Matthew 26:47-56
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Judas Kiss
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 he went right 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 slave and cut off his ear.(C)
52 Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword.(D) 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions[b] 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,[c] to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn’t arrest Me.(G) 56 But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures[d](H) would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples(I) deserted Him and ran away.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 26:50 Or Jesus told him, “do what you have come for.” (as a statement)
- Matthew 26:53 A Roman legion contained up to 6,000 soldiers.
- Matthew 26:55 Lit as against a criminal
- Matthew 26:56 Or the Scriptures of the prophets
Matthew 26:47-56
New Living Translation
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[a] 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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 26:53 Greek twelve legions.
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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.
