”